Congratulations to our Summer Reading Challenge Medalists!
The summer might be over, but children are still celebrating taking part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge! Certificates and medals will be awarded to children in their primary schools this year so that children can share their reading success with their classmates. Nearly 6,000 children joined the challenge to read 6 library books during the holidays, with some children reading many more books.
As well as the reading challenge, libraries have been busy with free Challenge themed activity sessions too. Children enjoyed beat boxing, arts and crafts, theatre shows and storytelling. Hundreds of children also entered our book review competition. The Challenge offers children the chance to enjoy reading with prizes and incentives while helping them to be school-ready in September.
George House Trust – 40 years of HIV Activism.
HIV charity George House Trust has received a £151,760 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for ‘The History and Legacy of HIV in Greater Manchester’ project. Manchester Archives are partnering with George House Trust in this fantastic project to tell the story of HIV across Greater Manchester and the associated activism, heroism, passion and loss within communities. Project manager Joseph Tanzer will collaborate with Manchester Archives to appraise and catalogue George House Trust’s physical and digital archive. The materials will be preserved at Manchester Central Library, improving public access to the stories and lives within this significant collection.
The project, coinciding with GHT’s 40th anniversary in 2025, runs from 2024 to spring 2026 and will also create oral histories and other material to add to the collection. It will also host a range of exciting and celebratory events including an exhibition at Archives+ in Central Library, showcasing the extraordinary history of HIV activism in Greater Manchester and the region’s progress in changing outdated perceptions and increased awareness about HIV and tackling HIV stigma.
Chorlton Book Festival
The Chorlton Book Festival returned with a wonderful celebration of reading and storytelling. Library staff hosted events across Chorlton, featuring highlights such as Brian Groom discussing his bestselling book ‘Made in Manchester’, Linda Brogan told the real story of The Reno Club in Moss Side, Juliette Tomlinson launched her new novel based on the true story of John Rylands, David Gaffney and Sarah-Clare Conlon took audiences on an aquatic adventure, while Andrew Simpson entertained with graveyard tales.
The festival drew large crowds, excited to engage with talented authors right in their community. It also featured a fantastic programme for children, including family fun days, craft activities, a musical Storytime with Jo Jingles, and an event with popular children’s author Marie Basting. It was a joyful celebration of books, reading and community activities for all ages!
Piccadilly Radio Sound Archive – Manchester Central Library
We’re delighted to share the news that an archive collection of Manchester’s iconic radio station Piccadilly held at Manchester Central Library will for the first time be digitised for a new generation of radio fans and history buffs since it first started in April 1974. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded Manchester Central Library the £99,000 grant to make the archive catalogues browsable for new audiences by curating 300 Piccadilly Radio clips and ephemera at the Manchester Digital Music Archive (MDMA). The lottery grant has been topped up with match funding from Manchester Libraries Trust and former Piccadilly Radio staff.
The project grant will enable a poignant look back through the archives and the legacy of Piccadilly Radio today. It will also help to nurture new young radio lovers by making the station more interactive for younger people through a collaboration with the Manchester Hip Hop archive. Workshops and reminiscence sessions will take place for older people to help them gain new skills and confidence, while training will be given to 60 volunteers to improve finding aids which enables them to listen to the clips from home or the library. The journey to making Piccadilly Radio archives digital will be celebrated with a 6-month exhibition at Manchester Central Library next year alongside tours for volunteers, participants and listeners.
Storytelling and Performances at Gorton Library
Children from All Saints Primary School in Gorton were treated to a fantastic interactive Natures Fables themed activity with brilliant theatrical performer and storyteller Sophia Hatfield who explored flowers, birds, insects, the weather and common UK wildlife. Sophia sang, played accordion & ukulele and acted out the mini tales much to the delight of the two classes.
One of the feedback comments included the following from teacher Shawna:
“A big thank you for the author visit that Year 1 and Year 3 attended. Both classes absolutely loved it and the staff said it was a brilliant session.”
See My World – Exhibition Workshop at Central Library
Central Library welcomed an artist-led workshop linked to See My World: Connected Fragments, an international exhibition which was hosted on the first floor of Central Library from 15 July to 28 September. The exhibition brought together the worlds of Nigerian diaspora artists Chigozie obi, Daniel Oyegade and Dou, as they cracked and connected the mirrors of their heritage, history and culture through photography, paintings and film installations. The exhibition was celebrated with an art workshop open to children up to 12 years old, 15 young artists (and their grown-ups) attended the session and participated in using various art techniques inspired by the exhibition. The workshop was great fun and an opportunity to encourage families to engage with Central Library’s exhibitions in a different way.
Grand Day Out at Beswick Library
Luke Crookes from Music Health CIC hosted a fantastic free Sound & Motion session at Miles Platting Library for the Grand Day Out older people’s group. Designed to improve movement, flexibility, and wellbeing through music, sound, and creative movement, the sessions aim to help participants feel comfortable in their bodies and express themselves in healthy ways. These fun and experimental sessions will take place every month have a new theme each time, with this month’s focus on water. Participants fully engaged with movement, sound, and singing, as shown by their enthusiastic feedback. One member, who suffers from arthritis, shared that their whole body felt relaxed and energised afterward.
