Library Live

Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
2018-10-28 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Performance Space
Join two New York Times bestselling authors at this exclusive event when they will be talking about their long awaited collaborative book, What If It’s Us – a stunning new novel about two boys who can’t decide if the universe is pushing them together or pulling them apart. The event will be chaired by Youtube book blogger, Lucy Richardson (AKA: The Book Belle).
Becky Albertalli is the author of the highly acclaimed novels Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (film: Love Simon), The Upside of Unrequited, and Leah on the Offbeat. Becky is a Former clinical psychologist who specialized in working with children and teens.
Adam Silvera has worked in the publishing industry as a bookseller, marketing assistant and book reviewer. His novels include More Happy Than Not, History is All You Left Me and They Both Die At The End.
All authors will be signing books after the event.
Tickets: £14.00, includes entry and a copy of What If It’s Us plus an exclusive poster
or £6 general admission. Subject to booking fees.
Terms & conditions:
Anyone under the age of 14 years must be accompanied by an adult. Due to limited seating allocation at this venue accompanying adults would need to require a ticket to this event.
Each ticket entitles the ticket holder to one seat at this event and then one place in line to have books signed by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
If you purchase a ticket including the book, you will receive the book at the venue
Along with the book purchased with the ticket one additional copy of both Becky and Adam’s books are permitted to be brought from home or purchased on the day to be signed. Each author will sign two books per ticket holder.
Due to the anticipated high turnout of the event, dedications within the books are only guaranteed for one copy of What if It’s Us per ticket holder.
There will be the opportunity to have a photo taken with Becky and Adam – this will be assisted due to time constraints and there will be strictly no selfies.
Staff will be on hand to take your camera/phone to get a photo of you with Becky and Adam whilst they sign your books. There will not be an official photographer present at the event.
Due to time limitations there will only be one photo with Becky and Adam per ticket holder.
If you have any questions please contact events@waterstones.com

Family Halloween Party
2018-10-27 19:00 - 2018-10-28 00:00
Dare you spend a spooky evening inside Central Library? We are opening our doors for a very special Halloween Party!
We’ve heard rumours that Dracula and his Bride will be wandering the corridors preparing for their Fiendish Feast!
After the Fiendish Feast why not do the ‘Monster Mash’ with Frankenstein’s Monster and Mr Pumpkin Head at our creepy Silent Disco. If you fancy a break from dancing you can snuggle down and watch a spooky film or get crafty with creepy activities.
This event is aimed at children aged 7-11 years old. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are £2.99 per child. Free entry for adult’s accompanying children.
FANCY DRESS ENCOURAGED!

Ibn Al-Haytham: Mysteries of How We See
2018-10-27 11:00 - 17:00, 2018-10-26 11:00 - 20:00, 2018-10-23 11:00 - 2018-10-24 20:00 | Performance Space
Celebrate Manchester Science Festival and join 1001 Inventions to discover the world of 11th century Arabian scientist, Ibn Al-Haytham. Watch legendary actor Omar Sharif in an exciting short film, explore how we see with a camera obscura and engage in fun demonstrations of light, optics and vision.
Suitable for ages 7+
Free family event – just drop in

Junior Jam: Rock 'n' Roll Ukuleles
2018-10-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Children’s Library
Free jam-packed music session for children aged 4-8. Help your little ones develop their musical skills in a fun, friendly and accessible way. Presented by creative music charity Brighter Sound and led by Kabantu – a quintet of award-winning musicians and music educators, known for their infectious rhythms and beautiful melodies from around the globe.
Become a ukulele rock star! Strike a power chord and play along to songs from the super-cool sixties with Ben and Ali.
Two 50-minute sessions at 10am and 11am
For more information contact info@brightersound.com or phone 0161 830 3899
Supported by Youth Music as part of the Alliance for a Musically Inclusive England. The project is made possible by funding from the National Lottery via Arts Council England.
Free – booking required

Ghana and its Contemporary Global Relations with Professor Adams Bodomo
2018-10-25 17:30 - 19:30 | Performance Space
In this evening session Professor Adams Bodomo, Head of African Studies at the University of Vienna, discusses Ghana’s contemporary position in global politics and international relations. Starting with a brief history of Ghana since its establishment as a new nation in 1957, Professor Bodomo will outline the country’s socio-political, socio-economic, and socio-cultural context before focusing on the Ghana’s contemporary global relations. He will consider government-to-government relations with world bodies and regions, such as Europe and the West, China and Asia, and the Caribbean islands nations, as well as people-to-people relations across the many diasporic populations in major cities like London and Manchester.
Prof. Dr. Adams Bodomo, a native of Ghana, is professor of African studies at the University of Vienna, Austria. He is the author of over 10 books and over a 100 journal articles and book chapters. Two of his most recent book publications are Africans in China (Cambria Press, 2012) and The Globalization of Foreign Investment in Africa: The Role of Europe, China and India (Emerald Publishing, 2017). The research presented in this talk is part of the speaker’s next book project titled ‘Africa and its Global Relations’.

