Libraries Update – September 2026
Digital Inclusion – Helping Manchester Get Connected Over the last 10 months, the Digital Inclusion team has distributed 200 refurbished smartphones to 50 community organisations through Hubbub and Virgin Media…
Category Literature and reading
Take 10 to Read with Read Manchester (and the world!)
Take 10 to Read was developed here in Manchester to promote the wellbeing benefits of reading. Designed to support World Mental Health Day, we’ve given away thousands of books, hosted…
Why not set up or join a book club and Be a Reading Rebel?
This 11 September is Book Club Day UK—a national celebration of book clubs, connection and community from The Reading Agency. This year’s theme is Be a Reading Rebel, celebrating the power of book clubs…
Baby Week 2026
The Read Manchester/Manchester Libraries team was excited to take part in the Baby Week 2026 launch event recently. There was a full programme of activities and events for expectant parents, parents, and babies. The launch was held in the city centre at Manchester…
MAD – Manchester Activity Day Teens led event in Longsight
In March this year a group of amazing young people from St Peter’s High School in Longsight devised and hosted their own event at Longsight Library. The event was the…
Manchester volunteers pay tribute to Dolly Parton, and tell local families her books will keep arriving
Manchester Imagination Library has posted more than 50,000 free books to local children since 2018. Volunteers at Manchester Imagination Library, the charity that runs Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in parts…
Summer Reading Challenge Read to the Beat Launches Across Manchester!
1 July to 12 September The Summer Reading Challenge got off to a fantastic start across Manchester, with the Children and Access Team delivering three exciting launch events for local…
Read Manchester Update Summer 2026
Welcome to our Read Manchester Summer update. We are well into the National Year of Reading now and Read Manchester celebrates a 10-year anniversary this year too! See what we’ve been up to and how you can help us to Go…
A record crowd visit Central Library on Manchester Day to celebrate the National Year of Reading!
Manchester Central Library was buzzing on Manchester Day, 26 July 2026 as the library recorded its busiest Sunday Funday ever! An amazing 7,614 visitors in 5 hours came to see the suite of…
The Great Science Share 2026
Read Manchester has collaborated with publisher Mama Makes Books and the Great Science Share for Schools to provide 200 books for Manchester pupils involved in the Great Science Share. Pioneered in Manchester, The University of Manchester’s Science & Engineering Education Research and…
Read On – the new app to help build a lasting reading habit
The new Read On app guides you through a personalised adventure in books. Explore recommendations, meet challenges, and find your local literary haven—all in one place. The app takes inspiration…
Read to the Beat 2026 Summer Reading Challenge
Join the rhythm of reading this summer! As the long, sunny days of summer approach, there’s no better time to encourage children to explore new ideas and stories than through the joy of reading. This year,…
World Book Night 2026 with Read Manchester
Thursday 23rd April was World Book Night, the Reading Agency’s annual campaign which aims to celebrate and inspire reading for pleasure. As World Book Day encourages children to read, World Book Night promotes the too often overlooked benefits…
Read Manchester Spring Update
Welcome to our Read Manchester Spring update. We are well into the National Year of Reading now, with lots of exciting events coming up both nationally and locally. Since January, we’ve been out and about for World Book Day and celebrated…
See Myself in Books Festival
Every child deserves to see themselves in the stories they read. This is the driver behind Read Manchester’s See Myself in Books campaign, which aims to introduce children to a…
Heartstone Story Circles and See Myself in Books
Every child deserves to see themselves in the stories they read. This is the foundation of Read Manchester’s See Myself in Books campaign which aims to introduce children to a range of diverse…
Manchester Central Library Story Times
Get your little ones involved with The National Year of Reading by coming along to one of our free story times. Manchester Central Library offers a welcoming space for families…
Summer Reading Challenge 2025: Celebrating Our Winners!
Summer Reading Challenge: Celebrating Our Winners!
Watch Shane Hegarty, author of this year’s Early Years Transition Read introduce The One and Only You
We are delighted that The One and Only You by Shane Hegarty and illustrated by Ben Mantle is our Transition Read title for children starting Reception classes this September. The…
Baby Week 2025- Launch at Central Library
On Monday 16 June, hundreds of buggies, prams and babes in arms flowed across St Peter’s Square between Manchester Art Gallery and Manchester Central Library as Manchester Baby Week 2025…