Libraries Update – February 2026
Good Things Foundation Visit to Chorlton Library
The new Chief Executive of the Good Things Foundation, Vicki Sellick, visited Chorlton Library this month to see the great service we offer to customers to support them to become confident online users.
Chinese New Year 2026 – Central Library
On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February, Manchester Central Library welcomed visitors for a vibrant weekend of celebrations marking the Year of the Horse. Families enjoyed a full programme of hands-on cultural activities, creative workshops, and live performances throughout the two days. Festivities began on Saturday with a series of engaging performances and craft activities delivered by Bowen Education. On Sunday, early visitors were treated to a spectacular Lion Dance to open the day, followed by a rich schedule of traditional music and dance from Bowen Education and the Manchester Chinese Centre. Families also took part in an energetic dragon and lion dance workshop, which proved to be a highlight.
Popular craft workshops returned once again, including lantern making with the Chinese Music Classroom at Chetham’s School of Music, bracelet making with the Manchester Confucius Institute, and printing and paper‑folding sessions led by artists Mandy Cleveland and Caroline Coates. Visitors also had the opportunity to try on traditional Chinese clothing, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. Across the weekend, the library welcomed 4,000 visitors, making this one of the most well‑attended and memorable Chinese New Year events held at Manchester Central Library to date.
Making Manchester Fairer with Digital Devices
On Tuesday 10 February, the Digital Inclusion team visited Crowcroft Park Primary School in Longsight alongside colleagues from MAES and Flying Start to deliver a digital inclusion session for parents, as part of Making Manchester Fairer. During the visit, nine families received refurbished Asus laptops, helping to reduce barriers to online learning and ensuring children have the tools needed for schoolwork and homework.
Each family was supported to set up their device, connect to Wi‑Fi, and access key school websites, apps, and learning programmes. Three parents will also receive MiFi devices to provide reliable internet access at home. Families expressed strong appreciation, and the session demonstrated the significant difference that improved digital access can make to children’s education.
This work continued on Thursday 12 February at Park View Community School in Miles Platting, where 10 laptops and two MiFi devices were provided to families in need. Parents were again supported to get online confidently and navigate essential learning platforms. These visits highlight the vital role of digital inclusion in helping children thrive. Further sessions will take place through Spring, reaching a total of eight primary schools.
Meet Your Muslim Neighbours – Central Library
On Saturday 14 February, Manchester Central Library welcomed back the Meet Your Muslim Neighbours voluntary organisation, for a special free one-day community led event and exhibition about Islamic culture and Muslim people.
Hundreds or visitors dropped in to experience a day of fun and learning! Find out more about the Meet Your Muslim Neighbours: Explore Islam Exhibition and event at our Manchester Libraries blog.
Timeless Cyprus: Creative Sessions – Central Library
On Saturday 7 February, Manchester Central Library welcomed families for a wonderful art and theatre workshop organised by the Cyprus High Commission. A total of 25 children and 18 adults joined us for a creative, theatrical journey exploring themes of art, memory and home. The session introduced children and young people aged 6–14 to the world of Cypriot artist George Pol. Georgiou. Guided by his artworks, participants examined familiar objects that often appear in Georgiou’s paintings, such as chairs, houses, horses, and reimagined them as symbols of feelings, stories and lived experiences.
A simple chair became a keeper of memories; a house, a sense of belonging; light, both the sun of Cyprus and the hope we carry within us. Through movement, narration, observation and playful creativity, children encountered the artist’s work not as distant museum pieces, but as living stories filled with light, memory and emotion. The event concluded with a screening of The Myths of Cyprus by filmmaker Mark Kassinos, produced by the Press and Information Office in Cyprus.
Register Your Business Event & Black Business Meetup!
A standout event ‘Register Your Business’ took place on Tuesday 10 February to support entrepreneurs with the process, concluding with an impressive number of participants successfully formalising their businesses on the day. Designed exclusively for customers of Build A Business and Generator, the session offered personalised, one‑to‑one support to help attendees register with Companies House or set up as sole traders with HMRC. Unlike a standard group workshop, the event provided tailored, practical guidance shaped around each individual’s circumstances.
In addition to registration support, attendees were able to access expert advice through drop‑in clinics featuring accountants, business compliance specialists, and business advisors. A networking component also enabled new and emerging business owners to connect and share experiences. With limited spaces, the event maintained a focused atmosphere and delivered a high‑quality experience throughout.
On Thursday 19 February, the Business & IP Centre successfully launched the Black Business Meetup, expanding the business teams community engagement alongside the existing meetups with the Hong Kong and Ukrainian business communities. The event brought together Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and community members for an evening of networking and peer learning, with introductions to our key business support resources.