Sound & Vision
2018-10-25 10:30 - 15:30 | Performance Space
Though funding has increased for BAME heritage projects, their visibility in the UK’s museums and archives has not. This free event will explore the value of preserving memories for future generations and help you to develop some of the basic skills required. We hope you will leave this event feeling empowered to play your part.
‘Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them’ Madam C J Walker, African American philanthropist, entrepreneur and social activist
This is a free event but booking is required

Science@Central
2018-10-23 11:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Drop in to Central Library for the day and experience the thrill of science. From doodle pens to getting hands on some of our amazing treasures there will be so much to do.
Free family event – just drop in

Fascinating tales from great manuscripts
2018-10-22 19:00 - 20:30
A live screening from the British Library. Second Floor Seminar Suite – Central Library.
Fascinating tales from great manuscripts
Introducing the British Library’s exhibition Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War, historian and broadcaster Michael Wood tells 10 fascinating tales from our greatest manuscripts: Augustine of Canterbury and the coming of Christianity; Theodore of Tarsus, Hadrian of Libya and the Greek and African contributions to the roots of English culture; Bede and the golden age of Northumbria; Alcuin and Europe’s first Renaissance, Alfred and the Vikings, Athelstan’s visionary kingdom of all the English; Ethelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy; and William the Conqueror, the Norman Conquest and Domesday Book.
Hear stories of men and women, kings and peasants: the beginnings of English literature poetry and art, and the origins of England.
Historian and filmmaker Michael Wood is the author of well over 100 documentaries including the recent Story of China, and The Story of England, set in Kibworth in the East Midlands, ‘the most innovative history series ever on TV’ (Independent). Michael has a special interest in Anglo-Saxon history, and in addition to his number one best selling books, In Search of the Dark Ages and Domesday, has written many academic articles on the period entering on King Athelstan and the creation of England. He recently received the British Academy President’s Medal for outreach in History.
Presented in memory of Naseeb Shaheen
Tickets are free, but limited. Please book at the link below.

Generation Revolution
2018-10-22 17:30 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Join us for a screening of Generation Revolution, a feature-length documentary film that tells the powerful story of London’s new generation of black and brown activists who are set on changing the social and political landscape in the capital and beyond. The film vividly chronicles the evolution of characters as they experience personal and political awakenings, breakthroughs and, at times, disillusionment. Generation Revolution offers a unique and original glimpse into the rewarding but difficult path that must be trodden in the struggle for personal, social and political liberation.
Generation Revolution is being used as a platform to facilitate discussions about the issues that affect young black and brown communities both in the UK. The screening will be followed by an opportunity to discuss the many issues approached in the film, such as the crises of homelessness, gentrification and racism. This screening is taking place in partnership between the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre and the Department of History at the University of Manchester.

A Celebration of Ted Hughes
2018-10-21 19:30 - 21:30 | Performance Space
Frequently ranked as one of the Twentieth Century’s greatest writers, Yorkshire poet Ted Hughes produced a significant body of work, including original poetry and translations. His early poems were rooted in nature, detailing the beauty and violence of the landscape and its animals (The Hawk in the Rain), while later pieces often used or reworked mythology, examining the dark subconscious (Crow). His final collection, Birthday Letters, looked at his relationship with his fellow poet Sylvia Plath. To mark the 20th anniversary of Hughes’s death, we have invited a number of contemporary poets, including Amanda Dalton (Stray, How to Disappear), Zaffar Kunial (Us), Carola Luther (Walking the Animals), Andrew McMillan (Physical) and John McAuliffe (The Way In) to perform some of their favourite poems by the late laureate.

