Get Online Week across Manchester Libraries
The Digital Inclusion team took part in Get Online Week, supporting residents to take their first digital steps, such as using the NHS App or exploring ChatGPT. The event tied in with Digitober, Greater Manchester’s digital celebration, with inspiring responses shared at Central Library and Gorton Hub. The team ran three events across the city, meeting residents and having great conversations about how digital access can be made easier and more inclusive:
- Newton Heath Medical Centre – The team worked with NHS staff to support around 45 patients with signing up to and using the NHS App, helping them feel more confident managing their healthcare digitally.
- Central Library Marketplace – Around 30 residents explored tools like BorrowBox, family history resources, social tariffs, and council services – all with the aim of helping residents to better understand how getting online can help them in their everyday lives. Residents were also able to join a free 3D printing demonstration workshop run by the Business and IP Centre Manchester.
- Gorton Hub Marketplace & Workshops – With over 60 people supported, this event featured stalls from key partners including Citizens Advice, Manchester Adult Education Services and AbilityNet as well as free workshops on online safety and communication run by MadLab.
Find out more at the Manchester Libraries blog.
A Celebration of 175 years of the Public Libraries Act at Central Library
Manchester Central Library were delighted to recently host the event “Celebrating 175 years of the Public Libraries Act”, organised by Libraries Connected (the independent charity that supports, promotes and represents public libraries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Commemorating this milestone, the event invited librarians, users, authors and politicians to celebrate public libraries. The event also launched Manchester Libraries exhibition ‘Libraries 175: Celebrating 175 years of the Public Libraries Act’, which details how Manchester was the first borough in the country to open a free public library under the new Public Libraries Act. Manchester Free Library opened in September 1852.
Read more at our Manchester Libraries blog.
Chorlton Library Full Opening Event
Chorlton Library recently reopened in full after a major refurbishment and restoration. The library is a Grade II listed library which first opened in 1914, a gift from the famous Scottish American benefactor Andrew Carnegie. The centrepiece was the unveiling of the stunning dome in the library entrance along with the mezzanine gallery which had been concealed for decades, which now allows natural light to flood the space below. Having opened to the public at the start of April, more than 58,000 people have already passed through the doors, and more than 40,000 books have been borrowed.
Take 10 – Read Manchester
This year’s Take 10 campaign saw the Read Manchester team and Literacy champions head to The Christie and Royal Manchester Children’s hospitals where they chatted with patients, families, and staff about the importance of taking 10 minutes to read for their mental health. Over 2000 books were gifted at the events! One patient said “Thank you! Reading quietens a mind worrying about cancer!” and a staff member told us “I like to read to help me feel less anxious on my breaks”
150 children from three schools joined us at Central Library with author and poet Oliver Sykes. Oli shared his personal story about the power of reading for just 10 minutes a day. He has also supported our Take 10 campaign with this video of his poem Your Climb.
Finally, we were thrilled to welcome author James Davis, creator of ‘Scarlet: Defender of the Universe’, who visited Briscoe Lane Academy & Old Hall Drive Academy. James met with 140 children, sharing laughs and stories from his life and hilarious book. Each school received a bundle of James’s books so the joy of reading can continue long after the visit!
Business Support at the Generator
With the arrival of autumn, the Generator has seen another very busy month of co-working, workshops, and events, across both our sites.
Generator Royal Mills have welcomed various podcasting sessions, with different guests stopping by each week to record their session. Likewise, photography and filming have been very popular – the dust fully shook off our Go-Pro cameras and studio backdrops!
Workshops this month have included ‘Making Tax Digital’, ‘Getting Started with Chat GPT’ and the very popular ‘Getting Started with CANVA’, where attendees engaged in an interactive session and guidance through the design software. Also hosted for the first time, was ‘Building your Brand Online: Website Basics for Entrepreneurs’ – an exciting workshop guiding new start-ups through the building of their website, delivered by a member of the Generator community.
Other highlights this month involved the re-potting of the lovely plants at Royal Mills, and the planning of a fancy-dress Halloween special for registered members of the space. Be sure to keep an eye out on their socials to see everyone in their fabulous costumes!
To sign up to upcoming events, or find out more, get in touch at https://www.generatormcr.org/ or email generator@manchester.gov.uk
Manchester Literature Festival Birthday Bash – Central Library
It’s hard to believe it’s already been 25 years since the Manchester Literature Festival has been brightening up our autumn days with their fantastic selection of authors. In addition to their excellent programme for adults, this year they brought some real treats to our younger readers at Central Library. On 17 October we had the pleasure of hosting Kimberly Whittam, whose novel Quiet Storm was chosen as the transition read for every child starting Year 7 in a Manchester school. Over 150 high school children joined Kimberly in the Performance Space for a wonderful workshop about finding confidence in quietness.
The next day event was followed up the day after with a wonderful offer for readers between 4 and 7 years old, who joined us for a day of storytelling with Sue Hendra, author of Supertato, Katy Ashworth, author of This, That, What?, and Serena Patel, author of Pia’s Pet Party. But Manchester Literature Festival saved a big surprise for last, with Wild Science bringing spiders, chameleons, and other animals to the Performance Space! The pop-up TV studio and newsroom for kids Media Cubs were also there, so keep an eye peeled on their channel for a video recap of the event!
Fun Palaces at North City Library
Early October brought the excitement of Fun Palaces to North City Library, with a fantastic range of activities for families to enjoy. From hands-on science experiments and slime making to relaxing yoga sessions and daffodil bulb planting, there was something for everyone.
