Town Hall Lectures: 'Wooden it be nice' - Restoring our Doors and Floors
2026-02-03 13:00 - 19:00 UTC | Performance Space
Manchester Town Hall closed in 2018 for major restoration to repair and upgrade the building to modern standards. The work includes conservation of many original heritage features.
The Heritage Lectures in Central Library shine a light on some of this fascinating work and the next one – on Tuesday 3 February – will focus on the work of the woodworking expertise of Swift Crafted, with a presentation by Operations Director, Paul Smith. Restoring the doors and panelling throughout the Town Hall’s many rooms and timber flooring too, Find out more about their trade, their work and some of the features they’ve discovered in and around the Town Hall.
Wooden it be nice – restoring our doors, panelling and timber floors:
Paul Smith, Swift Crafted’s Operations Director, will present this lecture. From the history of carpentry and passing on traditional woodworking skills, through the tools of the trade and how they’ve approached the work they’ve undertaken on the Town Hall’s doors, panelling and timber floors to bring these beautiful features back to their stunning best; this lecture definitely ‘wooden’ be one to miss.
The lectures are free to attend and either session can be booked below:
Session One – 1pm to 2.15pm
Session Two 5.30pm to 6.45pm

VR Headset Experiences
2026-02-04 11:00 - 2026-02-07 19:00 | Ground Floor
For three weeks in February, Manchester Libraries will be hosting state-of-the-art VR headsets and a feast of FREE digital experiences.
Get ready for brand new immersive experiences with David Attenborough, and Laika – The First Dog In Space. Plus, Wallace & Gromit, The Berlin Blitz, Vaughan Williams’ ‘The Lark Ascending’, meditation experiences, and more.
Manchester Libraries are one of nine library services in England to take part in Digital Spaces, an innovative collaboration to enhance digital engagement and accessibility in libraries. This ambitious new programme is in association with Arts Council England, BFI, awarding National Lottery funding and The Space.
After a resoundingly successful debut last summer, which saw hundreds of Manchester residents dive into virtual realities, Manchester Libraries are delighted to confirm that the headsets will return for a series of FREE public drop-in sessions at Manchester Central Library (4-7 Feb), Abraham Moss Library (9-14 Feb), and Wythenshawe Forum (17-20 Feb).
Across the three weeks, visitors to these libraries will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in an array of awe-inspiring virtual worlds featuring some familiar faces, plus leap into some brand new experiences too. Amongst the thrilling programme of VR offerings, the experiences on offer will include:

**New** Hold the World with Sir David Attenborough: Embark on a ground-breaking interactive VR tour of the Natural History Museum in London with the most iconic of guides. Sir David, who was filmed by more than 100 cameras and digitally recreated as a lifelike SD hologram for the experience, acts as a private guide, imparting his expert knowledge on rare objects from †he museum’s collection, including a blue whale, a stegosaurus, and more. Get hands-on with rare specimens from its world-famous collection, and experience priceless artefacts coming back to life.

Wallace & Gromit in the Grand Getaway: Step into the shoes (and paws) of the legendary Aardman duo as they blast-off on a cracking new adventure that will take you from the familiar sights of West Wallaby Street to the strange surroundings of deep space. An interactive treat – all in glorious VR-O-Rama!

**New** Laika – Witness one of the most poignant true stories in history with Laika, an immersive VR short film from BAFTA and Academy Award-winning director Asif Kapadia. Adapted from Nick Abadzis’ acclaimed graphic novel, Laika will transport you to the dawn of the Space Age as it tells the story of an unwanted stray dog who became Earth’s first space traveller.

The Philharmonia Virtual Orchestra – The Lark Ascending: Experience a mesmerising 360-degree performance of Vaughan Williams’ masterpiece featuring Nicola Benedetti.

Monoliths: Explore England’s northern landscape through the voices and spoken word of three women, in this poignant XR experience by Pilot Theatre and One to One Development Trust.

Berlin Blitz: 80 years on from VE Day, travel back in time to experience this especially tense period of WWII history from a seat in the cockpit of a Lancaster Bomber. Hold tight.

Phase Space: Escape from the hustle and bustle of life, with this calming, restorative and meditative experience. Feel calmer and more in control in just 7 minutes.

