Libraries Update – August 2026
1996 IRA Bombing and the Regeneration of Manchester – 30 Years On
Central Library is currently hosting two key exhibitions marking 30 years since the IRA bomb attack devastated Manchester city centre. Manchester Then and Now, by town planning consultant Euan Kellie, is on display on the first floor and explores the city’s regeneration following the events of 1996.
On the ground floor, a sister exhibition from Manchester Archives presents archive material and photographs commemorating the explosion on Saturday 15 June 1996. Together, the exhibitions provide an opportunity to reflect on the event and its lasting impact on residents, businesses, workers and visitors, as well as on the physical landscape of Manchester city centre.
Sunday Opening Arrives
In September the opening hours of a further 7 libraries will be increasing. This in addition to the hours increasing in our 6 smallest libraries from June this year. The staffed hours in our 3 libraries co-located with leisure centres will increase from 21 September and 4 libraries begin opening on Sundays from 27 September. A further 4 will open on Sundays from January 2027.
Please see further details at our Manchester Libraries blog.
A Record Crowd Visit on Manchester Day – Central Library
The National Year of Reading shared the top billing this year in the Manchester Day parade on 26 July. Drawing thousands of people into the city centre, the parade and family-friendly activity offer featured book characters, reading and favourite books. A record crowd of over 7,000 people visited Manchester Central Library where they were treated to book-themed craft activities with The Lowry and Z-Arts, Narnia theatre shows and hat making workshops.
Book doctors (aka library staff) chatted to families and ‘prescribed’ books, matching interests to books in a fun way to encourage people to expand their reading or pick up a book if they had fallen out of a regular reading habit. There was music, chatter and a real buzz of excitement in the library!
Read more at out Manchester Libraries blog.
Digital Inclusion in Action: Real Stories, Real Impact
The Digital Inclusion team has supported hundreds of people to cross the digital divide. In their new #DICaseStudies series, they highlight the real-world impact of digital inclusion initiatives that are making a life-changing difference to people, communities and organisations across Manchester.
These stories highlight how digital inclusion initiatives across Manchester are helping residents access opportunities, build confidence online and connect with essential services.
This is the start of a regular series. The Team will be publishing new blogs and case studies on LinkedIn each month to share learning, celebrate success and demonstrate the impact digital inclusion work is having across Manchester.
Read the latest case studies at the Manchester Digital Strategy blog.
Business Support This Summer in Your Local Library
Throughout August, the business support teams from Generator, the Business & Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC), and Build a Business took their services on the road, bringing expert information and support directly into local communities across Manchester.
Visiting nine libraries across North, Central and South Manchester, the teams met with residents to discuss their business ideas, ambitions and future plans. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the wide range of support available, including free resources, workshops, one-to-one support and specialist clinics designed to help people start, grow and develop their businesses.
The libraries visited were: Abraham Moss, Arcadia, Burnage, Chorlton, Forum Library Wythenshawe, Longsight, Newton Heath, North City and Withington.
Summer Reading Challenge Ends on a High Note with Silent Discos
As part of our Summer Reading Challenge activities, silent discos have been taking place across North Manchester libraries to great success. With three music channels to choose from, including one where children could request their favourite songs, young participants enthusiastically danced and sang along throughout the events. A special shout-out goes to Library Manager Mark, who can be seen showing off his moves on the North Manchester Libraries Facebook page!
Libraries, Creativity and Literacy at Wythenshawe Games
Wythenshawe Games returned to Wythenshawe Park as a lively festival of sport and outdoor activities, offering free sessions and taster experiences for children and young people of all ages and abilities.
Library staff hosted an information and craft stall, giving children the chance to explore their creativity through a range of hands-on activities. The National Literacy Trust also attended, promoting the joy of reading and distributing free books and magazines throughout the day.
The stall proved extremely popular, attracting a steady stream of visitors and creating opportunities for families to engage with both creative activities and reading. Children left with books, crafts and plenty of smiles, making it another successful community event.
A Summer of Creativity at the Creative Space
Two Summer Schools were hosted in the Creative Space during August, delivered by flagship projects Music Evermore and Wythenshawe Youth Theatre.
The sessions provided young people in Wythenshawe with creative, engaging activities during the summer holidays at no cost to parents and carers. Both projects have been running since the Creative Space opened in 2024 and continue to go from strength to strength. Term-time sessions will return in September. Please see the Creative Space page for times and dates.
A key strength of these programmes is that they are fully funded and free to attend. This reflects the Creative Space’s ongoing commitment to providing accessible, high-quality creative opportunities for young people and ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent participation in the arts.
Business Support at the Generator
The Generator Hub supports entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses through affordable co-working spaces at St Peter’s Square and Ancoats, alongside free workshops and one-to-one business support. Enterprise Officers Emma and Philip help clients access a wide range of resources across Greater Manchester, including more than £5 million worth of specialist business databases available through libraries via the Business & IP Centre (BIPC). The hubs offer fully equipped, bookable workspaces Monday to Friday, 9–5, providing a welcoming and productive environment in the heart of the city.
