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Library news and events

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Discover what’s happening this festive season – from the Science of Santa to fun children’s activities and updated holiday opening hours to help you plan your visit.

Opening times over the festive period

Our libraries will be operating a revised service over the Christmas period.

• Wednesday 24 December: All libraries (except for Chester Library at Storyhouse) will close at 1pm.
• Thursday 25 - Friday 26 December: All libraries closed (Chester Library open 26 December)
• Saturday 27 December – Tuesday 30 December: Chester, Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, Neston, Northwich, Upton and Winsford libraries open as usual .
• Wednesday 31 December: Chester, Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, Neston, Northwich, Upton and Winsford libraries open (all to close at 5pm )
• Thursday 1 January: All libraries closed  apart from Chester.
•  Friday 2 January: All libraries re-open as usual

For Storyhouse’s full opening hours visit  Your Visit | Storyhouse

Our school and community libraries will be operating as below:

• Malpas (High School) – Closed from 7pm Thursday 18 December. Re-opens 1.30pm Tuesday 6 January 2026.
• Tarporley (High School)– Closed from 7pm Thursday 18 December. Re-opens 1.30pm Monday 5 January 2026.  
• Hoole Library – Closed from 5pm Monday 22 December. Re-opens 2pm Monday 5 January 2026.

Your Library is a Warm Welcoming Space

This winter, visit your local library for a warm and friendly welcome.  

Libraries are part of the Council’s Warm, Welcoming Spaces network, providing a space for you to stay warm and safe. 

Some Warm Welcoming Spaces sites will be open all day and some for shorter periods. Details of opening times can be found on each library’s webpage. 

Alongside our wide range of free books, eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines, there are also free refreshments and free access to Wi-Fi as well as public computers and newspapers. Everyone is welcome to join in with library events and activities that are taking place.   

Find out more about Warm Welcoming Spaces here, and share the details with your friends and family.

Weeping Bank Presents: Pock

Little Sutton Library, Thursday 4 December, 6.30pm

In Weeping Bank, they say The Librarian writes by moonlight and locks away his stories at dawn. But every now and then, by candlelight and under the watchful glow of a single brass lamp, he reads one or two of his chilling tales to rapt audiences across the country.

This is storytelling as it once was - eerie, immersive and dangerously close.

To learn more about The Librarian, his dark tales and the village of #WeepingBank, head over to www.weepingbank.com

Tickets are £7 and are now on sale via the library or online.

Blacon Library celebrates 10 years in Parade Enterprise Centre

To celebrate 10 years of Blacon Library at Parade Enterprise Centre, join us for coffee and mince pies.  

Monday 8 December, 10am-12pm. Everyone welcome.

The Science of Santa and the Star of Bethlehem

Hope Farm Library, Monday 8 December, 7pm 

Dr Steve Barrett from the University of Liverpool takes a light-hearted look at the science behind Christmas. Ideal for adults and interested teens. Tickets are £5

Christmas activities in your local library

We've been busy planning activities for the festive period - keep an eye on our Events listings for the latest information Library events | Cheshire West and Chester Council

For regular activities check your local library page Find a library | Cheshire West and Chester Council

See your green impact with our new catalogue feature

Ever wondered how your library borrowing habits help to reduce carbon emissions?  You can see the impact for yourself – simply log into your account on the online catalogue and click on the Green Library tab.  The system calculates how many physical books you’ve borrowed in 2025 and translates that into estimated carbon savings, including an easy-to-visualise comparison of how many equivalent car miles have been avoided. 

It’s a great way to highlight the environmental benefits of using the library, so please spread the word. 

Save the date: Health and Wellbeing Week 2026 is coming - Monday 19 - 25 January

Once again, our libraries will be offering a wide range of free activities to help improve your mental and physical wellbeing, from Monday 19 to Sunday 25 January.

If you would like to take part and promote your organisation or have a skill you would like to share during the week, please email: libraryevents@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk 

Curl up with our eMagazines this winter

Why not discover our wide variety of free online magazines this winter?

Enjoy hundreds of the latest titles, including TV guides, news, film and entertainment and cookery titles, all for free direct to your PC or mobile device.

Missed a few issues of your favourite magazine? You can catch up on back copies too.

Plan your Christmas recipes, decoration ideas, and TV schedules all in one app. All you need is your library card and password/PIN. Get borrowing straight away by visiting our eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines page.

Look out for this year’s Christmas Radio Times coming soon to Libby.

uLibrary

uLibrary has exclusive titles, only available on their app, including authors such as Reverend Richard Coles, Robert Galbraith, M.J. Arlidge, Tom Hindle, Rob Rinder, Roberta Kray, Jenny Colgan, Sandi Toksvig, Roddy Doyle and Sara Cox, to name but a few!

These titles are all available with simultaneous access meaning there are no waiting lists. So, you can stream titles as well as download them for offline use. Great for when you’re going to be away from Wi-Fi.

uLibrary is available now and can be used online here and can be used with Apple and Google Android devices.

Download the uLibrary app from the App Store or Google Play. Then all you’ll need is your library card number and PIN to access the collection.

Happy listening!

BorrowBox

Our #ReadNow #ListenNow titles are always available to download from BorrowBox.   

You will find these at the top of the BorrowBox app.  

We’ve got thousands of free eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers for you to borrow.        

If you can’t remember your PIN/password, please use our password reset feature. Alternatively, email libraries@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk for assistance. 

We hope to see you soon

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