The VR headset experiences arrive as part of Manchester Libraries recently announced participation in the new Libraries Digital Network, a ground-breaking collaboration with eight other library services, including: Bradford, Cambridgeshire, Coventry, Leeds, Newham, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, and Sunderland. This innovative network is the first of its kind, uniquely combining local relevance with national impact. It aims to empower our local community and is supported by comprehensive training for our colleagues, who will guide our networks on exciting digital journeys.
The Digital Spaces VR headsets will be freely available to the public to experience in a series of open drop-in sessions throughout February.
Come along to a session at these dates and times as follows:
Wednesday 4 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [10.00 – 12.00]

Drop-In Session [13.00 – 15.00]

Drop-In Session [16.00 – 18.00]

Thursday 5 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [10.00 – 12.00]

Drop-In Session [13.00 – 15.00]

Drop-In Session [16.00 – 18.00]

Friday 6 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [9.00 – 11.00]

Drop-In Session [12.00 – 14.00]

Drop-In Session [15.00 – 16.45]

Saturday 7 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [10.00 – 12.00]

Drop-In Session [14.00 – 16.00]

Monday 9 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Tuesday 10 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Wednesday 11 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Friday 13 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Saturday 14 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Tuesday 17 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Wednesday 18 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Thursday 19 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Friday 20 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

All sessions are 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

Boardgames Club
2026-02-04 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-11 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-18 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-25 17:00 - 19:00
Join our free weekly boardgames sessions! Try new games, rediscover old favourites and make new friends. Open to all ages and abilities. Boardgames provided – just bring yourself.
Free, no need to book – 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

Crime Central
2026-02-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Bringing the best from all over!

Featuring the best and brightest crime writing talent both locally and from around the country – the big names are all coming to Manchester!

Go behind the scenes!

Showcasing blockbuster bestsellers, emerging talent and industry insiders, Crime Central will share the real story of what goes on in the crime world.

Meet your favourite authors!

With giveaways, audience interaction, book signings, the chance to ask questions and more – while bringing a crime fiction buzz back to this great northern city.
Tickets are on a ‘pay what you can’ offer.

Nothing remained unchanged but the clouds: Artist talk and UK book launch
2026-02-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Performance Space
Nothing remained unchanged but the clouds by Alan J. Ward is an artist book in the fullest sense: a work conceived, shaped, and authored through artistic practice. Developed through sustained collaboration with the community of Grandpré in the French Ardennes, the book traces stories held within German WWI postcards and transforms them into a living archive of memory, material culture, and shared authorship.
The launch will take the form of an illustrated conversation moderated by an arts commissioner familiar with Ward’s practice. Ward will be joined by a small panel of academic, artist, and language collaborators, alongside voices from Grandpré. Together, the discussion will weave local histories with contemporary perspectives, while reanimating the enduring connection between Manchester and Charleville-Mézières, the departmental capital.
With the support of Alliance Française, a special display of selected artefacts from Archives+ and the North West Film Archive has been assembled specifically for the evening. These materials document the shared histories between Manchester and the Ardennes, and sit alongside the themes explored in the book.
The evening will conclude with a question-and-answer session, offering the audience an opportunity to engage directly with the panel, followed by the chance to purchase signed, discounted copies of the artist book.
Free – reserve a seat via eventbrite here

Manchester Poetry For All
2026-02-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
A free event, suitable for budding listeners of poetry or those keen to try out some of their own poetry.
Listen to a selection of Manchester Writers from a 2025 publication Bards across the Pond with USA and UK writers in February
If you would like to read a poem, book your seat via the links below then send an email to wright727@myyahoo.com. with your request and any questions. Reading spaces are limited.
Free – reserve a seat via this meetup link or click on ‘Book Now’ below.

Timeless Cyprus: A Workshop for Children Aged 6-14
2026-02-07 14:30 - 16:30 | Lower Ground Floor
Join us for a theatrical–narrative journey through art, memory and home. In this workshop, children and young people will explore the world of Cypriot artist George Pol. Georgiou. Guided by the artworks, children explore everyday elements that appear in Georgiou’s paintings — chairs, houses, horses — and transform them into symbols of feelings, stories and lived experiences. A simple chair may become a keeper of memories; a house, a feeling of belonging; light, both the sun of Cyprus and the hope we carry within us. Through movement, narration, observation and creative play, participants encounter the artist and his work not as distant museum objects, but as living stories filled with light, memory and emotion.
The event includes a screening of The Myths of Cyprus by Mark Kassinos, starting at 3.30pm. Check out the full programme below:
2.30-3.30pm: Workshop
3.30-4.30pm: Film Screening: The Myths of Cyprus by Mark Kassinos, produced by The Press and Information Office in Cyprus.
Suitable for children aged 6-14.
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

Architecture for the People? Film Screening
2026-02-09 18:30 - 19:45 | Performance Space
Join us for a film screening and discussion exploring Manchester’s urban history and development from the 1940s to today.

