Library Live

Family Fun!
2018-08-09 13:00 - 2018-08-31 15:00 UTC | Performance Space
Break out the popcorn and join in the fun for these free family film screenings. Lots to enjoy, including free craft sessions.
Event dates and film classification below:
Thursday 9 August (U)
Friday 10 August (PG)
Tuesday 14 August (U)
Thursday 16 August (U)
Tuesday 21 August (12)
Friday 24 August (PG)
Tuesday 28 August (U)
Friday 31 August (PG)

You Brought Your Own Light
2018-07-26 08:00 - 2018-09-29 17:00 | First Floor Exhibition Hall
A powerful exhibition by Manchester based photographer, Allie Crewe, whose work is “highly rated, sincere, poignant and classical “, Magnum Photography. There is nothing linear about femininity – or what it means to be a woman – in the 21st century. Sex and gender are not limited to the monolithic paradigm of genetics; they are informed by something intangible, and it this essence of the female paradox that makes Allie Crewe’s work as relevant as it is important.

Saturday Spectacular: Bee Amazing...Bee a Reader!
2018-07-21 12:00 - 16:00
An afternoon of free family fun as we get creative with all things Bee inspired. Take a seat, enjoy the animated film, bee crafts and illustration. Join the family Bee a Reader Challenge from Read Manchester and pick up an entry form for our bee themed writing competition for 7-16 year olds. And as if that wasn’t enough, sign up to the Summer Reading Challenge and join thousands of others reading six books or more this summer! Visit readmanchester.org.uk for more information.

Keep the Faith Silent Disco
2018-07-20 20:00 - 23:00
Our favourite DJ John Ryan returns to Central Library with another Retro Silent Disco on Friday 20th July with a special summer treat.
This time you can dance the night away to –
The Best Northern Soul and Motown featuring Gloria Jones, Al Wilson, The Flirtations and all the biggest dance floor fillers.
Made in Manchester Stone Roses, The Smiths, Oasis, Happy Mondays, Joy Division, James, M People and possibly Herman’s Hermits!
Classic Summer Hits time to spice up your life and shake your booty with a celebration of the best 70’s to 00’s pop hits.

Northern Carnival Against the Nazis: 40th Anniversary project launch
2018-07-14 12:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
The Northern Carnival Against the Nazis – a rally and concert held on 15th July 1978 in Moss Side, Manchester – was a defining moment in establishing anti-racism in the city and beyond. The 15,000 people who marched across town and the 40,000 people who danced in Alexandra Park that day didn’t just make racism no longer respectable. They made it uncool.
To celebrate this pivotal moment in Manchester’s fight against racism, Manchester Digital Music Archive and the Ahmed Iqbal Race Relations Resource Centre have brought together the original organisers of the Carnival for a panel discussion and all-day event exploring its impact and continuing relevance today.
This event will be the official launch of our Heritage Lottery-funded project and exhibition celebrating the Carnival.

Manchester Culture Awards 2018
2018-07-13 08:00 - 2018-07-29 17:00
Seen a performance you really liked in libraries that you could nominate for Manchester’s inaugral culture awards? You can now nominate people, groups and organisations who made culture buzz in Manchester during April 2017 to April 2018. The top three nominees in each category will be invited to a prestigious dinner in November, where the winners will be announced and everyone will have a great night out!
Visit the Culture Awards page for more details and to nominate.
Nominations close Sunday 29 July 2018

The Black Stuff
2018-07-07 12:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Charles Goodyear turned natural rubber into a product that revolutionised industries around the world – but his journey was far from easy. Through theatre, art, humour, and song, Lioness Theatre present the dark true tale of how a bankrupt button-maker became one of the most important inventors of all time – and the terrible price he and his family paid for it. A special preview performance including an exhibition and Q&A.
Ages: 11+ Years
Free entry (donations welcome)