Alongside its co-working offer, the Generator Hub hosts monthly networking events and a varied programme of workshops. Recent sessions have included Exploring Canva for Beginners, hosted by Neighbourhood Delivery Assistant Josh, and Financial Analysis and Strategies, delivered by Manchester Community Central.
The St Peter’s Square hub is currently showcasing State of Mind, a three-month window exhibition presented by Karolina Kanska and Daria Protsenko, Ukrainian artists based in Manchester. Together with Maryna Adams, they co-founded HoneyCombs Hub, an organisation delivering exhibitions, workshops, and community projects. State of Mind explores the relationship between individual mental wellbeing and the society that shapes it. The artists also hosted a special presentation and networking event, giving them an opportunity to share their work and connect with the wider Generator Hub community. The exhibition is open to visitors, with all artworks on display until 20 November.
Teen Cosplay Con – Central Library
Central Library hosted its first ever Teen Cosplay Con on 18 July. This was the idea of 15 year old Amira from Chorlton High school, who co-created the event with the help of the library team. The event was designed to help teens show off their cosplay costumes, make connections with like-minded teens, and have a safe space where they could be themselves and not worry about feeling out of place.
The event was a huge success with a talk from professional milliner Julia C Walker and a cosplay competition, as well as crafts and stalls to buy merchandise from, just like a larger convention would have. The stalls were all businesses who are receiving help from the Build a Business in GM Libraries programme.
One young person said “Everyone is very kind and open, and I found it fun cause people were expressing themselves”.
Reading Roadshow – Read Manchester
Read Manchester has been out and about in parks this summer to talk to local families about the Summer Reading Challenge and the brilliant free activities happening in Libraries. The Reading Roadshow supported events including Love Parks Week at Wythenshawe, Play Day at Platt Fields and celebrated 180 years of Philips Park.
All family members were invited to choose a free book and children joined both the library and the Summer Reading Challenge. The team shared some brilliant stories and helped children to craft some junk musical instruments to tie in with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme – Read to the Beat!
“Excellent initiative to encourage children to read, amazing selection of books of all genres”
“Amazing opportunity to encourage reading for my children, books are expensive!”
“Good experience with the books, kids loved reading and picking their own books.”
Supporting Build a Business Clients Beyond the Basics
At Build a Business, support extends far beyond one-to-one advice, workshops and networking opportunities. The programme is committed to helping new businesses gain visibility, connect with customers and access opportunities that support their growth. This month, several business clients were invited to take part in Manchester Libraries’ Cosplay Teen Event, providing an opportunity to showcase and sell their products through themed market stalls. Visitors enjoyed a range of unique creations, including character-inspired soaps, handcrafted glass mushrooms, kitty-themed mobile accessories and more.
Build a Business was also pleased to support a client who recently established a Community Interest Company (CIC). Through the exhibition programme at Generator, they were able to host State of Mind, an exhibition exploring themes of wellbeing and mental health. The exhibition launched on 20 August and will be on display for three months, providing a valuable platform to share their work with the wider community. These opportunities demonstrate how Build a Business supports entrepreneurs beyond traditional business advice, helping them promote their work, reach new audiences and develop their ventures with confidence.
A Summer of Creativity and Reading
Central Library’s school holiday programme was once again a highlight of the Manchester summer, inspired by this year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme, Read to the Beat. Hundreds of children and families from across Greater Manchester and beyond took part in a vibrant programme of reading and music-themed activities.
The programme launched on 26 July with a Sunday Funday event, welcoming more than 7,000 visitors to celebrate Manchester Day and the National Year of Reading. Activities throughout the summer included ukulele sessions, guitar-making crafts, singing puppets, African drumming workshops and music sessions for toddlers.
A particular highlight was Central Library’s first-ever teen cosplay convention, which attracted 39 young people and 18 adults. Partnerships with Britannica Education and publisher Little Hibba also brought exciting events to the library, including a dinosaur-themed workshop and a celebration of Muslim children’s literature.
The programme concluded with a range of engaging activities, including a Pride-themed storytime during Manchester Pride week and The Blossom Bird, a magical storytelling session presented by Castlefield Viaduct, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer.
Celebrating Culture and Creativity at Mega Mela
Library staff were delighted to take part in this year’s Mega Mela at Platt Fields Park, one of the UK’s largest celebrations of South Asian culture, arts, music and food.
A library craft stall in the Makers’ Marquee welcomed families across both festival days, contributing to the vibrant atmosphere of the event. Visitors enjoyed creating colourful pinwheels, masks and wands, with plenty of opportunities to get creative and take home their handmade creations.
The stall was busy throughout the weekend, with families embracing the activities and helping to make the festival a memorable celebration of creativity, culture and community.
