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 FRIDAY 24 APRIL 2026
"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." / Cicero
If you’re looking for garden inspiration now the sun’s begun to shine, pop down to your local library and pick up a book. We’ll help you grow your garden green to make your neighbours look!
If you have any queries about our services just give us a call on 01482 210000 or send us an email. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for all our latest updates.
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We are thrilled to have been awarded £203,175 of funding by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for our ‘Space to Inspire' project.
The funding has been granted as part of a nationwide Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) delivered by Arts Council England for the government’s Arts Everywhere Fund.
The investment will see Hull Central Library transformed into inclusive facilities for Hull residents, including a new themed café, a sensory room, quiet spaces for adults with additional needs and the refurbishment of the children’s library and meeting rooms. Watch this space…!
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Celebrate The National Year of Reading and join us at a library near you over the holidays for curious crafting, storytimes, lego coding and so much more! Tickets will be available from Tuesday 12 May.
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There's An Extra Helping of Big Malarkey events in the run up to the festival in June!
Wed 20 May - Mambo Jambo Musical Fun
Tue 26 & Wed 27 May - Virpi Kettu Stop-Frame Animation Workshops
Tickets available from Tue 12 May.
Wednesdays, 1 - 2pm (term time)
Gipsyville Library
Baby Herd is a creative play and sensory baby session with artists. This is a time for you to be with your baby and connect through creative play.
Weekly baby sessions for 0 - 12 months and their grown-ups. Drop in, free of charge.
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Tuesday 26 May, 10am - 1pm
Western Library
Join widely acclaimed Hull artist Anna Bean and discover fantastic and playful collage making techniques whilst exploring themes of birds and nature.
Recommended for children aged 10 and above.
Keep your little ones entertained, and help develop their love of language, literacy, and learning.
- Baby Bounce
- Toddler Time
- Toddler Tunes
- Storytime
Free sessions at a library near you. No need to book - just turn up!
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Regular Activities for Children
We have stacks of free activities for families and children of all ages happening at all of our libraries throughout the week. There are so many opportunities to get creative, have fun and make new friends! Check out our events page and get involved!
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Join us for an impressive programme of events livestreamed from the Hay festival to Hull Central Library!
SATURDAY 23 MAY
• 1.00pm - Elodie Harper and Janina Ramirez talk to Samira Ahmed / (Mis)representation: Women’s Stories
• 2.30pm - Mariana Mazzucato talks to Zanny Minton Beddoes / The Common Good Economy: A Vision for a New Way of Living
• 5.30pm - Dawn French talks to Richard Coles / Enough: The Comedian and Author’s New Novel
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THURSDAY 28 MAY
• 2.30pm - Mary Berry talks to Mel Giedroyc / My Gardening Life
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SATURDAY 30 MAY
• 11.30am - Emma Thompson, Cressida Cowell, Paterson Joseph, Chris Riddell and Jane Riordan hosted by Frank Cottrell-Boyce / A Celebration of Winnie-the-Pooh’s 100th Anniversary
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Wednesday 20 May / 7 - 9pm
Hull Central Library + livestream
Chris Brookmyre talks about his new thriller, Quite Ugly One Evening, with writer and Hull Noir co-founder, Nick Quantrill.
It's the National Year of Reading! Come and celebrate with us at one of our regular reading groups for adults at Hull Central Library, Bransholme, Fred Moore and Ings Library.
No need to book - just turn up.
First Wednesday of the month
2 - 4pm / Hull Central Library
Women Of Words is a monthly event for female performers of spoken word, prose, song and drama. Male audience members are very welcome to come and support.
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Saturday 23 May / 11 - 3pm
Western Library
Join award winning Hull poet, writer, teacher and performer Vicky Foster, on a mindful flight through birdsong and poetry.
Saturday 30 May / 11 - 12:30pm
Hull Central Library
This month we're joined by Richard Clarke who will give a talk on The Early History of Hull's Municipal Parks. No need to book.
Monday 15 June / 8:00am - 3:00pm
Malarkey Park, Hull
Save the date for the James Reckitt Reading Conference: a full day of professional development based solely on reading. You can watch the 2025 evaluation video here.
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We have thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, eNewspapers, eComics and graphic novels to borrow using BorrowBox, Libby or PressReader
Free drop-in sessions to help you use a computer, search for jobs, complete a CV, and access websites to find courses that help you improve your basic skills.
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Free live events, documentaries and hundreds of videos of great performances of classical and jazz music, opera, and ballet. Download the app or visit Medici.tv to view.
Need help setting up and updating your Universal Credit account? We offer a free drop-in session every Tuesday from 2 - 4pm at Bransholme Library.
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Various dates and times
Central Library or online
Whether you’re just setting out, need a chat about protecting your intellectual property, or simply have a brilliant idea you want to discuss and develop, we’re here to help you.
