It’s the third Festival of Libraries, which this year runs for 5 days between Wednesday 7th – Sunday 11th June. This Festival is a celebration of the libraries in Greater Manchester and the unique and often free events are taking place in ALL TEN boroughs of our amazing city.

We’ve created a handy breakdown by borough below for you to see which events are on where, but you can also view events by borough in the official festival brochure (linked below), or use the ‘Location’ tab on our What’s On to select your borough and only see relevant events to you.

If you click on the location tab shown above, a drop down list will appear and you can scroll through, click on your borough and the events shown underneath will then only show those in your area.

Alternatively, we have created an alphabetical list of each borough and its events below it (in date order).

 

All Boroughs

We have loads of online events available for everyone to attend; Future of Poetry Libraries (2) on Thursday 8th June with Manchester Poetry Library, Right to Roam: Caroline Lucas MP in Conversation with Anita Sethi on Thursday 8th June with The Portico Library, Creatives in Libraries to name a few.

 

• From Tuesday 6th – Friday 30th June, Central Library at Le Manns Crescent will be hosting the Make Mine Manga Exhibition.
• Story Stem will be at High Street Library at 10-11am AND 12-1pm on Saturday 10th June. Little ones and their grown ups will learn about our natural world through immersive storytelling.
• Beatmaking and Lyricism at Little Lever Library 4-5.30pm on Saturday 10th June is a workshop with Yussuf Maleem where young people can learn new skills in music production.
• David Scott will be at Bolton Library and Museum on Le Manns Crescent at 6pm on Sunday 11th June. This event is in partnership with Manchester University Press and will be a discussion with Dave Haslam about David’s new book ‘Mancunians’. This event requires booking, so please use the link to book.

 

• A Manga Workshop with professional manga artists will be available at Bury Library from 4-6pm on Friday 9th June.
• Old Green Time Machine will be at Radcliffe Library from 10-11am AND 12-1pm on Saturday 10th June. Bring your children to follow this dance theatre company’s race to save the world!
• Comic Art exhibition.

 

• The RoundView tabletop game will be available to play from 29th May – 30th June in Manchester Central Library. It’s a visually striking game to help us talk about the environment and the impact of our actions. Let’s think about we we can do rather than what we shouldn’t do.
• Manchester Poetry Library Tours will be running at 12.30pm each day from Wednesday 7th – Saturday 10th June.
• School’s Writing Trail will be available to view at Manchester Central Library 1-15th June

Wednesday 7th June

• Underscore: A Round-Table Discussion on Poetry and Text in Live Performance will take place with the artists involved in the Underscore performance on Friday. 1-3pm at Manchester Poetry Library.
• Writing Workshop with Manchester Multilingual City Poet Anjum Malik to celebrate South Asian culture. This free workshop is at Manchester Central Library, 5-7pm.
• Cheddar Gorgeous in conversation with Paul Burston at 6pm in the Baronial Hall at Chetham’s Library. This event requires pre-booking.

Thursday 8th June

• Join us at Writing for Wellbeing at Chetham’s Library 12-2pm Thurday 8th June. In Partnership with Creative Manchester, let professionals from The Centre for New Writing lead you a writing workshop in the healthy impact of writing.
• Re:Sound will perform the newest phase of the project from 5-6.30pm Thursday 8th June at Manchester Central Library. Come and experience the creations of KYSO, Afrocats and Pendleton Sixth Form College in response to their work with Greater Manchester’s Sound Archives.
• Love to Read: This Beating Heart with Laura Barnett & Livi Michael takes place at Manchester Poetry Library at 6.30-7.30pm on Thursday 8th June.
• Right to Roam: Caroline Lucas MP in conversation with Anita Sethi at 7pm on Thursday 8th June at The Portico Library.

