Library Live

Railway Themed Crafts
2026-05-27 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | Lower Ground Floor
Join us for an interactive craft session as we draw the curtain on the 200th anniversary of the invention of the modern railway. We’ll be making some lovely paper trains and a colourful railway track. Suitable for children aged 4-10. All materials provided, just bring yourself.
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Farsi Storytime
2026-05-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Children’s Library
Join us for a fun and interactive storytime session in Farsi and English! Expect singing and crafts as we learn new words and make new friends. Suitable for children aged 4-7.
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Polish Heritage Month Family Crafts
2026-05-28 13:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Join us for a fun and interactive craft session for children aged 4-7. We will be celebrating Polish Heritage Month by creating cardboard radios, and much more! We’ll provide all the materials, just bring your creativity and enthusiasm!
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

LEGO Robotics Workshops
2026-05-29 14:00 - 16:00 | Lower Ground Floor
A hands-on LEGO robotics workshop for children. Children work in small teams to design and build your own racing robots without step-by-step instructions, encouraging creativity and problem-solving. They then program their robots using simple block-based coding to detect and avoid obstacles using motion sensors. Once complete, robots are tested through fun challenges, racing and navigating courses, combining engineering, teamwork and creativity in an engaging session.
Recommended age: 8-13.
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Little Reads
2026-06-17 11:00 - 11:30, 2026-06-20 11:00 - 11:30, 2026-07-15 11:00 - 11:30, 2026-07-18 11:00 - 11:30 | Children’s Library
Brought to you by Manchester Literature Festival, Little Reads is a fun, interactive workshop using drama, dance, songs, play and craft to explore children’s picture books. Most suitable for children aged 2 – 6, but all family members are welcome.
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Persian Calligraphy Workshop
2026-06-20 11:00 - 13:00 | Lower Ground Floor
We are hosting a community Persian Calligraphy taster session led by Iranian artist Sareh Moradi. This welcoming workshop invites participants to come together and explore the beauty of calligraphy through shared creativity. Guided by Sareh, you will learn the basics of traditional lettering, experiment with ink and reed pens, and connect with others in a relaxed, supportive environment. Open to all levels, the session offers a chance to experience the joy of making art as a community.
Free entry – please drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Refugee Week Celebrations
2026-06-20 11:00 - 16:00 | Lower Ground Floor
Join us for a special day of events celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Experience a community Persian Calligraphy taster session led by Iranian artist Sareh Moradi, join storytime sessions, and much more.
Programme

Persian Calligraphy workshop
11am-1pm

Lower Ground Floor

We are hosting a community Persian Calligraphy taster session led by Iranian artist Sareh Moradi. This welcoming workshop invites participants to come together and explore the beauty of calligraphy through shared creativity. Guided by Sareh, you will learn the basics of traditional lettering, experiment with ink and reed pens, and connect with others in a relaxed, supportive environment. Open to all levels, the session offers a chance to experience the joy of making art as a community.

Storytimes

1-2pm Arabic

3-4pm Farsi

Children’s Library

Listen to stories and songs in English and other languages. Suitable for 4-7 year-olds.

Free entry – please drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Arabic Storytime
2026-06-20 14:00 - 15:00
Join us in Central Library’s Children Library to hear stories and sing songs in Arabic and English.

Learn new words and make new friends! Suitable for children aged 4-7. Free – just drop in.
Free – drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Dragon Boat Festival Celebration
2026-06-20 14:00 - 16:00
Join us for an interactive session celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival with Chinese Music Classroom at Chetham’s School of Music. Learn about this traditional Chinese holiday by making your own mugwort sachet and designing your own kite during this fun and engaging workshop. Suitable for children.
Free – please drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Mandarin Storytime
2026-06-27 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-07-25 15:00 - 16:00 | Children’s Library
Join our Mandarin Storytime. We will share the stories in Mandarin, then English. Have fun and learn new words! Suitable for children aged 4–7.
Free – drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Spanish Storytime
2026-07-04 12:00 - 12:45 | Children’s Library
Hola! Come and join María at the Spanish Story Time monthly sessions, where you can listen to a story in Spanish and learn phrases and vocabulary, whilst having fun. We end each session making a simple craft related to the story.
Suitable for children aged 4-7
Free – just drop in.
Please consider making a donation to support our cultural programme if you can, either online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Storytime and Mindfulness for Children (4+ years)
2026-07-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
Join us for this relaxing session led by Psychologist Özlem Bakan Yavaş.
We will be reading stories and learning about feelings in a comfortable and safe environment. We will finish each session with a calming and mindful craft.
Suitable for children aged 4+.
Book your free spot via Eventbrite here or click ‘Book Now’ below.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Family Film Club
2026-07-11 13:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Enjoy a special edition of the Central Library’s legendary Family Film Club! Bring the family for an afternoon of themed crafts and a family classic on the library’s huge screen. Screenings start at 1.30pm – drop in from 1pm. Most suitable for under 12s.
Free – drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online.

LEGO Club
2026-07-11 14:00 - 15:00 | City Library
Do you love Lego? So do we! Drop in, pick your favourite bricks and build anything that takes your fancy. From castles to spaceships, the possibilities are endless! No need to book in advance. First come first served. Suitable for ages 4 and above.
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Polish Storytime
2026-07-18 11:00 - 11:30 | Children’s Library
Join our fun and interactive storytelling session in Polish! We will listen to stories in Polish and English.
Suitable for children aged 4–7.
Free – drop in.
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

French Storytime
2026-07-25 13:30 - 14:00 | Children’s Library
Join us for Central Library’s French Storytime session.

Listen to stories in French and English, learn new words and make new friends!
Suitable for children aged 4-7.
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Sunday Funday - Manchester Day 2026
2026-07-26 11:00 - 16:00 | Ground Floor
We’re celebrating Manchester Day 2026.
¡Hola! Manchester – get ready for colour, creativity and a Catalan twist as our city comes together for its biggest day of the year.

This year’s Manchester Day celebrates our city’s cultural links with Barcelona. Following Manchester’s appearance at Barcelona’s La Mercè festival in 2025, artists from the city will return the visit. For the first time, international talent will bring high‑energy performances and a taste of Catalan culture to Manchester.

Alongside the international line-up, this year’s event also includes a book-inspired theme. As part of the National Year of Reading, storytelling and imagination will be woven through the parade and performances.
The storytelling will continue at Central Library as book characters come to life! take a magical journey to Narnia, take a ride in the glass lift (or elevator!) with Willy Wonka, and avoid being recruited by Captain Hook to join his motley crew!
Expect special performances, exhibitions, craft sessions, and lots of fun for all ages!

Free entry – please drop in (face painting: £2 per child)
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online
