In 2021, Manchester Metropolitan University opened the North West’s first public poetry library.

The mission of Manchester Poetry Library is to widen access to poetry and to support the creation and performance of new writing at every level from primary school to professional publication.

The Poetry Library is located in a new MMU Arts and Humanities building on the Oxford Road, with the Manchester Writing School and Manchester School of Theatre. Built on the site of a former Singer sewing machine factory, a fitting heritage for the creative makers of our University, this new building will be home to a cluster of disciplines united by the common theme of ‘voice’: Creative Writing, Acting, Journalism and Languages. Poetry Library projects and events will benefit from the physical and human resources in this shared space, from performance and recording facilities to translators.

The core collection of Manchester Poetry Library consists of late 19th, 20th and 21st century poetry in English from around the world. They stock journals, pamphlets, books, collections, anthologies, audio recordings, films, big press, little press, poetry for children, and poetry in translation. The library also runs events, reading groups, workshops, performances and more.