Organised in collaboration with The Modernist and the current exhibition at Central Library, Architecture for the people: the works of Manchester City Architect’s Department (1902-2003), this Manchester Urban Film Series screening and discussion will revisit Manchester’s urban history and development from the 1940s to today.
We’ll be screening the 1947 documentary from the North West Film Archive collection, A City Speaks, which was a promotional film sponsored by the city council. As the BFI description summarizes: “Urban utopia beckons in this idealistic vision of postwar Manchester – fascinating to revisit as Northern Powerhouses and city devolution return to the agenda…Under the soaring, sweeping direction of Paul Rotha, it takes in themes of industry, energy, leisure and housing, present, past and future.”
We’ll use this as our starting point to reflect on Manchester’s historical urban development and the role of government within that as well as the resonances, challenges or opportunities of the dramatically transformed landscape we face today. With a resurgence of interest in “new municipalism” and public ownership, “it is worth remembering,” as the exhibit notes, “how much of the city’s operations were governed from the town hall. Manchester Corporation once controlled gas and electricity undertakings, tramways and trolleybuses, schools, police, fire and ambulance services, waste collection, parks and recreation, housing, libraries and more. The City Architect’s Department designed for all of these.” What can we learn from these efforts today?
Check out the exhibit up at the Central Library until February 28, 2026: Architecture for the people: the works of Manchester City Architect’s Department (1902-2003)
Free – booking advised.
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library.

Shakespeare and Manchester: A Victorian Powerhouse Exhibition
2026-02-12 08:00 - 2026-05-30 17:00 | First Floor Display Cases
For the first time, this exhibition tells the story of how seven personalities transformed Manchester into a global centre of Shakespearean theatre in the Victorian era and reveals present day evidence of the city’s innovative engagement with the works of Shakespeare.
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

Meet Your Muslim Neighbours: Explore Islam Exhibition and Event
2026-02-14 11:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Join us and the Meet Your Muslim Neighbours team for a special one-day community led event and exhibition about Islamic culture and Muslim people, at Central Library on Saturday 14 February, 11am-4pm.
Filled with free activities for all ages, including henna painting, interactive word hunts, Arabic tea and coffee, costume dressing, arts and crafts, and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Delve into the richness of Islamic culture with informative stands exploring foundational beliefs and scientific contributions. Engage in meaningful conversations and build bridges of understanding and unity. Don’t miss this enriching experience for the whole family!
Find out more about the day here: Meet Your Muslim Neighbours: Explore Islam Exhibition and Event – Manchester Libraries Blog
Did you know…at Manchester Central Library and our neighbourhood libraries, we have a broad selection of books on Islamic culture which are free to borrow if you have a library card? You can browse our collection online here or at this event and find out how to join the library free here or on the day (just bring along some ID with your home address on to sign up on the day).
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 here

Chinese New Year Celebration - Saturday Family Activities
2026-02-14 12:00 - 16:00 | Lower Ground Floor
Chinese New Year is one of the biggest events of the year at Central Library and the venue will be celebrating the Year of the Horse in epic fashion.
Families, children, schools, and community members are warmly invited to join us for performances, hands-on cultural activities, and fun learning experiences provided by Bowen Education, Chinese Music Classroom at Chetham’s School of Music, Confucius Institute, Manchester Chinese Centre, and more!
12 – 12:15pm: Short live performance by Bowen Education
12 – 4pm: Crafts by Bowen Education

Free arts and crafts workshops for children
Children’s artwork display: Special exhibition of student creations for Chinese New Year
Hanfu photo booth: Try on traditional Chinese costumes and take photos
Chinese calligraphy station: Have your name written in Chinese brush calligraphy