EU Code Week: Robot Chef!
2018-10-20 14:00 - 16:00 | Media Lounge
Come and join us for a very special EU Code Week event! Fresh from their sold-out Edinburgh Fringe run, tech comedy duo Foxdog Studios bring their critically-acclaimed Robot Chef to Manchester Central Library, especially tailored for a junior audience, but adults are more than welcome too!
Join rock ‘n’ roll IT consultants Pete and Lloyd as they celebrate the end of their IT contract in Stoke-on-Trent. Expect more baffling technology, music, and, of course, an augmented reality, audience-controlled robot chef.
This a free event but we expect it to be very busy so arrive early!

Dashehra Diwali Mela: Lantern making workshops
2018-10-20 11:00 - 16:00 | City Library
Make a fabulous lantern for Dashehra Diwali Mela celebrations at these free family workshops. All those taking part in either workshop will join the main procession onSaturday 20 October, leading into the spectacular finale performance and firework display in Albert Square. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this exciting event!

For families with children aged 7+

Two workshops between 11am-1.30pm and 2-4pm
Free – booking required
(Please only book a ticket if you can also attend the Diwali Lantern Parade on Saturday 20 October).

Workshop 1: 11am-1.30pm Book here
Workshop 2: 2-4pm Book here

Terrance Hayes: American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin
2018-10-19 20:00 - 22:00 | Performance Space
MLF is delighted to welcome one of America’s most exciting and innovative poets, Terrance Hayes – winner of the 2010 National Book Award, and a recipient of a MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’. Terrance will be performing work from his new collection, American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin. Written during the first 200 days of the Trump administration, it is a 70-poem roller-coaster ride through politics, music, life and love; shot through with the vernacular energy of popular culture. Compassionate, witty, melancholy, and rhythmically compelling, American Sonnets shines a blistering spotlight on the dividing lines of race, gender and political oppression, which define the early 21st century. ‘Something happens everywhere in this country,’ Terrance writes. ‘Every day. Someone is praying, someone is prey.’ Join us for what promises to be an extraordinary evening of poetry and conversation. Hosted by Kayo Chingonyi, winner of the 2018 Dylan Thomas Prize.

Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Rachel Long & Momtaza Mehri Filigree: Contemporary Black British Poetry
2018-10-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Performance Space
Inscribe / Peepal Tree, publisher of Caribbean and Black British Literature, invited poets to contemplate the ‘unspoken essential’ and ‘intangible tangible’ for their Filigree collection. We’re delighted to have three of the contributors perform at this special MLF event. Victoria Adukwei Bulley is a British-born Ghanian poet and writer, who recently published the pamphlet, Girl B. A former Barbican Young Poet, her work is bold, ambitious and curious. Rachel Long is a poet, facilitator, and the leader of Octavia, a poetry collective for women of colour at the Southbank Centre. Her playful and moving poems have been published in numerous anthologies, and she is currently working on her first collection. Momtaza Mehri is a Somali-British poet, essayist and editor. She was co-winner of the 2018 Brunel International African Poetry Prize, and her urgent and dynamic poems landed her the role of Young People’s Poet Laureate for London. Join us for an evening celebrating contemporary Black British poetry.

Repeal the 8th with Tara Flynn, Sinéad Gleeson & Una Mullally
2018-10-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Performance Space
Irish women saw a historic victory for their reproductive rights with the repeal of the Eighth Amendment in May 2018. The campaign that preceded it was a grassroots movement led by Irish feminists, who opened up a national conversation by sharing their own stories around abortion. Journalist and editor Una Mullally collected some of the literature, poetry, journalism and art that the movement produced and inspired, for the timely Repeal the 8th anthology published this summer. Una and other contributors to the book, including prominent Irish broadcaster and author Sinéad Gleeson and actor, playwright, comedian and author Tara Flynn, will discuss the #Repealthe8th and #Together4Yes campaigns, the battle over women’s bodies, and the next steps for women’s rights alongside the rise of the #MeToo movement.

Seven Thousand Feet
2018-10-18 08:00 - 2018-11-22 17:00
Marvel at the sight of seven thousand socks hanging high, as artist Christine Wilcox-Baker socks it to diabetes with this epic installation. Every year over seven thousand lower limbs are amputated in the UK due to diabetes. Explore this giant sock sensation along with artworks by Manchester’s ‘Seven thousand feet’ art and science team. Part of Manchester Science Festival there’ll be games to play, art to do and people in the know to meet so you can discover about how we can defeat this condition.
See website for more details: www.manchestersciencefestival.com

BRIT(ish): Afua Hirsch with Nikesh Shukla
2018-10-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Performance Space
Britain is in the grip of an identity crisis. We believe we’re the nation of abolition, but forget we are of slavery. We are convinced fairness is one of our values, but that immigration is one of our problems. We think we are a colour-blind, post-racial society, but we refuse to discuss it. In her acclaimed and controversial debut book BRIT(ish), broadcaster Afua Hirsch explores this crisis, and the inherent contradictions within it. Through her own upbringing in Wimbledon, her partner’s childhood in Tottenham, and the experiences of many other black and multi-heritage Brits, Afua considers personal identity and the aspects of our lives that shape it. Afua will be in conversation with Observer columnist, novelist, and editor of The Good Immigrant, Nikesh Shukla.

