Winter Holiday Activity Fund Sessions in Libraries 2025
This winter we will be hosting 14 sessions in 6 libraries, especially for children aged 10 – 16 who are eligible for free school meals. We have many exciting and…
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Manchester Libraries Launch Youth-Friendly Standards
This year we have been looking at our Youth Friendly Standards, consulting with young people from all over Manchester to obtain their views and feedback to help launch a new…
Summer Reading Challenge 2025: Celebrating Our Winners!
Summer Reading Challenge: Celebrating Our Winners!
Central Library’s Big Language Celebration
On 13 September we were delighted to celebrate Manchester’s linguistic diversity with a wonderful event supported by Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham. The celebration was part of…
Pride in the Archives
Manchester Pride is over for this year, but we are still celebrating the landmark anniversaries of two landmark Manchester charities – 50 years of the LGBT Foundation and 40 years…
Take 10 to Read 2025
This October Read Manchester ran our annual Take 10 to Read campaign, promoting the importance of reading for mental health and wellbeing. Just 10 minutes of reading can be a…
What is Take 10 to Read?
Reading is a great way to relax, boost your mood and escape the pressures of daily life. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to take 10 minutes to read on Friday 10…
Nearly 2 Miles of Yarn and 1000 Volunteer Hours: How Manchester Libraries Yarnbombed the Women’s Rugby World Cup
The Women’s Rugby World Cup is one of the most important fixtures in this year’s sport’s calendar, and Anna Putek, Delivery Assistant at Manchester Central Library, was thrilled when she…
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…
Childminders gifted new book collections for children in their care
Read Manchester has been working on a project to gift Manchester childminders collections of brand new, high quality books for them to use with the children in their daily care.…
Beswick Library Chess Tournament
Chess Club was started at Beswick Library at the beginning of this year by staff member Jamie and has swiftly grown in size and popularity since then. In April, Jamie…
Library of the Month: Miles Platting Community Library
Miles Platting Community Library is Library of the Month! Set in the heart of Miles Platting, the community library serves the local residents. We offer age-friendly drop-ins, Tiny Tots and…
Empathy Festival 2025
This month Manchester Libraries spread the message about the power of “jumping into someone else’s story” by taking part in Empathy Lab’s 10 day nationwide Empathy Day Festival. 1056 children…
Libraries Update – May 2025
Digital Spaces VR Headsets are Coming to Manchester Libraries! Get ready to be amazed by our new collection of VR experiences right here in your local library. Supported by the…
Empathy Day Festival – jump into someone else’s story!
“Empathy is something we need every day, not just when a friend or family member is sad.” (Manchester school pupil) From the 2nd – 12th June, Manchester Libraries will be…
FESTIVAL OF LIBRARIES LOOK FOR A BOOK, 27-30 May
Manchester Libraries and Read Manchester are thrilled to be part of the Festival of Libraries Look for A Book activity again this year! Five hundred copies of Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock’s…
Manchester Libraries wins Library of the Year Award!
Manchester Libraries has won Library of the Year at the British Book Awards 2025, for its partnership with Blue Peter Book Club. The revival of the Library of the Year…
See Myself in Books Festival
Read Manchester’s inaugural See Myself in Books Festival to promote representation in children’s books took place this March. Devised to complement our…
Becoming a Writer
As part of the celebrations for the re-opening of our newly refurbished Chorlton library, we are delighted to be able to offer a writer’s café. Join us for a workshop…
Record audience at Black British Book Festival
Over 3,000 people attended the second Black British Book Festival in Manchester! The festival took over Central Library on Saturday 29th March, with four areas of workshops, author talks, discussions,…