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Mon 27 April & Mon 11 May / 10:30am
Central Library - Reference Library
Connect with other business owners in our supportive and friendly get-together. Discuss your ideas and experiences over a cuppa and find out more about our business resources.
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The Makerspace at Hull Central Library provides a space for anyone to explore their creativity in arts, science, technology and engineering - independently or collaboratively. We've got state-of-the-art equipment, skilled staff to offer support and advice, and a variety of creative workshops.
If you want to learn more about our 30 day membership, or just meet some like-minded makers, drop in any time or give us a call on 01482 613395.
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Saturday 9 May / 12:30 - 3:30pm
Makerspace, Hull Central Library
Join Makerspace and luthier Dave Arundel to learn the basics of guitar set up in this relaxed and informal workshop. Bring your own guitar, other tools will be provided.
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Work is set to begin soon on the Makerspaces at Fred Moore Library and Greenwood Library. If you’d like a say in what equipment your local library could offer, take a moment to complete the survey for either Greenwood or Fred Moore and share your ideas.
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Borrow books from your local library to help manage your health and wellbeing. Reading Well is a national Books on Prescription programme from The Reading Agency and Libraries Connected, available through public libraries across England and Wales. There are five Reading Well collections covering mental health, parent support, children and teens and dementia.
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We have lots of opportunities for you to come together, have fun and make new friends at a library near you.
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Pick up a new hobby and unleash your creativity by joining one of our art clubs especially for grown ups!
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Skills Bootcamps are continuing to deliver strong outcomes across Hull Culture and Leisure, supporting workforce development, service improvement and innovation.
In March, three Level 3 bootcamps successfully completed, with all participants reaching progression milestones across catering, leisure, archives and libraries.
- Premium Experience, Excellence & Innovation – 10 catering staff completed and progressed
- Creative & Commercial Leadership – 9 staff from Leisure, Archives and Libraries completed and progressed
- Creative Business & Innovation – 13 library staff completed and progressed
Early impact is already evident. Catering teams are applying premium service and innovation principles, supporting higher‑value events, increased revenue and improved customer satisfaction. Library staff are strengthening the delivery of community mini‑makerspaces, enhancing libraries’ role in creativity, digital skills and enterprise.
Across all programmes, participants report increased confidence in leading, influencing and managing change, supporting workforce resilience and future succession across services.
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Thursday 30 April, 2 - 7pm / Hull Central Library / FREE
Folk Library Creations is a brand new project putting together creative exhibitions and music experiences in libraries.
Our inaugural event consists of an art exhibition running from 2pm, where you can see the spirit and craft of local art and meet the artists behind it all. Then later at 5:30pm, acoustic music starts. These are no microphone performances that hope to capture the traditional folk atmosphere and bring the community closer to the words of the performers. Come and be part of a new creative scene!
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Wednesday 6 May / 7pm / £15
Hull Central Library
Trailblazing South African musician and dancer Moonchild Sanelly is here to perform her latest music at the library. Don't miss this fantastic gig brought to you by the good people at Get It Loud in Libraries.
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Thursday 28 May / 12:30 - 3:30pm
Hull Central Library
Raising Her Voice is a powerful masterclass celebrating women who have built sustainable, successful careers in the music industry, often by carving their own paths, combining creativity with entrepreneurship.
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Until Saturday 23 May / HuFree Gallery - Western Library
Exhibition by Tony Ward, Kate Genever and HU3 residents.
For over a year from 2024, artist Kate Genever and photographer Tony Ward from Top Color print shop on Hessle Road, Hull, worked with customers and community members in a deep collaboration that produced 17 studio portraits, 17 collected histories and 17 large scale ceramic platters.
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Until Saturday 23 May
HuFree Gallery - Western Library
An exhibition by Chris Tansey, Tarik Skalli, Karim Skalli and Bill Tansey. Concrete Storeys centres around Chris Tansey's upbringing in the high rise flats of Anlaby Road and the lasting impact of that location on his practice.
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Until Saturday 30 May
Hull Central Library
Take a creative trip to Asia and explore artworks by Marjorie Brabazon.
"In April 2023 with art materials, minimum essentials packed, and passport in hand I left Paragon Station on the start of my creative adventure."
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If you can’t get to a library due to ill-health why not let the library come to you. We carefully select books to read or listen to and deliver them direct to your door. Whether you’re young or old, live in your own home or in residential accommodation, this free service is available to you.
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Did you know that East Park Library is now a Dog Friendly library? You are welcome to bring your clean, trained and well-behaved dogs into the main adult’s library during our opening hours. Pop along with your pooch - we love meeting your fabulous furry friends!
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Thanks for reading!
Don't forget all of our libraries will be closed on the 4th and 25th May for the bank holidays - but we are always open online!
Help us spread the word about Hull Libraries by forwarding this email to a friend or let them know they can
The Hull Libraries Team
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