Manchester Central Library is celebrating ten years since its major transformation, and 90 years since its grand opening by King George V on 17 July 1934. This display in the Wolfson Reading Room celebrates it's many achievements and successes over the last ten years. As the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Manchester’s libraries, and one […]
Presented by Manchester Literature Festival. ‘A garden is a time capsule, as well as a portal out of time.’ In her compelling new work of non-fiction The Garden Against Time, Olivia Laing brings to life her own slice of paradise: the restoration of a garden designed by Mark Rumary of Notcutts. Alongside her own endeavours, Olivia […]
The work of a group of modern Chinese composers known as the ‘New Wave’ generation, including Tan Dun, Bright Sheng, and Chen Yi, has greatly boosted contemporary Chinese music. Po Hang Yuen’s talk will examine Tan Dun's use of ethnic elements, particularly focusing on Ghost Opera (1994). Free – booking required. Please support our cultural […]
Manchester Literature Festival, in partnership with Library Live, is thrilled to welcome author David Mitchell to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his epic, polyphonic novel Cloud Atlas. Originally published in 2004, Cloud Atlas quickly became a firm favourite with readers, critics and booksellers. The Independent called it “a novel of breath-taking ambition and scale” whilst the New […]
Manchester Libraries, CBBC and The Reading Agency are excited to announce Blue Peter Book Club Live! Blue Peter, the BBC’s iconic children's television series, is partnering with The Reading Agency and Manchester Libraries on an exciting new initiative called Blue Peter Book Club Live. This ambitious project aims to inspire a love of reading and […]
Join us and Alliance Française de Manchester for this month’s film, Un Homme de Trop; a WWII rescue drama in which twelve captured French soldiers await their impending executions in a German prison camp. Suitable for those aged 12 and over. Under-18s remain the responsibility of their parent or guardian. Free - booking required - […]
Manchester Town Hall has been closed since January 2018 for an extensive restoration programme that will repair and upgrade the building to modern standards. The work will include the conservation of many heritage features. Our series of Heritage Lectures aims to shine a light on some of the fascinating work that’s been going on behind […]
Manchester Histories hosts a two-day open mic extravaganza! A celebration of voices, a collective ode to the diverse stories that shape our shared identity. Book Friday 7 June (11.30am-2.45pm): DAY 2: Friday 7th June 2024 – ‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza! – Manchester Histories Book Saturday 8 June (11.30am-3pm): DAY 3: Saturday 8th June 2024 […]
Note the new venue from the programme - now taking place at Central Library, not The Whitworth Hall. Come and see over 50 history and heritage organisations from Greater Manchester and the Northwest at the iconic Manchester Central Library. Find out about the organisations that celebrate, preserve, and explore Greater Manchester’s heritage. It will be […]
Due to unexpected ill health, Miranda July has been forced to cancel her trip to the UK. This means her MLF event on Tuesday 11 June 2024 has been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience. Manchester Literature Festival, in partnership with Library Live, presents Miranda July in conversation. We are thrilled to be joined by the writer, […]
A live music performance from Poet Laureate Simon Armitage's band LYR and local Manchester artist Jospehine Oniyama, featuring a very special new single dedicated to libraries. Booking required. Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in the venue, or online
An interactive design workshop using simple and accessible research methods and tools to explore the library as a resource. Free - booking required
From dedicated performance spaces to stairwells, screens, nooks and domes, Central Library might directly inspire your next event or intervention. Contact us to arrange a tour.