Friday 9th June

• Old Green Time Machine will be at Newton Heath Library at 10-11am AND 12-1pm Friday 9th June. Bring your children to follow this dance theatre company’s race to save the world!
• What’s in a Word is on 11am-12pm Friday 9th June at Chetham’s Library in partnership with Creative Manchester. How do we define words? Let’s learn about meanings of words, including those in your own mother language.
• Down Memory Lane with Archives+ will be at Manchester Central Library from 1-4pm on Friday 9th June. Have a look at their memory boxes or create your own, and look at their images.
• Emulsion Lift workshop with Lydia Hounat will be at 2pm on Friday 9th June at The Portico Library, this 3 hour workshop will explore self image through photographs and words.
• Simon Armitage is running a poetry writing Masterclass at Manchester Central Library 4-5pm on Friday 9th June. Please book your place on this class.
• Underscore by Quarantine is at Manchester Central Library from 9-11.59pm on Friday 9th June. Gather outside the Library to engage with this digital experiment that will project live writing.

Saturday 10th June

• Beatmaking and Lyricism, 11am-12.30pm Saturday 10th June, is at Manchester Poetry Library. Young people can learn new skills in music production in this workshop with Yussuf Maleem.
• Workers’ Words from Lancashire Life is from 11am-4pm on Saturday 10th June at John Rylands Library. Explore the exhibition about the creative expression of urban communities from industrial Lancashire.
• Pathways into Publishing will showcase careers in the book publishing industry from 11am-4pm on Saturday 10th June at The Portico Library. Please book your place in advance.
• The Stories of Gorton will be at Manchester Central Library, 12-1pm Saturday 10th June. This is a chance to hear the stories found by 5 locals over 6 months as they investigated their changing area. Please pre-book your spot at this event.
• North City Library – Festival of Libraries Family Fun Day is on Saturday 10th June from 2-4pm. Go along to enjoy an afternoon jam-packed with stories and activities.
• Forum Library – Festival of Libraries Celebration Fun Day is from 2-4pm on Saturday 10th June with an afternoon full of fun interactive activities in Wythenshawe.
• Gorton Library – Festival of Libraries Funday for an afternoon of creative activities from 2-4pm on Saturday 10th June.
• Inspired by Libraries with Linda Brogan will take place at Manchester Central Library 6-7pm Saturday 10th June. Please pre-book your place at this event.

Sunday 11th June

• Sunday Funday to Celebrate Manchester Festival of Libraries runs 12-4pm on Sunday 11th June at Manchester Central Library.
• The Edible Readathon, from 12.30-1.30pm on Sunday 11th June, allows children to experience an immersive sensory experience of popular children’s literature at Manchester Central Library. Please pre-book onto this event.

Post-Festival

• From 7-9pm on Thursday 15th June, we’ll celebrate the Windrush NHS Stories Launch at Manchester Central Library. Untold Stories celebrates diverse contributions to the National Health Service, this is the launch of our work for this project looking specifically telling the stories of the Windrush Contribution.

 

• Oldham Schools Local History Exhibition is running at Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre from Monday 5th June – Monday 3rd July.
• Old Green Time Machine is at Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre from 10-11am AND 12-1pm on Wednesday 7th June. Bring your children to follow this dance theatre company’s race to save the world!
• Go Baby at Oldham Libraries will be on Thursday 8th June from 10.30am – 12pm.
• Inspired By Libraries with Raymond Antrobus is at Lees Library from 2-3pm on Wednesday 7th June. Prior booking is required.
• Story Stem will be at Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre from 10-11am AND 12-1pm on Thursday 8th June. Little ones and their grown ups will learn about our natural world through immersive storytelling.
• Vibrant Voices will be at Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre from 1-3pm on Friday 9th June. Come along for a brew and a biscuit, but mainly a big singsong.