Future themes will be chosen from books, stories, history, and spoken word. Luke said the group are really excited about what they are creating and hope the sessions will help to support the health and wellbeing of local residents. After this session the group members expressed how good they felt , one participant who has arthritis said their whole body felt relaxed and alive! Luke is running 12 of these Sound and Motion sessions on a voluntary basis with a long term plan to seek funding to help to sustain the sessions which he will have been developed by working together with participants.
When The Lowry Took Over Central Library
On 14 September we had a truly special Saturday at Central Library, as The Lowry staff took over the building and delivered a series of FREE drop-in activities for the whole family. Over 300 children and adults came through the doors and joined in with the craft activities to make bookmarks and masks, or build and decorate their own miniature versions of Elmer the Elephant. Others completed an Elmer-themed trail (with prizes!), attended a storytime session or visited our Performance Space to watch Stickman, Room on the Broom, Bing and The Gruffalo on the big screen. A very popular activity was the crown-making session, and The Lowry’s dance party, both inspired by Queens, a Lowry exhibition celebrating the musical SIX. As you can see from this photo, even Stickman couldn’t help but join the dance! Read more at our Manchester Libraries blog.
Treasures of Central Library and Revealing the Rochdale Canal Archive
Manchester Archives held two discovery and handling dates as part of our activities for Heritage Open Week 2024 at Central Library in September, showcasing two fascinating collections which don’t always see the light of day. Central Library staff Darren and Carole hosted a handling session of the most precious and unusual volumes from our historic Special Collections, engaging visitors with information and comment about these beautiful and highly illustrated texts.
Archives staff Alison and Alessia held a small exhibition of beautiful 18th century posters, correspondence and original letters from our extensive Rochdale Canal Company archive, previously undiscovered and revealed by our Archives+ volunteer, Tony. Many people stopped to read and talk about the collection, astonished that this original material was contemporary with the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. The collection reveals eternally relevant concerns such as public vandalism of dynamite in the Rochdale Canal or the wig-powder and laundry bills submitted in the Company secretary’s expense claims.
NEW Storytime Sessions at Central Library!
Our storytime offer at Central Library keeps growing! In addition to our weekly storytime in English on Tuesdays and Thursdays and our monthly Italian, Spanish and Mandarin storytimes, we now offer BSL storytime sessions led by Manchester Deaf Centre. The first session in September was attended by deaf and hearing children for a total of 20 children. Also joining our storytime offer from September onwards is Little Reads, a fun interactive workshop designed by Manchester Literature Festival. These workshops use drama, dance, songs, play and craft to explore children’s picture books and are now being hosted in Central Library’s Children’s Library every third Wednesday and Saturday of each month.
We are also excited to announce that from October onwards we will be offering monthly storytimes in Ukrainian and we are making plans for future storytime sessions in Polish, so stay tuned! Our current storytime offer at Central Library includes English, Mandarin, Italian, Spanish, BSL, Ukrainian and Polish. Can you speak a language we are not currently providing? Interested in volunteering with us? If so, please get in touch with angela.rawcliffe@manchester.gov.uk
‘Everything But A Beach’ Podcast – Business & IP Centre
Everything But A Beach is a podcast that explores Manchester’s hidden history, created by journalists Chris Osuh, Dean Kirby, and Yakub Qureshi. With decades of experience in the city’s cultural landscape, the trio examines Manchester’s Victorian heritage, social advancements, and political influence. Dean Kirby’s historical research at Manchester Central Library, including work for his book Angel Meadow, led the team to discover the Manchester Business and IP Centre.
The Business & IP Centre’s podcast studio played a crucial role in the podcast’s production, providing high-quality recording facilities, soundproofing, and a distraction-free environment. This allowed the team to avoid the cost and hassle of acquiring equipment. The library’s historic setting also inspired their connection to Manchester’s past. Beyond technical support, the BIPC staff offered valuable guidance on launching and promoting the podcast, including organising a successful launch event at the Centre.
Read more at our Manchester Libraries blog.
Business Events at the Generator
September at The Generator marked the return of our popular monthly events! They kicked off with a successful Networking Evening, welcoming many new faces into our community. Tanya O’Toole from Tobass Accounting also hosted another engaging and valuable Accountancy Clinic, which was well-received by our members. In addition, we introduced a brand-new workshop, Cybersecurity for Small Businesses, led by the North West Cyber Resilience Centre. This session provided Generator members with essential insights into safeguarding their businesses against cybercrime and understanding the latest threats. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the team is busy preparing for the official launch of Generator Royal Mills, and we’re excited to open our doors for this special event.
Creative Groups at Beswick Library
Beswick Library staff recently launched their new Hello Saturday Craft Group for children which takes place every Saturday (term time only),10-11:30. There are also two ongoing groups with partners at The Royal Exchange:
Chatty Crafts – every other Thursday, 10-12
Beswick Young Company for young people aged 11-16. Every Wednesday 3-4:30 (term time only).
Come along and get creative!