Afrocats hosted a vibrant collage-making workshop, which complemented their ongoing exhibition Building Stronger Communities Together (on display until early January 2026). Attendees also enjoyed a variety of creative crafts, our ever-popular LEGO and Beyblades Clubs, and even had the chance to test out the brand-new podcasting equipment!
Scouts Earn Their Library Badge at The Forum Library
Library staff were thrilled to welcome a local scout group to The Forum Library as part of their journey to earning their Library Badge. One of our brilliant library staff members led an inspiring and interactive session, packed with useful information, digital skills, and everything needed to meet the badge requirements.
The scouts had a fantastic time exploring the library, with many signing up for their own library cards and borrowing books to take home. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and the visit left a lasting impression on everyone involved. Library staff were especially touched by the feedback from the scout leader:
“Thank you so much for letting us come to the library this evening. Everyone had such a great time and most of them signed up and took books home. It was a fantastic session, and everyone really enjoyed it. A huge thank you to the staff also, they were fantastic and so patient with everyone.”
A huge well done to our team for making the visit so memorable and for inspiring a new generation of library users!
Build a Business: Supporting Start-Ups, Strengthening Communities
Build A Business has shown a genuine commitment to supporting entrepreneurship in Greater Manchester, with a particular focus on the Hong Kong community. In partnership with Hong Kong Cultural Community CIC since April 2025, the business team have provided invaluable resources and support for aspiring entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Through this collaboration alone, the Business and IP Centre at Manchester Central Library have hosted over 20 events, engaging more than 400 participants. The events cover a comprehensive range of workshops and seminars, from grant writing and community governance to arts and crafts, designed to equip people with practical business skills. What sets this collaboration apart is the welcoming yet professional environment it has created, where start-ups, community organisers, and first-time entrepreneurs feel confident enough to test their ideas and learn.
Ricky Leung, from the Hong Kong community who is a global food trader and restaurateur at Malay Malay Home in Salford shared his experience at the Libraries 175 Conference. He expressed his appreciation for the exceptional support available to new businesses in Manchester, saying, “Manchester offers the best support for start-ups in the world! I mean it, as I’ve never experienced anything like this elsewhere.”
Celebrating Black History Month at Chorlton Library
As part of Manchester Libraries’ Black History Month programme, Chorlton Library hosted a health information event which really brought the community together. A range of impressive stall holders attended, including Caribbean and African Health Network, Answer Cancer, Can Survive, Glaucoma, Be Well, Real Food Health, Windrush Customer Support and Engagement Team, all offering valuable guidance and information to to support community health and wellbeing.
Guests enjoyed delicious food provided by Bahar Café, which proved to be a real crowd-pleaser and helped create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Library staff also screened A Love Beyond, a powerful film raising awareness about dementia, and facilitated a relaxing yoga session. Children were kept entertained with creative craft activities, adding a joyful touch to the day. It was a fantastic event which tackled important health topics in an engaging, friendly, and inclusive way – a celebration of community spirit and shared learning.
Manchester Mind Uses the Business & IP Centre Podcast Studio to Amplify Mental Health Awareness
Manchester Mind, a mental health charity serving the local community for 36 years, took a creative leap with support from the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) at Central Library. Samantha Harwood, Marketing and Communications Manager, discovered the BIPC’s free podcast studio and used it to launch Mindfulness and Relaxation for Menopause – the podcast! The podcast, which highlights Manchester Mind’s innovative wellbeing courses, has since grown into a wider series exploring mental health and community support. As part of Local Mind Week, Samantha recorded two special episodes under the theme “Chats that matter, for minds that matter,” featuring guests from Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Manchester Mind’s own team. Samantha said:
“As a charity, having access to the equipment as a free resource is invaluable—it gave us the chance to try something new!”
It’s been a pleasure to host the recordings of these podcasts at Manchester Central Library, read more at our Manchester Libraries blog.
Cheetham Cultural Festival at Abraham Moss Library
Abraham Moss Library proudly took part in this year’s Cheetham Cultural Festival with a vibrant mini fun day. The morning was filled with creativity and connection through LEGO building and classic board games, followed by an afternoon craft session inspired by the colourful work of American artist Alma Woodsey Thomas.
The celebrations continued the next day at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre for the festival’s closing ceremony. Library staff hosted a lovely autumn-themed craft activity, which was warmly received by attendees of all ages. The event featured a rich blend of cultural activities and concluded with captivating performances by Mad Theatre and IMM (Intergenerational Music Making), accompanied by a delicious spread enjoyed by all.
Central Library + The Lowry = Saturday Spectacular!
Central Library celebrated an extra special Saturday Spectacular in partnership with The Lowry. Staff from the beloved Salford Quays institution, which is turning 25 this year, took over two floors of the building for a Quentin Blake-themed extravaganza inspired by their recent exhibition on the legendary illustrator! Over 500 people came through our doors to watch a collection of Roald Dahl classics on the big screen and attend storytelling sessions with Angelica Sprocket. The Peppa Pig-themed disco and the craft workshops, which included badge making and illustration, were also very popular!
The Lowry’s takeover of Central Library is now a permanent feature in our events calendar, and we’re already looking forward to next year! But if you can’t wait until then, find out what surprises we have in store for half term at Library Live!
Fun Palaces and International Day of Older Persons at Central Library
Every October, families visit our libraries for Fun Palaces, a free event celebrating community skills and passions. This year, on 4 October, Central Library teamed up with International Day of Older Persons for our biggest event yet! Older residents enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment in the Performance Space, including a brilliant solo ABBA tribute by One of Us. They also met a beekeeper, joined ABBA-themed craft workshops, and learned crochet with our library staff member, Anna Putek. Staff were also honoured to welcome the Lord and Lady Mayor and Councillor Annette Wright.
Read more at the Manchester Libraries blog.