 

• ‘Reading Rocks!’ will be running at Norden Library during its opening hours from 5th-10th June, Middleton Library 4-5pm Thursday 8th, Langley Library 3.30-4.30pm Friday 9th, then Spotland Library 11am-12pm and Rochdale Central Library 11am-1pm Saturday 10th. Decorate pebbles with book themed paintings and leave them outside for others to find.
• Pictures in the Park at Middleton Library is a Bookish Treasure Hunt around Jubilee Park from 12-5pm 5-12th June.
• Festival LEGO club will be at Langley Library from 3.30-4.30pm on Tuesday 6th June and Littleborough Library from 11am-12pm on Saturday 10th June. Come along to build a super fairy tale themed structure.
• Story Stem will be at Rochdale Central Library from 10-11am AND 12-1pm on Friday 9th June. Little ones and their grown ups will learn about our natural world through immersive storytelling.
• Fishing for Rainbows is at Rochdale Central Library from 1-2pm on Wednesday 7th June. Come and see this adaptation of Oliver Sykes new book!
• ‘Rainbow Bookmarks’ is an event at Heywood Library 1.30-2.30pm Thursday 8th and 3.30-4.30pm Friday 9th June Littleborough Library. Create rainbow bookmarks with the library and either take them home, give them as a gift or place in books in the library for others to find!
• Puppet Craft Story Time is at Langley Library 3.30-4.30pm on Thursday 8th June. Create your puppet character then build a story with them. Children’s tickets require booking.

 

• Old Green Time Machine at Swinton Library from 10-11am AND 12-1pm on Thursday 8th June. Bring your children to follow this dance theatre company’s race to save the world!
• Fishing for Rainbows 4-5pm on Friday 9th June at Pendleton Library. Come and see this adaptation of Oliver Sykes new book!
• Beatmaking and Lyricism at Walkden Library, 4-5.30pm Friday 9th June, is a workshop with Yussuf Maleem where young people can learn new skills in music production.
• Inspired by Libraries with Simon Armitage at Eccles Library at 7pm Friday 9th June. Celebrate Libraries with the Poet Laureate who will read poetry and answer questions. Pre-booking required.
• New Radical Voices with Oliver Lomax is a poetry workshop for young people ages 12-16 at the Working Class Movement Library, 12-4pm Sunday 11th June.
• StoryTime is where under 5s and their grown ups can come to enjoy stories and songs. This event is at several of Salford Libraries:
  • Boothstown Library – 10-11am Tuesday 6th June
  • Broughton Library – 2-3pm Tuesday 6th June
  • Eccles Library – 10.30-11.30am Thursday 8th June
  • Height Library – 10.30-11.30am Thursday 8th June
  • Pendleton Library – 9.30-10.30am AND 10.45-11.45am Wednesday 7th June
  • Swinton Library – 10.30-11.30am Monday 5th June AND 11am-12pm Friday 9th June
  • Walkden Library – 9.30-10.30am Tuesday 6th June
  • Worsley Village Library – 2-3pm Thursday 8th June

 

• Join us at Writing for Wellbeing at Marple Library 12-2pm Wednesday 7th June. In Partnership with Creative Manchester, let professionals from The Centre for New Writing lead you a writing workshop in the healthy impact of writing.
• Fishing for Rainbows at Stockport Central Library, 4-5pm Thursday 8th June. Come and see this adaptation of Oliver Sykes new book!
• Story Times, stories, songs and fun every week at libraries throughout Stockport
  • Monday 5th June
    • 11am at High Lane Library, SK6 8DX
    • 1.30pm at Edgeley Library, SK3 9NB
    • 2pm at Bramhall Library, SK7 2DU
  • Tuesday 6th June
    • 11am at Hazel Grove Library, SK7 4QP
    • 11am at Reddish Library, SK5 6UG
    • 2pm at Heatons Library, SK4 3LD
  • Wednesday 7th June
    • 11am at Stockport Central Library, SK1 3RS
    • 2pm at Great Moor Library, SK2 7QF
  • Thursday 8th June
    • 11am at Adswood & Bridgehall Library, SK3 8NR
    • 11am at Marple Library, SK6 6BA
    • 2pm at Cheadle Library, SK8 1BB
    • 2pm at Offerton Library, SK2 5NX
  • Friday 9th June
    • 2pm at Bredbury Library, SK6 1DJ
    • 2pm at Brinnington Library, SK5 8EN
    • 2pm at Cheadle Hulme Library, SK8 5AU
  • Saturday 10th June
    • 11am at Heald Green Library, SK8 3JB
• Crochet, Knit & Craft is available at various Stockport Libraries and is a friendly place for any experience level:
  • Monday 5th June
    • 1pm at Great Moor Library, SK2 7QF
    • 1pm at Heald Green Library, SK8 3JB
    • 2pm at Hazel Grove Library, SK7 4QP
  • Tuesday 6th June
    • 11am at Stockport Central Library, SK1 3RS
    • 3pm at High Lane Library, SK6 8DX
  • Wednesday 7th June
    • 2pm at Edgeley Library, SK3 9NB
  • Friday 9th June
    • 11am at Heatons Library, SK4 3LD
• Human Library is open 12-3pm on Saturday 10th June at Stockport Central Library. ‘Unjudge’ someone by having the opportunity to ask questions you’ve always wondered.
• An exciting evening with three writers from three different cities ‘Weather Forecast: Points North’ is one to grab your ticket for, to hear new original writing.

