What's on

Marketing the Manchester Ship Canal 1919-1939

Archives+ Ground Floor

This new exhibition showcases a range of original publicity material and print adverts created as marketing for the Port of Manchester. This saw a revolution in publicity with modern ideas […]

When the Dust Settles – Exhibition

Archives+ Ground Floor

There are currently thousands of refugees in the UK waiting for decisions on their family reunion applications. Forced migration and the traumatic consequences of separation, as well as of the […]

Robert John Watson: The Sky Above Her

First Floor Exhibition Hall

Exhibiting work spanning 20 years, Robert Watson (one of the country’s leading documentary and contemporary photographic artists) returns to Central Library. This free exhibition features images of Manchester Pride and […]

Lisa Nandy

Performance Space

THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT ‘I am determined that we seize this moment and rise to meet the challenge of our age: to build a country in which everyone has a stake and a […]

£12

Monica Heisey & Sheena Patel

Performance Space

Two of fiction’s rising stars discuss their brilliant debut novels, strong women characters, narrative voice, the perils of modern love and relationships, and how we present ourselves in the physical […]

£10

creative:connection

Performance Space

In partnership with Create, disabled and non-disabled students from Manchester and Salford schools come together to create, build connections and break down barriers. Working with top class musicians they will […]

Zebra Tribe Comic Book Festival

Performance Space

Black (African Caribbean and mixed heritage) creatives will get together and showcase their talent. Come along and listen to speakers Corey Brotherson, UK comic creator, and Yomi Ayeni, historic comic […]

The Welcome Roadshow

Performance Space

Get ready Greater Manchester! The Welcome Roadshow is coming to Manchester Central Library on Monday the 23rd this October half term, bringing the magic of dance, circus skills and craft workshops. We're visiting […]

Cosy Club

Children's Library

A cosy evening of independent reading for 8 to 11-year-olds. We’ll build dens, decorate our own cosy reading nooks and settle down for an evening of independent reading and escapism […]

Word Central with special guest Jolivia Gaston

Performance Space

Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word  Presented by Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press Celebrating Black History Month Tuesday 24th October, 6pm Free entry Hosted by Tony Curry with special […]

Behind The Scenes Tours at Manchester Central Library

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 […]

£12.50

Spooky Sunday: Horrible Family Halloween Party!

Central Library opens its doors to little spooks and ghouls for a fun-filled family spectacular. Fearsome face painters, spooky silent disco, creepy crafts and maybe a few treats and scary […]

£10