Patrick Gale in Conversation
2018-10-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Performance Space
A firm Festival favourite, Patrick Gale is the author of eighteen novels, including the Richard and Judy bestseller Notes from an Exhibition, Rough Music and the Costa-shortlisted A Place Called Winter. His new novel, Take Nothing With You, tells the story of Eustace as he looks back at the childhood cello lessons that transformed his life. While they allow him the freedom to explore his sexuality outside of his stifling home, he’s oblivious to the effect they’re also having on his mother, and the terrible consequences that will follow. We’re thrilled to welcome Patrick to read from and discuss his latest novel with author and MLF Patron Erica Wagner.
This event will be BSL interpreted

Wally Funk’s Race for Space: Wally Funk & Sue Nelson
2018-10-14 16:00 - 17:30 | Performance Space
In 1961, Wally Funk was one of the Mercury 13, the first group of American pilots to pass the ‘Woman in Space’ programme. Her scores in the rigorous mental and physical tests beat many of the male candidates, including John Glenn, the first American to go into orbit. But just one week before Wally was due to enter the final phase of training, the programme was cancelled and none of the Mercury 13 ever flew into space. Undeterred, Wally went on to become one of America’s first female aviation inspectors and civilian flight instructors, but still dreams of becoming an astronaut. The author of Wally Funk’s Race for Space, Sue Nelson is a broadcaster that presents and co-produces the award-winning Space Boffins podcast. Her documentary Women with the Right Stuff was one of the BBC World Service’s most-listened-to podcasts. Sue and Wally will be in conversation with Dr Teresa Anderson, Director at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre.

Graham Caveney & Howard Cunnell with Julie Hesmondhalgh
2018-10-14 14:00 - 15:30
What does it mean to be a man and how is that shaped by adolescence? In his memoir, The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness, Graham Caveney details his upbringing as a working-class boy in Accrington. His world is changed by the discovery of literature, music and his acceptance to the local Catholic grammar school. At the latter, Graham is abused by the head teacher, and the repercussions affect the rest of his life. In Fathers and Sons, Howard Cunnell looks at the absence of his father and his relationship with his own children, particularly his transgender son. Both writers consider the ways in which men mask their emotions, and the damage this causes. Graham and Howard will be in conversation with actor Julie Hesmondhalgh.

Dashehra Diwali Mela: Lantern making workshops
2018-10-13 11:00 - 16:00 | City Library
Make a fabulous lantern for Dashehra Diwali Mela celebrations at these free family workshops. All those taking part in either workshop will join the main procession onSaturday 20 October, leading into the spectacular finale performance and firework display in Albert Square. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this exciting event!

For families with children aged 7+

Two workshops between 11am-1.30pm and 2-4pm

(Please only book a ticket if you can attend the Diwali Lantern Parade on Saturday 20 October).

Free – booking required

Workshop 1: 11am-1.30pm Book here
Workshop 2: 2-4pm Book here

Family Reading Day
2018-10-13 10:00 - 15:00 | Performance Space
Join us for a day of fictional fun as popular children’s authors, illustrators and performers bring stories to life. Be sure to pack your imagination, and take an unforgettable journey to Moominvalley where everyone is welcome, nature thrives and adventures are plentiful. Join multi-award winning author and illustrator Steve Antony and his lovable character, Mr Panda – read stories together and learn how to draw your own Mr Panda. Celebrate the joy of song and singing in Kid Carpet’s lively, interactive gig containing a unique mix of live music, comedy and ping pong balls.
Judith Kerr’s most famous creation is 50 years old! Come and help us celebrate at our Tiger Tea Party. Z-arts will be providing free art and crafts all day in our Market Place, and we have a special story den where we will be setting the scene for imaginations to run wild!