 

• Droylsden Lively Minds Club 10-11.30am Wednesday 7th June at Droylsden Library. Mark Llewellin will be telling the stories of Les Dawson and Roy Barraclough.
• Fishing for Rainbows is at Droylsden Library at 11.30am-12.30pm on Thursday 8th June. Come and see this adaptation of Oliver Sykes new book!
• TechMate Tea Party at Ashton Library 1.30-3pm Thursday 8th June is a drop in session for anyone who needs support with digital skills.
• Beatmaking and Lyricism, at 4-5.30pm Thursday 8th June at Ashton Library, is a workshop with Yussuf Maleem where young people can learn new skills in music production.
• Manga Workshops with professional manga artists will be available at Stalybridge Library from 10am-12pm AND 1-3pm Saturday 10th June.

 

• The RoundView tabletop game will be available to play from 29th May – 30th June in Urmston Library. It’s a visually striking game to help us talk about the environment and the impact of our actions. Let’s think about we we can do rather than what we shouldn’t do.
• Introduction to Lino Printing is a workshop from Caroline Coates 11am-1pm Thursday 8th June at Urmston Library. All materials are provided and any experience level is welcome. Pre-booking is required.
• Tales of Rock & Roll Excess, author, historian and Manchester tour guide; Ed Glinert, at 7pm Thursday 8th June at Altrincham Library.
• Story Stem is at Urmstom Library at 11am-12pm AND 1-2pm on Saturday 10th June. Little ones and their grown ups will learn about our natural world through immersive storytelling.
• A Manga Workshop with professional manga artists will be available at Stretford Library from 12-2pm on Saturday 10th June.
• ‘Alfie’s First Fight’ will be at Urmston Library 11am-12pm and Sale Library 2-3pm Saturday 10th June. This is a funny and heart warming show for children aged 5+ based on Oliver Sykes’s book of the same title. Tickets are required.
• Inspired by Libraries with Andy Spinoza, in partnership with Manchester University Press partnership, is at Altrincham Library at 6pm on Saturday 10th June.

 

• Meet crime fiction author Antony Johnston at Standish Library, 10.30-11.30am Tuesday 6th June. Antony Johnston (‘Atomic Blonde’) reads from new book; The Dog Sitter Detective.
• Ancestry at Shevington Library, 11am-1pm Wednesday 7th June. Share tips on how to get the most from ancestry resources.
• “Book worms in Business” Networking Event, 10am-12pm Thursday 8th June at Wigan Library. A relaxed event for those in business or looking to start up. Bring your favourite book to avoid the usual ‘icebreaker’ conversations.
• Fishing for Rainbows 10.30-11.30am Friday 9th June at Wigan Library. Come and see this adaptation of Oliver Sykes new book!
• Pets as therapy Read2Dogs with Cliff at Leigh Library from 10am-12pm on Saturday 10th June. Young people can improve their literacy skills by reading out load to Cliff the dog.

 

Let us know what you get up to within your borough or where else you travel to for the festival using the hashtag: #FestivalofLibraries.