Library Live

Irish Researcher Day
2026-03-17 10:30 - 14:00 UTC | Seminar Suite, Floor Two
Join the Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society (MLFHS) on St Patrick’s Day for a special Irish Research Day including informative sessions and fascinating presentations including:

Finding Irish Ancestors – the Difficulty of Researching, 10:30am – 11.15 (45mins) – booking required via Eventbrite here
Thinking Outside the Box: my continuing search for Irish Ancestors, 11:30 – 12:15 (45 mins) – booking required via Eventbrite here
Let’s Chat about the 1926 Irish Census, 1:00—1:30 (30 mins) – booking required via Eventbrite here
Finding William; An Irish-Mancunian FH Journey, 1:45 – 2:45 (1 hour) – booking required via Eventbrite here

During breaks, lunchtime and after the last session enjoy the following activities:

Handling session Manchester Archives +
Books, maps etc for sale by MLFHS
Free research guides available – members of MLFHS Helpdesk team
Speak with author Dean Kirby for details about his book and walking tours
View letters and resource documents discussed in Presentation 2

Find out more information and ticket booking links for the four sessions on the Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society website here or click on the green ‘Book Now’ button below

Behind the Scenes Tour
2026-05-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Entrance Hall
What do George V, Gypsy Rose Lee and Bernard Bresslaw have in common?
Which musician was once thrown out of the Language and Literature Library?
What would you find now in the space where Patrick Stewart and Helen Mirren – amongst many others – played their first roles?
All these questions – and many more – are answered on a tour of Manchester Central Library which will take you to all the areas not normally accessible to the general public and tell the story of this iconic building. Tours last around 90 minutes and include the chance to see some of our rarest treasures and archives.
Please meet in the main entrance (Shakespeare Hall) of Central Library from 5.45pm. The tour starts at 6pm.
Did you know, you can join our Library Lovers scheme and enjoy a free tour, plus discounts in our shop and cafe, and invites to other events and exhibition launches? Find out more and join online.
Book you place on this tour on eventbrite here or click on ‘Book Now’ below.
