What's on

Build a Business Pop-Up Market

Performance Space

Discover and support local talent at the Build a Business Pop-Up Market! This exciting event features an array of unique, high-quality products crafted by innovative entrepreneurs from Greater Manchester. Stroll through stalls filled with handmade goods, delicious food and drink, and meet the creative minds behind these small businesses. FREE to drop in, this market is […]

Portuguese Speaking Community Book Club

Activity Room (Lower Ground Floor)

Bem-Vindos! Come along to a new session for Portuguese speakers, people interested in the Portuguese language and those interested the culture of the Portuguese speaking countries that like to read or want to exchange impressions about books and authors of the Portuguese language. At each meeting a book / author of a Portuguese speaking country […]

Word Central

Performance Space

Word Central hosted by Tony Curry. Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. Book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 16th July via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk N.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. Performance slots are allocated […]

Chess Drop In

Ground Floor

Calling all budding chess players! Head to our Performance Space and meet other players at this informal and fun drop-in session. Open to all children and families. For more information, contact angela.rawcliffe@manchester.gov.uk or alessia.benedetti@manchester.gov.uk Free - drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or […]

Little Movers and Shakers

Henry Watson Music Library

Meet us in our Music Library on the first floor for a fun-filled dance session! Suitable for children up to 7 years. 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

Imagination Gaming

Lower Ground Floor Link

Learn to play-play to learn! Taking gaming to a different meaning. These games are designed to challenge your brain with stimulating mental challenge across all ages and abilities. Can you beat the game? Free - drop in. Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation […]

National Playday

Performance Space

Want a challenge over the summer? Join our big play day event and find out what challenges you can take on this summer. We will have an extra Lego club where we will challenge you to make your favourite reading space in Lego. Visit us at the main entrance, where we will tell you about […]

Music Days: Born and Bred

Performance Space

Join us for Music Thursday at Central Library! Doodle Dance is a workshop that combines mindful doodling techniques with movement. Create doodles and dance moves of your own in this fun and playful workshop. Designed for children of all ages for those who love to move and for those who aren’t sure. So come doodle, […]

Reimagined City 2024: Summer Art Workshop

Performance Space

Join us for a painting workshop exploring Manchester migrant culture and sharing migrant story through art! Reimagined City: Summer Art Workshop is a painting workshop exploring international influence on local culture, stories of identity, and the migrant history of Manchester. Tracing identity through art, each participant will learn to paint their own canvas and share […]

Soundtrack to Your Life

Chief Librarian's Office

What would be your track? What's the story behind the tune? What would be your album and what would the sleeve notes say? Come along and let us hear your special track and tell us the story of what it means to you. Free - just drop in

Summer Silent Disco!

Performance Space

PLEASE NOTE - THIS EVENT HAS BEEN DELAYED TO A FUTURE DATE (TO BE ANNOUNCED) Forget the weather! We'll have no summertime sadness here. You'll be walking on sunshine at our special Summer Silent Disco! You've waited far too long for the return of the famous Retro Silent Disco at Central Library! It's time to […]

Ear Soup – Acoustic Food for the Soul

Henry Watson Music Library

Join us in the Henry Watson Music Library for a beguiling hour of acoustic magic from three local performers. 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