An Evening With Matt Haig
2018-07-05 18:30 - 20:30
From the no. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How to Stop Time, a personal and vital look at how to feel happy, human and whole in the 21st century.
The world is messing with our minds.
– How can we stay sane on a planet that makes us mad?
– How do we stay human in a technological world?
– How do we feel happy when we are encouraged to be anxious?
After experiencing years of anxiety and panic attacks, these questions became urgent matters of life and death for Matt Haig. And he began to look for the link between what he felt and the world around him.
Rates of stress and anxiety are rising. A fast, nervous planet is creating fast and nervous lives. We are more connected and yet feel more alone. And we are encouraged to worry about everything from world politics to our body mass index.
Notes on a Nervous Planet is a personal look at how to feel happy, human and whole in the 21st century.
Matt Haig is the number one bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and six highly acclaimed novels for adults, including How to Stop Time, The Humans and The Radleys. As a writer for children and young adults he has won the Blue Peter Book Award, the Smarties Book Prize and been shortlisted three times for the Carnegie Medal. His work has been translated into over forty languages.

Word Central Open Mic Night
2018-07-03 18:00 - 20:00
Word Central open mic and spoken word hosted by Tony Curry.
Featuring guest poet Alex Slater!
Alex Slater’s fast paced poetry is laced with humour and charm, from the political to the absurd. He is the co-runner of SPEAK, a spoken word night in Manchester’s Northern Quarter driven to bringing poetry to the masses. A multi-slam-finalist, his guest credits include: Evidently, Just Write, The Kendal Calling Poetry Stage, Punk in Drublic, Rum 100 festival, Take Back and supporting Gerry Potter on his most recent book launch ‘Accidental Splendour of the Splash’ at Central Library and The King Blues at the Manchester Academy.
FREE event, everyone welcome. Sorry, all the open mic slots have already been booked.
In association with Flapjack Press and Manchester Library & Information Service

Bee a Reader this summer!
2018-07-02 08:00 - 2018-09-23 17:00
We’re buzzing to have teamed up with Bee in the City this summer. Come into Central Library and start ticking off the super-size and little bees in your trail map. Join the family Bee a Reader Challenge from Read Manchester and pick up an entry form for our bee themed writing competition for 7-16 year olds.
Free – please drop in

Capturing the Heritage of the Workers’ Co-operative Movement, 1970s-1990s
2018-07-02 08:00 - 2018-07-28 17:00 | Lower Ground Floor Link
Prompted by poor economic conditions, unemployment, and a change in societal attitudes, the 1970s-1990s saw a wave of workers’ co-operatives set up. This exhibition showcases some of the findings of the HLF funded ‘Working Together’ project and includes insights into the importance of the movement, through case studies and personal recollections of those involved.
Free – please drop in

Mischief Makers!
2018-07-02 00:00 - 2018-09-08 23:59
The Summer Reading Challenge is back so come and be a Mischief Maker with Manchester Libraries! Join at any library to get your free pack of goodies and collect rewards for reading along the way. Read six or more library books of your choice and enter our grand prize draw. The Challenge is accompanied by an array summer-long fun activities.
For more info ask inside the library or visit manchester.gov.uk/summerreadingchallenge
Free – please drop in

Once Upon A Time...
2018-06-29 08:00 - 2018-09-30 17:00 | Wolfson Reading Room
An enchanting display of books for children from Central Library’s special collections. Ranging from a 17th Century Latin Dictionary to favourite characters such as Babar, The Snowman and Latin versions of Peter the Rabbit and Winnie the Pooh.

Chameleon Youth - Free Taster Session
2018-06-25 18:00 - 20:00, 2018-06-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Performance Space
CALL OUT FOR YOUNG DANCE ARTISTS – CHAMELEON YOUTH IS RECRUITING!
Be part of a dance company that is inspiring and different to the mainstream.
Chameleon Youth, Manchester’s youth dance company, is calling out for new members for 2018/19. If you’re age 11 to 21, this is an incredible opportunity to be part of a dance company that is inspiring and different to the mainstream.
Based in Central Manchester and launched in 2016 by Company Chameleon, members of the youth company learn directly from a professional dance company, which for ten years, has toured and performed across the world giving new meaning to dance and movement.
As a member of Chameleon Youth, you will have the opportunity to:

Train weekly with Company Chameleon’s professional dance artists.
Create your own work and develop your own unique movement style.
Take part in regular performance opportunities throughout the year.

Want to get involved?
Company Chameleon will be hosting this FREE TASTER SESSION in the Performance Space at Manchester Central Library.

