Chorlton Book Festival
Welcome to a Chorlton Book Festival that’s a little bit different…
Chorlton Library is preparing for an exciting refurbishment, so we’re going to be popping up all over Chorlton this year, bringing you a smaller but perfectly formed festival for 2023! Running from 15 – 23 September, highlights include a bestselling fantasy author, creative writing workshops, local history walks, performance poetry and a sports writer. Tempted? Check out the full programme here, with a few of the highlights listed further down this newsletter.
Grand Opening of the new Abraham Moss Library & Leisure Centre
Join us for a warm welcome to our official open morning and an introduction to our transformed Library and Leisure Centre including guided tours to explore the amazing facilities. You’ll find cricket activity with Lancashire Cricket Foundation at the North’s very first Urban Cricket Centre, Story time, arts, crafts and activities for all ages, including Age Friendly Hour, a relaxed programme for seniors and you can meet & chat with our friendly staff.
Abraham Moss Library & Leisure Centre
Wednesday 13 September, 10am-12pm
Elizabeth Raffald – England’s Most Influential Housekeeper
Manchester-based historian Neil Buttery presents a talk about the rise & fall of one of Britain’s most influential cookery writers, Elizabeth Raffald.
Central Library
Wednesday 13 September, 6-7:30pm
For more details and to book your free place visit Library Live.
Black British Book Festival on Tour
The BBBF team are embarking on a transformative summer book tour across the UK with a host of top authors. Join them at this very special Sunday Funday.
Central Library
Sunday 17 September, 12-5pm
To book tickets visit the BBBF Eventbrite page.
Deep-Dive Your Family History Research
Join the Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society and learn how to deep-dive into your family’s history and discover the importance of constructing a timeline to keep your research focused and accurate.
Central Library
Saturday 23 September, 11am-12:30pm
Visit Eventbrite to book your ticket.
Bestselling Debut author Thomas D Lee
We’re proud to welcome the author Thomas Lee to Chorlton Book Festival to celebrate the publication of PERILOUS TIMES. Mixing Arthurian legend with contemporary fantasy, this sharply witty debut will delight fans of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
Benito Lounge, Chorlton
Tuesday 19 September, 7pm
For information & tickets visit Eventbrite.
An Evening with author Nooruddean Choudry
‘For every Manc a religion’. Manchester. Birthplace of industry, the Stone Roses, the Class of 92 and a small brown man called Noz. This is the story of how, and why, he came to be a strictly halal Stretford Ender.
Chorlton Unitarian Church
Saturday 23 September, 6pm
Visit Eventbrite for more details & tickets
An Evening with local author Reshma Ruia
Reshma’s latest novel, ‘Still Lives’, is a tightly woven, haunting work that pulls apart the threads of a family and plays with notions of identity. The novel is a multi-cultural family saga set in Manchester about betrayal, love and belonging.
Chorlton Central Church
Wednesday 20 September, 7pm
Information and tickets here.
Age-Friendly Swim and Social at Abraham Moss
From September join us for our new regular Age Friendly morning every Tuesday at the brand-new Abraham Moss Library and Leisure Centre with our Swim & Social session. We have a special session on Tuesday 19 September with a chance to meet with the Crumpsall Neighbourhood Team and also enjoy a fun creative activity.
10-11am Swim (free for over 60s) – pop in to book or via Abraham Moss Library & Leisure Centre in Manchester | Better
11am-12pm – Social morning with a hot drink and biscuit, just drop in.
Manchester leads the way in digital inclusion!
All our Manchester libraries are registered digital inclusion hubs and 18 sites are now also databanks where customers in need of data can request a SIM card that comes with up to 6 months of free internet access. With the assistance of our dedicated digital inclusion team, we have helped nearly 2,000 people get online. Free Sims with internet access available in these libraries.
Drag Queen Cabaret with Angel Delight!
We all love a game of bingo! but add in some ‘play your cards right’ and ‘name that tune’ with a sprinkling of singalongs and surprises, who could resist!
Central Library
Saturday 30 September, 2-4pm
Book your FREE tickets here!
Year 6/7 Storystarter competition
For the fourth year running, Read Manchester gave all year 6 pupils their own copy of a book – this year Onjali Rauf’s The Lion Above the Door – to keep and to read over the summer holidays before starting high school. Onjali has set a storystarter prompt so budding storywriters about to start year 7 can try out their writing skills, and she will help judge the entries – closing date is 29 September, find out more and how to enter the competition in the Big Read Activity Pack at Transition Read.
Early Years Transition Read
Manchester City Council and Read Manchester have just launched a new project to support children moving from nursery up to Reception class. Moving up to school is a big step, and it’s good for children to have something familiar to talk about, so each child going to Reception in September has received their very own copy of A Superpower like Mine by Dr Ranj – find out more and download the Home Activity Pack at Early Years Transition Read.
Story Times are here again!
From Monday 4 September our Library Story times for little ones and their grown-ups will begin again after the summer. Join us at your local library for silly songs and music, stories, rollicking rhymes and lots of fun and play! It’s a great chance for you and your child to socialise and relax and you can collect stickers, certificates and free books if you attend regularly with your child.
Story times run weekly at 11am in libraries across the city, check with your local library to find out the details!
Festival of Libraries
The Festival of Libraries may be over for another year, but you can support your library all year round by becoming a member! Hear from a few of our Festival of Libraries 2023 stars on how being a library member can benefit you.