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

Chinese New Year Celebration - Sunday Funday
2026-02-15 11:30 - 16:00 | Ground Floor
Chinese New Year is one of the biggest events of the year at Central Library and the venue will be celebrating the Year of the Horse in epic fashion.
Families, children, schools, and community members are warmly invited to join us for performances, hands-on cultural activities, and fun learning experiences provided by Bowen Education, Chinese Music Classroom at Chetham’s School of Music, Confucius Institute, Manchester Chinese Centre, and more!
11 – 11:30am (on St Peter’s Square): Lion dance performance!
11:30am: Central Library doors open
Central Library Performance Space (Ground Floor)
12 – 1:30pm: Bowen Education – Stage performances by local schools and community groups – including dance, music, and other creative interpretations of Chinese culture and traditions
2 – 4pm: Performances and Workshops for Children with Manchester Chinese Centre
Central Library Ground Floor (near café)
12 – 4:00pm Cake decorating with Sarah Cook Stars
Central Library Lower Ground Floor
12 – 4pm: Family Craft Workshops with Central Library, Manchester Chinese Centre and Chinese Music Classroom at Chetham’s School of Music
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with local artists Caroline Coates, Mandy Cleveland, and friends! Expect lantern making, paper horses, and much, much more.
12 – 2pm: Bracelet making with Confucius Institute
2 – 4pm: Crafts by Bowen Education

Free arts and crafts workshops for children
Children’s artwork display: Special exhibition of student creations for Chinese New Year
Hanfu photo booth: Try on traditional Chinese costumes and take photos
Chinese calligraphy station: Have your name written in Chinese brush calligraphy.

Is it all a bit too exciting? Why not take a moment away from the crowds in our quiet space in the Music Library (First Floor), 11:30am – 4pm.
Free event – drop in (note – face painting £2)
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Word Central with special guest Zena Barrie.
2026-02-17 18:00 - 19:30
Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word.
Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries.
Doors open 5.40pm and free entry.
Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Zena Barrie.
Book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 3rd February 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 on a ‘first come, first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list.
Our first special guest of 2026, Zena Barrie, lives in Manchester and is the founder and co-director of Camden Fringe. She co-hosted the award-winning spoken word night Verbose, and ran the Gtr Manchester Fringe for a few years, the King’s Arms Pub and Theatre in Salford, and the Etcetera Theatre in Camden, as well as working in a wide variety of roles at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her novel, Your Friend Forever, was published in 2021, and her book of short stories, Two Similar Looking Men with Umbilical Hernias, illustrated by Claire Robinson, was published in 2025.

Daily Drop in Lego Workshop
2026-02-18 10:00 - 2026-02-21 17:00 | Lower Ground Floor
Love Lego? Pick your favourite bricks and build your own creations – from castles to spaceships and everything in between! Come and let your imagination run wild in the world of Lego, with Bricklands. Suitable for all ages.
Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/
Free, no need to book – 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
2026-02-18 11:00 - 11:30, 2026-02-21 11:00 - 11:30 | Children’s Library
Brought to you by Manchester Literature Festival, Little Reads is a fun and 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.
Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/
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

Crochet Club: Family Edition!
2026-02-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Calling all budding crafters! Join this relaxed crochet session and get creative with yarn. All materials are provided – just bring yourself! Most suitable for children 10+.
Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/
Free – Booking required – Reserve your place here or click on ‘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

Music Crafts
2026-02-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Lower Ground Floor
Join a hands-on craft session all about music. Ever made a harmonica from lolly sticks and toothpicks? Come and give it a try! Most suitable for ages 4+.
Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/
Free entry – 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

40 Years of Funny Stuff - a Lipservice Theatre symposium
2026-02-19 14:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Join us for a symposium celebrating 40 years of LipService Theatre with retrospective footage, silly props and cake. LipService was part of the Manchester Fringe Forum, a consortium of 1980’s artists, whose work reached all four corners of the globe. We will have a panel of original members and explore why there was such an explosion of creativity in Manchester at that time.
Includes BSL interpretation.
Free – book tickets 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

International Mother Language Day
2026-02-21 13:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Celebrate the languages and cultures of Manchester’s local communities. Enjoy live performances, and try your hand at traditional crafts. Suitable for all ages, everyone is welcome. ]
Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/
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