The Ministry of Lost & Found
2018-06-23 11:00 - 16:00
Pick up a map, it’s time to get lost on a quest around Central Library!
A long, long, time ago, the government commissioned intrepid explorer, Philias Finder, to start The Ministry of Lost & Found – a secret department tasked with protecting the most curious and precious objects ever lost or found.
To celebrate the Ministry’s 123rd anniversary, you’re invited to join in the first-ever lost and found expedition and unlock the secrets of the most classified department in history. Pick up your map from the Lost  & Found Office and let the mysterious staff from the Ministry lead the way. It’s time to go on a quest around Central Library!
Find your house on a giant map in the Archives, discover the tiniest insects on earth in the Performance Space and play hide and seek in the Reading Room. Look out for Leo Lost, from a long line of losers, Frankie Found, from a fabulous family of finders, and help Mr Quaver, who is feeling low, re-discover his musical mojo. There’ll be juggling, hula-hooping and dressing up too, not forgetting storytime, crafting and a treasure hunt for you.  See and do, make and play, remember your picnic and stay for the day. We look forward to welcoming you to The Ministry of Lost & Found.
Age range: 0-11 years
Free event, no need to book*
*Some activities have limited capacity and require booking on the day at the venue
DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAMME: download our event map to find out more about the activity programme and to plan your day. Download here – Ministry of Lost & Found Map

The Ministry is committed to ensuring a more accessible and enjoyable experience for visitors with additional needs or with specific requirements. We have tried to make our activities as accessible as possible and have provided extra information on what each activity includes on the brochure for the day. If you have any questions about accessibility at the Ministry, please don’t hesitate to email jude@z-arts.org.
The Ministry of Lost & Found is a commission by Library Live | Creative Partners: Z-arts and Manchester Art Gallery | Commissioning Partners: Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, Manchester Central Library Development Trust, The Oglesby Charitable Trust, The Granada Foundation, GMCA, Greater Manchester Arts

The Empire Windrush - 70th Anniversary
2018-06-21 12:00 - 16:00 | Archives+ Ground Floor
Empire Windrush is best remembered today for bringing one of the first large groups of post-war West Indian immigrants to the United Kingdom in 1948. To celebrate the 70th anniversary we exhibit and share material from collections in the AIU Race Relations Resource Centre and Manchester City Council Archives.
Free – please drop in

Sunday Funday – Manchester Day
2018-06-17 12:00 - 16:00
The word on the street is that your fabulous Central Library will be open on Manchester Day – pop in and explore the treasures inside!
Free – please drop in

Debate-Discuss-Talk-Connect-Decide-Act
2018-06-11 12:00 - 20:00
From DevoManc to the STEM curricula, capitalism to cultural cities, Manchester Histories and partners host a day of exchanging different ideas and thoughts through debating and discussing topics that have, or are shaping, our histories and society. Come along and share your views.
Free event – booking recommended:

Manchester Histories Celebration Day
2018-06-10 12:00 - 16:00
The magnificent Manchester Histories Celebration Day comes to Manchester Central Library with over 60 exhibition stands, craft activities for all the family, performances, music, and talks by histories and heritage organisations from across Greater Manchester.
Free – please drop in

Not the Factory: Manchester's other electronic music histories
2018-06-09 12:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Curated by Annex Agency and hosted by writer, curator and journalist Jennifer Lucy Allan, Manchester Histories presents a day of panel discussions, screenings and music exploring the often-hidden stories of Manchester’s electronic music history.
Free event – booking recommended:

150 years of the TUC
2018-06-08 12:30 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Marking the 150th Anniversary of the formation of the TUC (Trades Union Congress) in Manchester and Salford in 1868, DJ and writer, Dave Haslam curates a whole day of events, including a short lunchtime lecture Dr Jo Grady (1:15pm-1:50pm) and screenings of films from the North West Film Archive here at Central Library.
Free event – booking recommended for lunch-time talk :

