Libraries Update – June 2025
Councillor John Hacking and Councillor Garry Bridges shared the stage at an event this month marking Manchester’s designations as a UNESCO City of Literature & a UNESCO City of Learning…
Category Education and learning
Join Manchester Libraries’ Free Holiday Activity Sessions!
Manchester Libraries are excited to announce the following free Holiday Activity and Food fund sessions this summer! All these sessions are fun and interactive, and are aimed at 10 to…
Empathy Festival 2025
This month Manchester Libraries spread the message about the power of “jumping into someone else’s story” by taking part in Empathy Lab’s 10 day nationwide Empathy Day Festival. 1056 children…
Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden
1 July – 13 September Manchester Libraries is inviting you to join 1,000’s of children in this summer’s reading challenge! Can you borrow and read six library books between now…
Announcing Quiet Storm as this year’s primary to high school Transition Read
We’re thrilled to announce that Quiet Storm by local author, Kimberly Whittam, is Read Manchester’s primary to high school Transition Read chosen title for a second year. Quiet Storm was…
Libraries Update – May 2025
Digital Spaces VR Headsets are Coming to Manchester Libraries! Get ready to be amazed by our new collection of VR experiences right here in your local library. Supported by the…
Empathy Day Festival – jump into someone else’s story!
“Empathy is something we need every day, not just when a friend or family member is sad.” (Manchester school pupil) From the 2nd – 12th June, Manchester Libraries will be…
Empowering Young People
In collaboration with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights UK, Manchester Libraries have been vibrant hubs of creativity and learning, hosting a series of workshops and art exhibitions focused on human…
See Myself in Books Festival
Read Manchester’s inaugural See Myself in Books Festival to promote representation in children’s books took place this March. Devised to complement our…
Becoming a Writer
As part of the celebrations for the re-opening of our newly refurbished Chorlton library, we are delighted to be able to offer a writer’s café. Join us for a workshop…
Design a ‘See Myself in Books’ bookmark
As part of our See Myself in Books campaign, we’re looking for 3 unique pictures which will be made into official Manchester Libraries bookmarks. This is your chance to have…
Green Libraries Week Fun!
Green Libraries week celebrates libraries with a focus on climate and sustainability. This year we had a great time with a brilliantly fun and creative pop up craft, creating amazing…
Free author visits boost reading for pleasure to start 2024/25 school year.
Amazing start to the 2024/25 term with free author visits for schools across Manchester libraries. We had a bumper offer of author events for schools last half term. Over 1800…
Celebrating the Central Library Summer of Family Fun.
The staff at the Central Library have delivered another jam packed programme of free activities and events for families over the summer holidays. We’ve offered something to do each weekday…
Quiet Storm: Empowering Year 6 to Year 7 Transition with Author Kimberly Whittam
This summer local author Kimberly Whittam led workshops based on her award-winning book Quiet Storm at libraries across Manchester. Quiet Storm was chosen by pupils at Chorlton High School as…
National Play Day
On the 7 August Manchester celebrated National Play Day. Lots of partners and organisations came together to see the largest celebrations we have had across Manchester. Over 100 events took…
Blue Peter Book Club Live in Manchester – what a summer!
This summer we’ve been busy promoting and celebrating reading with our Blue Peter Book Club Live programme! Thanks to funding from Arts Council England and a partnership between Manchester Libraries,…
Louisa Reid’s Handle With Care: Inspiring Manchester Teens
Local author Louisa Reid launched her latest YA novel, ‘Handle With Care’ with visits to three Manchester high schools this October. Visits were made to MEA South, St Paul’s, and…
Marcus Rashford Mural Tributes – School Visit
Children from Beaver Road Primary School recently visited Manchester Archives at Manchester Central Library to view items from the Marcus Rashford Mural tributes collection. The Rashford Mural was commissioned by…
October Newsletter
Fun Palaces Fun Palaces bring the community together through a celebration of culture, arts, science, and heritage. With a range of activities from crafts to tech, this is your chance to…