Cosy Reading Club
2026-02-23 17:30 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Bring a book. Get cosy and read alongside other book fans. Take some time for yourself and escape into a story.
Join our Cosy Reading Club at Manchester Central Library, our new silent reading group, offering a relaxed, shared space to read in peace and quiet in the company of others.
This is no ordinary book club. There’s no pressured discussions, there’s no set text. Simply bring along something you’d like to read.
Not sure what to read? We’ve got you covered. Send us a message directly and we’ll connect you with our friendly library team who can help you find your next favourite book.
The evening is designed for anyone who enjoys reading, wants a gentle break from busy schedules or simply wants to avoid the rush hour home. Everyone is welcome in our space.
What to expect:1 hour – Quiet Reading
Quiet, individual reading in a shared space
A calm, welcoming environment with no pressure to speak
30 minutes – Optional Group Sharing
At the end of the session, there will be an opportunity to share about your reading experience with others, this is only an invite and there is no expectation to stay or take part
Free light refreshments are provided. Stay as long or as little as you like, this is your space to slow down, escape to a new literary world and find peace in the heart of the city.
Tickets are on a ‘pay what you can’ offer and can be booked here or from the link below.
Please note: this is a ticketed event and, while we will make every effort to welcome everyone to the event, there are a limited number of seats available. Please book your free ticket in advance to avoid disappointment.

Author Q&A: Solid Bond in Your Heart - A People's History of The Jam
2026-02-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
‘Solid Bond In Your Heart: A People’s History of The Jam’ is a new book by acclaimed author and journalist Malcolm Wyatt.
Published in 2025 by Manchester-based Spenwood Books, it tells the tale of one the most iconic and inspirational bands of all time: The Jam. Exploding on to the British music scene with their April 1977 debut single and LP, In The City, they went on to pen nine top-10 and 18 top-40 singles up to their December 1982 farewell, including UK No.1s ‘Going Underground’, ‘Start!’, ‘A Town Called Malice’, and swansong, ‘Beat Surrender’,
Told by the band, members of their inner circle, loyal fans and contemporaries, ‘Solid Bond In Your Heart: A People’s History of The Jam’ charts the band’s epic rise and celebrates the powerful affection they still command.
With a foreword from Paul Weller, there are also contributions from bandmates Bruce and Rick, plus co-founder Steve Brookes, with an afterword from broadcaster Gary Crowley and accounts from over 500 fans. And along the way, there are words and photos from the band’s many North-West appearances, not least at Manchester Apollo, Granada TV, Middleton Civic Hall, the University of Salford, and Saddleworth Arts Festival.
Alongside ‘Solid Bond In Your Heart: A People’s History of The Jam’, its author Malcolm Wyatt has penned 2023’s ‘Wild! Wild! Wild! A People’s History of Slade’, and ‘This Day in Music’s Guide to The Clash’.
Appearing in the Henry Watson Music Library on the first floor of Central Library on 24 February, expect an intimate, in-person talk, Q&A and book signing with the author.
Did you know…at Manchester Central Library and our neighbourhood libraries, we have a broad selection of books on music which are free to borrow if you have a library card? You can browse our music collection online here or in the Henry Watson Music Library at this event, and find out how to join the library free here or on the day (just bring along some ID with your home address on to complete sign up and pick up your new library card).

Book tickets here or click on ‘Book Now’ below and ‘pay-what-you can’.
All donations go to Manchester Libraries to support future activities.

Voiced & IMLD26: Polari and Poetry in Manchester
2026-02-25 18:15 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Voiced, the UK’s first creative festival for endangered languages, presents an unmissable evening of Queer poetry and performance.
Presenting Polari, a hidden language of Queer experience, which will come to life in performance with Jez Dolan. Rosie Garland performs poems from Polari Prize-shortlisted What Girls do in the Dark and her recently published This Is How I Fight, an Observer Poetry Book of the Month. And poet afshan d’souza-lodhi explores Queer language through her mother tongue Konkani, a minority and national language in India. Join us for this electric evening exploring the intersections of Queer languages, poetry and performance.
About Voiced
This event is part of the Voiced: The Festival of Endangered Languages. Through poetry, performance, talks, live events and visual art, the festival brings together a remarkable line-up of artists whose work marks the vast impact art has on language and language has on art. Co-Curated by Sam Winston and Chris McCabe, please see the full programme on the pages below.
About the performers
Rosie Garland has a passion for language nurtured by public libraries. An award-winning poet, novelist and short story writer, she is frontwoman for post-punk band The March Violets. Her four historical novels include The Night Brother, described by The Times as “a delight…with shades of Angela Carter” & The Fates, her queer retelling of Greek myth. Latest poetry collection This Is How I Fight was Observer Poetry Book of the Month. Val McDermid named her one of the UK’s most compelling LGBT+ writers, & in 2023 she was made Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature.