Word Central: Open Mic
2018-06-06 18:00 - 20:00
Word Central open mic poetry & spoken word hosted by Tony Curry
With special guest Thick Richard!
Thick Richard has been pedalling his potty-mouthed poems at festivals and clubs up and down the land for the last 16 years. His cynical, lyrical, jet-black humour, intelligent wordplay, well-crafted verse, and occasionally acerbic, well-targeted comic attacks have earned him much respect from artists and audiences from Edinburgh to Glastonbury. Occasional support for Kate Tempest, Thick Richard was also presenter of BBC 6 Music’s Beat of the Day. A regular headliner of Hammer and Tongue nationwide poetry tours and is usually to be found performing a wide variety of live music and cabaret venues.
Free Entry
The open mic is now full – to get your name on the reserve list email mail@flapjackpress.co.uk
NB Open mic slots are 3 minutes maximum
In association with Flapjack Press and Manchester Library & Information Service
www.flapjackpress.co.uk | www.librarylive.co.uk | Librarylivemcr | Manchester Libraries

Meet Giovanna and Tom Fletcher
2018-06-02 16:00 - 19:00
THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT
Come and meet Tom & Giovanna Fletcher at Manchester Central Library. Purchase price includes one copy of Eve of Man.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Giovanna and Tom Fletcher are two of the UK’s most successful authors. Tom is the creator of The Christmasaurus, which was the biggest debut middle-grade novel of 2016, while Giovanna’s novel, Some Kind of Wonderful, was a number four Sunday Times hardback bestseller in 2017. Their books have sold over 1.5 million copies and been translated into more than 30 languages. Their social media platforms have a combined following of almost 6 million subscribers. Tom and Giovanna married in 2012 and are parents to two boys, Buzz and Buddy. Eve of Man is their first YA novel as a writing duo, and the first in a trilogy.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Against all odds, she survived. The first girl born in fifty years, they called her Eve. All her life Eve has been kept away from the opposite sex. Kept from the truth of her past. But at sixteen it’s time for Eve to face her destiny. Three potential males have been selected for her. The future of humanity is in her hands. She’s always accepted her fate. Until she meets Bram. Eve wants control over her life. She wants freedom. But how do you choose between love and the future of the human race? EVE OF MAN is the first in an explosive new trilogy by bestselling authors Giovanna & Tom Fletcher.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
· The signing will commence from slot 1: 4pm & slot 2: 5pm at Manchester Central Library
· Queuing will begin at (slot 1: 4pm & slot 2: 5pm).
· Due to the anticipated high turnout, please be prepared to queue
· Refreshments will not be available at the event but facilities are available at nearby outlets
· The exact time at which the event ends will be determined by the promoters on the day
· To avoid disappointment, we advise you not to arrive any later than the signing start time
· You will receive your copy of the book at the venue
· Your ticket entitles you to one wristband and a place in the queue to have Eve of Man signed by Tom & Giovanna
· Up to three additional Tom or Giovanna Fletcher books may also be signed however only Eve of Man may be dedicated. This will be decided by promoters on the day
· Those without a ticket will not be permitted to join the queue unless they are a parent or guardian of anyone under 14 years of age
· A member of staff will be on hand to take a picture of you with Tom & Giovanna, however unfortunately due to time restrictions no selfie style pictures will be possible on this occasion. Please ensure that your phone/camera is fully charged on the day and has enough storage
· There will not be an official photographer present at the event
· Anyone under the age of 14 years should be accompanied by an adult. Any accompanying adults will not require a wristband
· Uncollected books will be held in WHSmith, Manchester Arndale for 4 weeks following the event
· Please note the event may be filmed or photographed, as an attendee you consent to footage and/ or images of you being used for promotional purposes
· Tickets cannot be resold or transferred and shall not be purchased or obtained from or through any person, commercial agent, company or otherwise than directly by the applicant from Ticketmaster UK Ltd. Any tickets advertised for sale will be void
· Management have the right to refuse entry or remove anyone who does not comply with these rules or who fails to follow reasonable instructions on the day.