International Mother Language Day – North City Library
On Saturday 21 February, North City Library marked International Mother Language Day with a fantastic programme of activities. Families enjoyed captivating storytelling from Irish storyteller Neysa Killeen, alongside high‑energy Afro‑Brazilian drumming and dance led by Emma and Adriana from Global Grooves.
It was wonderful to see visitors moving so enthusiastically between the two sessions, fully absorbed in the stories one moment and bringing plenty of energy to the dancing the next! The event also featured badge‑making, scratch activities, a world‑music silent disco, and free dual‑language books generously provided by Read Manchester.
Bookgifting School Visit – Brooklands Library
Brooklands Library visited Baguley Hall Primary School for a delightful book‑gifting session with the Nursery class. Thirty‑nine children received a special Bookstart and Manchester Libraries gift pack, each containing two colour‑themed books, crayons, and a fun headband craft activity.
The children were fully engaged with the contents of their packs and loved the storytime session, which featured a transport theme. Car, Car, Truck, Jeep proved especially popular, a joyful rhyming book set to the tune of Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.
Twelve children joined the library as new members, and the whole class promised to share their thoughts on the books with their teacher. It was a warm, memorable session and a privilege to deliver.
Exploring Shared History with Alan Ward – Archives+
Manchester Archives recently hosted the launch of a new book by artist Alan Ward, which uses antique postcards to explore the elegiac history of Grandpré and Charleville‑Mézières in the Ardennes. The towns were destroyed during the First World War, and in 1921 Manchester’s Lord Mayor’s Pageant raised vital funds to support their reconstruction, including the rebuilding of the local hospital. Ward’s book offers a beautiful creative response to this shared history, shedding light on a little‑known connection between Manchester and Mézières.
The launch was attended by the Lord Mayor, Cllr Grimshaw, along with representatives from local organisations including Alliance Française. North West Film Archive screened original 1921 footage from the Lord Mayor’s Pageant, complemented by items from Manchester’s own archives and heritage objects from the period. Alan Ward’s book is available to borrow, check out our online catalogue to reserve your copy!
The Super Duper Family Festival – Central Library
Manchester Central Library was delighted to be one of the venues taking part in the Super Duper Family Festival, produced annually by CityCo on behalf of Manchester Accommodation BID. During February half term, the festival transformed Manchester City Centre into a giant playground, with a series of Play Zones offering free family activities over four days.
From Wednesday 18 to Saturday 21 February, Manchester Central Library and Manchester Central became The Story Den, attracting thousands of children to enjoy a wide range of creative and interactive sessions. Activities included Lego workshops delivered by Bricklands, storytimes hosted by Manchester Literature Festival, craft and crochet sessions, music workshops for under-fours, and a live‑action Lilo & Stitch screening complete with free popcorn and themed crafts. Families could also explore a self-guided trail around the library and a book‑themed trail leading from Manchester Central Library to Manchester Central, where children could settle in and enjoy CBeebies Bedtime Stories.
The festival concluded on Saturday with a vibrant celebration of International Mother Language Day, highlighting the many languages spoken across Manchester. A total of 4,585 visitors came through the doors to enjoy food tasters and performances from a range of community groups, including The Polish Saturday School in Manchester, Sunflower Manchester, Žemyna, Bowen Education, Colibri Mexican Folkdance, and others.
Business Events – The Generator
February began on a strong note at the Generator Enterprise Hub as they partnered with their colleagues from Build a Business and the Business & IP Centre team to host a large event to support entrepreneurs with the process of registering their business. An accountancy expert was also on hand to answer questions around tax and reporting topics that can often feel daunting for those at the start of their business journey.
In addition to the regular programme of workshops to support entrepreneurs, Enterprise Officers Philip and Emma have been delivering a record number of 1‑to‑1 sessions, giving small business owners the opportunity to discuss their ideas, discover the free resources available across Greater Manchester, and gain a clearer understanding of how to make the most of the support available. The sessions also include signposting to specialist organisations within the wider GM enterprise support ecosystem to help early‑stage start‑ups progress. Another busy month is now underway as the Hub approaches the end of the financial year, with many members making full use of co‑working spaces to complete their final sales and tax returns.
Creative Outreach with Caritas – Didsbury Library
Didsbury Library staff recently collaborated with Lucy, a refugee project coordinator from Caritas, to deliver a library information session at the Britannia Country House Hotel. Alongside providing a library information stall, staff were also invited to run a half‑term craft activity for families. The session was a great success, with an enjoyable afternoon of conversations about the library service and a creative activity that proved popular with all ages.
A wide selection of tote bags, varied in style, shape, and size were provided, along with stencils and fabric pens. Participants of all ages took part, producing a range of imaginative and beautifully decorated bags. The atmosphere was busy but relaxed, with lots of positive conversations and happy faces throughout the session. Each child also had the chance to choose a gifted book to take home. Following the success of the visit, staff have been invited back and planning is now underway for the next session.
