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 FRIDAY 29 MAY 2026
“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August." / Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty
Ah June! Our favourite month of the year in Library Land! It’s all hands on deck as we prepare for our annual extravaganza celebrating children’s book and stories at The Big Malarkey Festival. We’ll be bringing the magic to East Park from Monday 15 to Sunday 21 June - hope to see you there!
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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Saturday 20 + Sunday 21 June / 10am - 5pm
Malarkey Park, East Park, Hull
It's the 9th Big Malarkey Festival AND The National Year of Reading and we're getting very excited to welcome everybody back to Malarkey Park!
This year’s festival will open on Monday 15 June with the James Reckitt Reading Conference, followed by an action-packed week of activities for schools, including the James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Awards.
The family friendly festival weekend takes place on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June and the theme this year is ‘It’s a Mystery!’ We’ll be filling the park with puzzles, collecting clues, dressing up in disguises and exploring some of the best mysteries in the city. There’ll be lots of fabulous authors, illustrators, dancers, musicians, artists and theatre companies to enjoy including:
Michelle Robinson, Steve Webb, Sharna Jackson, Joseph Elliott, Liz Million, Mariesa Dulak, Kev F Sutherland, Fleur Hitchcock, Circo Rum Ba Ba, Pauline Quirk Academy, Paul Cookson, Ben Rothery - and so many more!
As well as free books for everyone to take home from the Hook-a-Book stall!
Check out the festival programme and start planning your very own Big Malarkey Mystery! Tickets are on sale from Monday 1 June at 12pm and are available to buy online or from all branches of Hull Libraries.
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We're enjoying touring the schools of Hull with this year's shortlisted authors in the run up to the James Reckitt Hull Children's Book Award 2026.
We can't wait to hear which book the children will vote for in our award ceremonies at Malarkey Park!
- Tuesday 16 June (KS2)
- Wednesday 17 June (KS3)
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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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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.
• AFTERNOON BOOK CLUB / Central Library
Last Wednesday of the month / 2:00 - 3:00pm
We're reading The Cardinal by Alison Weir
• INGS BOOK CLUB / Ings Library
Last Tuesday of the month / 4:45 - 5:45pm
We're reading Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths
• FRED MOORE CRIME BOOK CLUB / Fred Moore Library
First Wednesday of the month / 2:30 - 3:30pm
We're reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
• LGBTQ+ BOOK CLUB / Central Library
Saturday 20 June / 11:15 - 12:45pm
We're reading Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity
• BOOK NOOK READING GROUP / Bransholme Library
First Tuesday of the month / 10:00 - 12:00pm
Share your love of reading and passion for stories.
No need to book - just turn up. Please contact us if you would like further information about any of our book clubs.
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Wednesday 24 June / 7 - 9pm
Hull Central Library + livestream
Jay Stringer talks about his new thriller, Once Upon a Time in Glasgow, with writer and Hull Noir co-founder, Nick Triplow.
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 always very welcome.
Tuesday 9 June / 11:00am - 1:00pm
Hull Central Library
Be part of the British Library's new exhibition, Agatha Christie: A World Of Mystery, by sharing your memories and reflections of her work.
Take part in a 2-hour group audio recording session and help us capture the voices of Christie readers and viewers from across the UK.
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Saturday 4 July / 7 - 9:45pm
Hull Central Library
For this special screening, Nick T and Nick Q discuss the film, Dennis Lehane’s source story and his influence on modern crime fiction.
Monday 15 June / 8:00am - 3:00pm
Malarkey Park, Hull
Don't miss the James Reckitt Reading Conference: a full day of professional development based solely on reading with a whole host of special guests.
Thursday 11 June / 6:30 - 7:30pm
Avenues Library
Join us for an evening of discussion and curiosity.
Chat with other readers about what you look for in your reading experiences, what makes a good read or a bad read for you? How do you choose what to read? What are your favourite books?
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We have thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, eNewspapers, eComics and graphic novels to borrow using BorrowBox, Libby or PressReader
We offer free, weekly drop-in sessions where friendly, experienced library staff and volunteers are available 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.
Explore your family tree using our free online websites, or come along to a group session at Greenwood or Fred Moore Library and we'll show you how to use our resources to help you uncover your story. Call or visit the library to book a place.
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Various dates and times
Hull 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. Come and find out about all the free resources available for you.
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Thursday 4 June / 12:30 - 2:00pm
Hull Central Library
Got a business idea, product or brand? Make sure it’s protected.
Join us for a practical workshop as part of #HBW2026, introducing the essentials of Intellectual Property and how to safeguard what you create.
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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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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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We have one of the most comprehensive collections of printed music in the country, with over 2,000 titles in the Vocal Score Collection and more than 800 titles in the Orchestral Collection.
If we don’t have the set you require and you rehearse in Hull we will attempt to obtain it for you from another library via the interlibrary loan system.
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Saturday 6 June until September / HuFree Gallery - Western Library
A growing collection of photos and stories of HU3 drag performance.
Did you know that HU3 pubs and clubs in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, had a drag and queer performance scene that held a top spot in the north of England, alongside Manchester? This exhibition is part of our investigation and kickstarts the creation of a new, accessible archive that will be hosted at the Hull History Centre, and the Bishopsgate Institute in London. It brings together some uncovered photographs, alongside historical finds, and stories which seem to raise more questions than they answer.
The exhibition opens Saturday 6 June - 10am-1pm. It’ll be a relaxed affair - with special events to be announced over the summer and beyond.
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Saturday 6 June - Saturday 4 July
Hull Central Library
Art work and poetry from prisoners at HMP Hull inspired by the international touring We Roar exhibition.
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Thursday 18 June - Thursday 30 July
Hull Central Library
A creative installation by Malet Lambert pupils in collaboration with artist Lauren Saunders.
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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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Let's celebrate 42 years of Volunteers’ Week in the UK! Our volunteers give so much to our organisation, without them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. Thank you to each and every one of you.
We are always looking for volunteers aged 18+ to support a wide range of exciting activities and events - if you can help please email or call us on 01482 331254.
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Thanks for reading!
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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