The Smiths 1984-1986
2018-06-01 08:00 - 2018-08-25 17:00 | First Floor Display Cases
An exhibition of images from the golden age of The Smiths, by photographer Stephen Wright.
‘A sweeter set of pictures were never taken’
Morrissey, Boxing Day, 1985
Free – please drop in

**To compliment this fabulous exhibition, the library shop on the ground floor will be selling a range of exclusive Smiths related goodies!**

Another England: Mapping 100 Years of Our Black and Asian Heritage
2018-05-26 11:00 - 16:00 | AIU Race Relations Centre
Join us for a special drop-in session to find out about and share information on the buildings, places and spaces that have had the greatest impact to people of Black & Asian Heritage in Manchester and Greater Manchester. Experience an engaging day of music, art and discussions.
Ideal for families, budding cultural historians, community groups and young people
Hosted by Historic England our aim is to raise awareness of these places and share information about them on our official website – www.anotherengland.co.uk

Saturday Spectacular
2018-05-19 12:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Join us and ‘Afflecks Creatives Unleashed’ for an afternoon of family activities. Be inspired by some of the creative challenges from the Afflecks team. There will be a variety of activities including green screen, performances and more throughout the afternoon.
Suitable for all ages
Free – please drop in

Polish Heritage Day - Kresy Forever
2018-05-05 14:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Kresy Family Polish WWII History Group presents an exhibition by Krzysztof Hoffmann from Warsaw comprising a unique collection of over 400 personal photographs and documents from the families who came from the Eastern borderlands of Poland (Kresy) and settled in Manchester and the UK after WWII.
The exhibition provides an insight into Poland’s history, how Poles came to Manchester after fighting alongside their British allies during WWII, how they integrated into the British way of life and their contributions not only during the war but to British society. Join us and celebrate our shared history and culture with:

A selection of books and DVDs about life in pre-war Kresy, the mass deportations to Siberia in 1940/41, personal memoirs and Poland’s WWII history will be available.
WWII veterans and survivors will tell their personal stories.
Find out how to research your Polish family history.
Polish dancers in traditional costumes will perform.
Polish cakes and food will be available to sample.
Polish craft activity for families to enjoy.

Free – please drop in

Our Manchester: A Creative Hackathon
2018-04-28 10:30 - 16:00 | Performance Space
During April we’re asking people to send us their photos, videos, stories, sounds and audio about life in Manchester so we can create a record of the month of April across the whole city. At this event we’ll use the information we’ve collected to create the record. You’ll be able to see the results on the Archives+ website.
Use any of these platforms and don’t forget to use #ourmcrhack
Twitter – for images, text, pictures and short videos
SoundCloud – for audio and text
YouTube – for videos and text
Email text based stories to creativehackathon@gmail.com
Important!!! #ourmcrhack
Don’t forget to add the hashtag #ourmcrhack into your titles and content. And let us know where you’d like us to pin this on our interactive map – either a postcode of road/town in Manchester.
Your content can be about your daily commute, workplace, home life, pets, hobbies, or a big night out! It’s all about you and your life.
For more information go to: www.manclibraries.blog/ourmcrhack

Jesmyn Ward in Conversation
2018-04-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Performance Space
‘Jesmyn Ward digs deep into the not-buried heart of the American nightmare. A must read.’ Margaret Atwood
Manchester Literature Festival are thrilled to present a rare UK event with acclaimed American author Jesmyn Ward. Based in Mississippi, Jesmyn is the author of the memoir Men We Reaped and the novels Salvage the Bones, Where the Line Bleeds and Sing, Unburied, Sing. She is also the editor of The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race, which brings together 18 influential writers to ‘wrestle with the past, present and future of American race relations and the black experience.’
Championed by Marlon James, Jon McGregor and Ann Patchett, Jesmyn’s new novel Sing, Unburied,Sing recently won the prestigious 2017 National Book Award for Fiction. An urgent and atmospheric novel set in the deep South, it’s an epic tale of hope, struggle, race, poverty and loss. It’s also an intimate story of family and the legacies of love, violence and belonging that we pass on to our children. To quote Celeste Ng: ‘Read Sing, Unburied, Sing and you’ll feel the immense weight of history – and the immense strength it takes to persevere in the face of it… It’s hard to imagine a more necessary book for this political time.’
Join us to see why Jesmyn Ward is regarded as one of the most important writers in America today, regularly drawing comparisons to William Faulkner and Toni Morrison.
Hosted by arts journalist and author Anita Sethi and presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing Doors open at 6.30pm, event starts at 7pm