Booking required – click Book Now for further details

Slay in Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible
2018-10-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Performance Space
You have to see it to be it, so the saying goes. But Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené were struggling to find awe-inspiring, amazing and relatable black British female role models, because society rarely permits these women to be seen and heard. To remedy this, they wrote Slay in Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible, bringing together the voices and experiences of Black British women in a range of fields, including broadcasting, vlogging, athletics, music, acting, publishing, public relations, fashion, beauty and law. A Book of the Week on BBC Radio 4, Slay in Your Lane has received excellent reviews everywhere from The Observer to Stylist and has been called ‘The Must-Read Book empowering young black women’ by Vogue. Yomi and Elizabeth are here to empower and inspire you with some Black Girl Magic. Hosted by Gemma Cairney, award-winning Radio and Television presenter, broadcaster, activist and author of OPEN: A Toolkit For How Magic and Messed Up Life Can Be.

Carol Ann Duffy, Suzanne Batty & Clare Shaw
2018-10-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Performance Space
Come and celebrate the launch of three of the most anticipated and emotionally charged poetry books of the year. Carol Ann Duffy’s final collection as Poet Laureate, Sincerity, is a frank, disarming and deeply moving exploration of loss and remembrance in their many forms. Carol Ann has received numerous awards for her candid and heartfelt poetry, including the Whitbread, Forward, T S Eliot and PEN Pinter Prizes. Suzanne Batty transforms mental anguish into things of anarchic and sensual beauty in her second full-length collection, States of Happiness, featuring a sequence of poems written in memory of her twin sister, who died of a rare degenerative disease. Clare Shaw’s third collection, Flood, offers an eye-witness account of living through the 2015 flooding of her home town Hebden Bridge, interwoven with more intimate poems chronicling the breakdown of a relationship – themes of loss, destruction and recovery are explored in a language as dangerous and sustaining as water.

There is a Light That Never Goes Out: A photographic celebration of Manchester's rock-music history
2018-10-11 08:00 - 2019-02-22 17:00 | First Floor Exhibition Hall
Rockarchive.com proudly presents a unique exhibition by the UK’s leading music photographers to honour Manchester’s music heritage. From the rise of punk, Factory Records, The Hacienda, the Madchester years and beyond, this exhibition is a retrospective of Manchester’s huge influence and continuing importance on the rock music scene.
Free – please drop in
Image ©: Jill Furmanovsky/rockarchive.com

Mohammed Hanif in Conversation
2018-10-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Performance Space
Q: What do an American pilot who’s crashed in the desert, a teenager full of money-making schemes, and a dog suffering through a very bad day have in common? A: They all narrate the new, hilariously funny novel, Red Birds, by acclaimed author Mohammed Hanif (A Case of Exploding Mangoes). Through the inhabitants of the refugee camp that Major Ellie was supposed to bomb, Mohammed looks at the absurdity of war, specifically considering the tensions between America and the Muslim world. As fifteen-year-old Momo says about the Families Rehabilitation Programme, ‘First they bomb us from the skies, then they work hard to cure our stress’. A journalist, author and playwright, Mohammed was recently awarded the third-highest civilian award of Pakistan, the Sitara-e-Imtiaz. Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing.

I’m Torn to Pieces Dear Poet, Come to my Rescue… by Firoozeh Fozouni
2018-10-10 18:00 - 19:00 | City Library
Part of the Journeys Festival International event Ancient Objects, New Writing. Firoozeh Fozouni will perform her work and talk about the project along with members of the Journeys Festival International and Manchester Museum curatorial teams.
Firoozeh was born in Iran and is a Poet, Author, Painter, Visual Artist and Musician. She has published 5 books of poetry – 12 of her books were not allowed to be distributed and sold in Iran. Her poetry has been translated into German, French, Spanish and Chinese.

Take Ten With The Writing Squad
2018-10-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Performance Space
You have ten minutes. Ten minutes to go anywhere you like, with anyone, in any time – the past, the future, in this world, out of this world – where would you go? Open a book and read yourself there, pick up a pen and write yourself away. Stay close to home, enter a different dimension, go anywhere in between. Come and hear journeys in reading and writing by members of The Writing Squad and the brilliant students they have been working with from Manchester Enterprise Academy, St Paul’s Catholic High School and Trinity C of E High School.
This event is supported by Read Manchester, the Granada Foundation and Manchester Guardian Society Charitable Trust.

Tickets are free but booking is advised
(Donations welcome on the door)