Spanish Storytime - CANCELLED
2026-02-28 14:30 - 15:15 | Children’s Library
PLEASE NOTE – THIS MONTH’S STORYTIME HAS BEEN CANCELLED. THE NEXT SPANISH STORYTIME IS 14 MARCH
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

Building China: People’s Infrastructure
2026-03-01 08:00 - 2026-05-30 17:00 | Lower Ground Floor Link
“Building China: People’s Infrastructure” invites audiences to encounter China from the kitchen table and the street corner rather than the skyline. Bringing together photographs and prints from the 1950s to the 1980s with field images from the early 2000s and contemporary works, the exhibition traces urban change through the ordinary spaces where life unfolds.
Across work unit housing, factory yards, courtyards, pavements, parks and markets, the exhibition foregrounds infrastructure as lived experience. Socialist era photographs reveal campaigns that sought to educate as they built, capturing moments of collective labour and care. Reform era scenes register development in motion, with unfinished structures and provisional arrangements shaping everyday routines. Contemporary contributions attend to elevated roads, pavements and public spaces as shared infrastructures, animated through drawing, film and photography that remain attentive to movement and sound.
“Building China: People’s Infrastructure” offers a portrait of continuous infrastructuring, understood as the ongoing adaptation of spaces, rules and materials to meet everyday needs. By bringing the intimacy of routine practices into focus, the exhibition reframes one of the world’s most discussed urban transformations through the ordinary scenes that sustain it.
This exhibition is supported by The Confucius Institute at The University of Manchester. CI is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026 and this exhibition forms part of our celebrations. Exhibition launch details will be announced shortly.
Lead curator: Prof Deljana Iossifova (Architecture & Urban Studies), University of Manchester
With contributions from Deljana Iossifova, Xin Li, Qiwei Peng, Ziqiu Ren, Rujin Wang and photographs by the late David Lea.
More information: Building China: People’s Infrastructure | Events at The University of Manchester
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

Heritage Meets Heritage - Echoes of Sahyadri
2026-03-02 08:00 - 2026-05-30 17:00 | First Floor
Exhibition featuring 12 UNESCO Heritage Forts.
Organised by Leena Desshmukh, Founder of Sahyadri CIC UK, in collaboration with Sahyadri Pratishtan India.
This exhibition honours the extraordinary hill forts of the Sahyadri mountain range, recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their outstanding universal value. These formidable structures stand as enduring symbols of architectural innovation, strategic brilliance and cultural legacy.
Carved into rugged landscapes and rising majestically above valleys and coastlines, the forts represent centuries of vision, resilience and statecraft. Their sophisticated defence systems, water management engineering and harmonious integration with natural terrain reflect a remarkable synthesis of art, science and military intelligence.
Through meticulously crafted fort models, curated historical narratives and immersive visual presentation, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to engage with this monumental chapter of global heritage. Visitors are invited to experience the spirit, strength and enduring legacy of the Sahyadri forts in an educational and culturally enriching environment.
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

Library Lovers Scheme - Focus Group
2026-03-04 17:00 - 19:00 | Chief Librarian’s Office
Would you like to participate in Manchester Libraries Trust’s upcoming focus group?
Together we’ll explore and discuss the Library Lovers membership scheme and Manchester Libraries Trust work supporting cultural, educational and archives projects across all of Manchester’s libraries. Your input will help inform how the scheme is re-developed and re-vamped.
As a thank you for taking part, the event will start with a behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic Central Library building, giving you the chance to see some of the Trust funded archives work and hidden spaces not normally accessible to the general public!
Free – booking essential
To express your interest in attending this event, please email manchesterlibrariestrust@outlook.com before Wednesday 25 Feb.
Places are limited, so we will contact you to confirm your place and provide further details.
