'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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 in the space where Patrick Stewart and Helen Mirren – amongst many others – played their first roles? All these questions – and many more […]
Join our fun and interactive storytelling session in Polish! We will listen to stories in Polish and English. Suitable for children aged 4–7. Free – drop in. Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central 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 […]
"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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Crime Central is the monthly crime and thriller fiction event at Manchester Central Library. 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 […]
Would you like to improve your English conversation skills? Join our friendly group to practice your English and meet new friends. Suitable for adults. Free – just drop in. Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library
Manchester International Women's Day 2026: When women thrive, we all rise... Join us for a community celebration of International Women’s Day, co‑designed by local women. This is a space to: Meet new people Learn something new Get creative Find inspiration Come along to celebrate women’s contributions, share knowledge and be part of a community committed […]
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.
