• Board Games Café

    Recurring
    Ground Floor (Handling Tables)

    Are you a wizard at Ticket to Ride? A fan of tableau building games? Join our free weekly boardgames sessions and enjoy 20% off in the library café! Open to all ages and abilities. Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

  • Farsi Storytime

    Children's Library

    Join us for a fun and interactive storytime session in Farsi and English! Expect singing and crafts as we learn new words and make new friends. Suitable for children aged 4-7. Free – just drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation […]

  • Polish Heritage Month Family Crafts

    Performance Space

    Join us for a fun and interactive craft session for children aged 4-7. We will be celebrating Polish Heritage Month by creating cardboard radios, and much more! We'll provide all the materials, just bring your creativity and enthusiasm! Free – just drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at […]

  • LEGO Robotics Workshops

    Lower Ground Floor

    A hands-on LEGO robotics workshop for children. Children work in small teams to design and build your own racing robots without step-by-step instructions, encouraging creativity and problem-solving. They then program their robots using simple block-based coding to detect and avoid obstacles using motion sensors. Once complete, robots are tested through fun challenges, racing and navigating […]

  • Manchester Literature Festival presents Tayari Jones

    Performance Space

    One of the most irresistible voices in contemporary fiction Tayari Jones discusses her highly anticipated new novel Kin. Born days apart, Vernice and Annie share loss and friendship. Growing up in segregated America, their paths diverge, until danger forces Vernice to risk everything. An exploration of love, loyalty and motherhood, powerful.  Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester […]

  • Manchester Histories Festival 2026

    Manchester Histories Festival returns for its 10th edition, bringing people together in and around Central Library to explore the theme of Civic Pride. Expect stories, creativity, conversation and community collaboration, celebrating Greater Manchester’s past, present and future. Join us on Saturday 6 June for the Celebration Day, including the Histories & Heritage Marketplace in Rates […]

  • Talk English Circles

    Recurring
    Lower Ground Floor

    Come along to Talk English Circles at Manchester Central Library to practise speaking English and meet other people. Learn English, build skills and step into ESOL with this programme funded by Economic Activity Trailblazer and Manchester Adult Education. Open to all levels. Book your free ticket at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1986065030971?aff=oddtdtcreator Free – just drop in. Please make […]

  • Festival of Libraries 2026

    Join us for this celebration of Greater Manchester’s 133 libraries. The award-winning festival, supported by Arts Council England, features a vibrant programme that highlights the library network’s full offer, across wellbeing, culture and creativity, digital and information and reading. The full programme for the Festival of Libraries 2025, including event and activities at Central Library, […]

  • Festival of Libraries: MMU Manchester Skill Map

    Recurring
    Ground Floor

    Join us for an interactive activity connecting Manchester residents to skills, opportunities and each other. Discover skills you can learn, share knowledge and shape your future in this fun and engaging workshop. Find out more at https://rise.mmu.ac.uk Free – just drop in Please consider making a donation here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes […]