Story Explorers 

Through puppetry, music and sensory play Story Explorers will unleash your child’s imagination and take them on a magical and exciting storytelling adventure.

Join Little Owl, a talking Cactus and a comical camel as they journey together through the hot sands to solve an ancient mystery and discover the amazing secrets and creatures of the desert.

For children aged 2 to 5. £2 per child, accompanying adults free. Running time: 1 hour

Dates: Story Explorers is taking place at the following libraries:

Friday 27 September, Aspley Library, 10 am. Tel:0115 915 2802

Wednesday 2 October, Basford Library, 10 am. Tel: 0115 915 2855

Friday 4 October, Bilborough Library, 10 am. Tel: 0115 915 2820

Saturday 5 October, Strelley Road Library, 10 am. Tel: 0115 915 2880. 
This will be a relaxed performance ideal for those who need a more relaxed environment including those with an autism spectrum condition or learning disability.  Please contact Sandra Edis for more information sandra.edis@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Saturday 5 October, Wollaton Library, 1.30pm. 0115 915 2809

Wednesday 9 October, Clifton Library, 10 am. 0115 915 2837 and a 1.30pm showing at Wollaton Library. 0115 915 2809

Booking advised. To book either pop into the library or call them.

‘Truth or Dare’ National Poetry Day Library Takeover

Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, FUEL and Small Green Shoots bring you ‘Truth or Dare’; a Nottingham Central Library Young People’s Takeover by and for young people to celebrate National Poetry Day.  Enjoy live spoken word and music performances, poetry slams, artwork displays and an interactive poetry workshop.  Energy, lyricism and truth guaranteed! 

Thursday 3 October, Nottingham Central Library, Ground Floor, 6pm - 8pm.  No need to book just turn up. Suitable for all ages from 12+

Social Media #onmymind

Do you sometimes feel social media is taking over your life and affecting your wellbeing? Are you concerned about the effect social media is having on a friend or family member?

As part of Nottingham Mental Health Awareness Weeks, we’re hosting a topical workshop examining the effect social media can have upon our wellbeing. Lina Mookerjee will lead the discussion and offer solutions and strategies for more positive interactions with social media.

For the full Mental Health Awareness Weeks programme visit: www.mhaw.org.uk

Social Media Essentials

Social media can be a great tool for communication so drop in and ask questions about social media  

• How to  better manage social media in their lives
• Using social media to communicate with others 
• Staying safe online
• Mechanisms of social media ie notifications, settings etc
• Anything else you want to ask us

This event is brought to you as part of Nottingham Mental Health Awareness Week and Libraries Week.

 Friday 11 October, Nottingham Central Library, ground floor, 2 pm to 4 pm. No need to book and suitable for all ages.

Digital Workshop: exploring making music using fruit & veg!

Join us for this fun, hands - on digital workshop exploring making music with fruit and veg. Explore how you can use technology and electrical circuits to create sound and music. Ideal for beginners and no technical knowledge required.  Adults aged 18+. Free but limited spaces.

Session as below.

• Wednesday 16 October, 10 am to 12 pm, Bulwell Riverside Library
• Thursday 17 October, 10 am to 12pm, Hyson Green Library
• Friday 18 October, 10 am to 12 pm, Nottingham Central Library

This event is brought to you as part of Nottingham Mental Health Awareness Week and Get Online Week.

Getting started with Pixel Art 

Family Event: Suitable for children aged 8 - 16.

Join us for this fun free family workshop in which you will explore pixel art. Working as a team you will learn the basics of how to create, modify and animate pixel art on a computer and take the first steps in making a video game!

Pixel art is a form of digital art that became popular as it was used in lots of early video games and is still popular today. Creating pixel art characters or objects for video games is an art form that everyone can have a go at!

This workshop is free and ideal for family groups. Due to limited places, tickets need to be booked in advance.

A family group ticket is for a maximum 4 people, which must include at least 1 adult if children are under 13.

Bengali, Gujarati and Urdu book groups

For dates of the next meeting and further information please contact Syed Anwar via email on syed.anwar@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or call on 0115 876 1938.

Nottingham Central Library

Book Group

First Thursday of the month, 5.45pm to 7 pm

Crime Readers' Group

Last Tuesday of the month, from 2 pm to 3.15pm

Readers' Group

First Tuesday of the month, from 5 pm to 6 pm

Reading For Mental Health Book Club

Contact Jane Brierley on 0115 876 1933 or jane.brierley@nottinghamcity.gov.uk for more information

Reading For Pleasure

Third Tuesday of the month, 11.30am

The Listening Chain an audiobook group for visually impaired persons

Second Wednesday of the month 2 pm to 3.30pm

Contact Sarah Akroyd 0115 876 1946 or sarah.akroyd@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Bulwell Riverside library Library Club and Book Group

Second Friday of the month, 10.15am to 11.30am

0115 883 3500

Dales Centre Library Reading Group

First Friday of the month, 4.45pm to 5.45pm

0115 876 1990

Meadows Library Reading Group

First Wednesday of the month, from 6 pm to 7 pm

0115 915 9279

Sherwood Library Pageturners Reading Group

First Friday of the month, 6 pm to 7 pm NB: New opening times, the group will continue to meet as usual, please contact staff for further information.

0115 915 1155

St Ann's Valley Library Book Group

Third Wednesday in the month, from 12 pm to 1 pm

0115 883 9700

Strelley Road Library Book Group
Third Monday of the month, 11 am to 12 pm

0115 883 3500

Wollaton Library 

First Wednesday of the month, 10.30am to 11.30pm

0115 915 2809

Conversation Groups for learners of English

These groups are for anyone who wants to improve their confidence in speaking English. They are aimed at people who speak English as a second language and help you build confidence by discussion, debate, exchanging ideas and through activities and tasks.

The groups run in term time only at:

Nottingham Central Library   Thursday 2.30pm to 4.15pm

Dales Centre Library  Monday 1pm to 2.30pm

Hyson Green Library   Friday 10.30am to 12pm

Meadows Library   Monday 10.30am to 12pm

St Ann's Valley Centre Library  Wednesday 1pm to 2.45pm

The Language Cafe

Saturdays 1pm to 3pm at Nottingham Central Library.

This is an informal language exchange and fun way to learn new languages or practice your teaching skills, it runs in term time only.

For more information about Conversation groups or the Language cafe please get in touch:

Email: enquiryline@nottinghamcity.gov.uk  or contact the relevant library.

We have lots of regular activities after school, on Saturdays and in the holidays suitable for all ages of children and young people. Click on the relevant age group below for more details:

Under 5s    5-11 years    12-19 years  Summer Reading Challenge

To find out about special and one-off events go to the top of this page, follow us on Facebook and Twitter and sign up for Stay Connected monthly library updates via email.

Free training and support to improve your digital skills so you can you take a more active role in your health, care and wellbeing. 

Every Wednesday - starting 4 September 2019 - your Digital Support Hub will be at Nottingham Central Library from 10am to 2pm - just drop in no need to book.

The support on offer ranges from keeping in touch with family and friends to following hobbies or managing health. For more information click here.

One2One Family History computer help sessions.

Support to explore some of the online sources available. The sessions are free and last for one hour. Contact the Local Studies Library

Family History drop-in sessions

On the first Wednesday of every month, 10 am to 12 pm, in the Local Studies Library, floor 1, Central Library. Anyone with family history questions is welcome, whether they are just starting or are already doing their research.

Join our family history group

Are you researching your family history? Would you welcome meeting others who are also researching family history to share progress and brick walls? Then come along to our regular family history group meetings.

The group meet on last Saturday of the month at Nottingham Central Library, Learning Suite, Floor 2, 10 am to 12 pm.

For more information contact Nottingham Local Studies Library:

local_studies.library@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

or Tel: 0115 915 2873.

Our new drop in games cafe is the perfect way to get out to meet new people in your local area while enjoying some new and old favourite games!

Games Café are free and run weekly at the following libraries;

• Aspley Library, Thursday, 10.30am to 11.30am
• Basford Library, Monday, 10.30am to 11.30am
• Clifton Library,  Monday, 10.30am to 11.30am
• Sherwood Library, Monday, 10.30am to 11.30am 
• The Meadows Library, Thursday, 10.30am to 11.30am. 
• Southglade Park Library, Mondays, 10.30am to 11.30 am 

Easylink public transport is providing free journeys for anyone with any mobility difficulties. Transport should be booked direct with Easylink and you need to state it is for the Games Café.

Knit, stitch and crochet clubs are free and open to anyone who has an interest in needle and yarn crafts; whether you knit, crochet, cross-stitch, embroider or enjoy any other type of needle crafts.

The clubs welcome people at all levels of experience who are willing to share their time, ideas and skills with others or just want to work on their projects.

Groups meet at:

Aspley Library Knit and Natter, Tuesday 4 pm to 5.45pm

Basford Library Knit and Knatter Group, Alternate Tuesdays 9.30am to 12 pm

Bilborough Library Knitting and Crochet Group, Monday and Friday 10 am to 12 pm

Bulwell Library Knit and Natter, Tuesday and Thursday 10 am to 12 pm

Friends of Meadows Library Sewing Group, Wednesday 10.30am to 12.30pm

Nottingham Central Library Tangled Yarns Knitting and Crochet Group, alternate Tuesdays 1 pm to 3 pm

St Ann's Valley Library Knit and Stitch Group, Friday 10 am to 12 pm

Strelley Road Library Knit and Stitch Group, Tuesdays, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm

Dales Centre Library Crochet Group, Saturday 11.30am to 12.30pm

Monthly, from September to June, libraries invite guest experts who present talks and discussions on a wide range of subjects. Recent topics include Japanese tea ceremonies, the history of photography, local history and poetry. 

Everyone is welcome to attend and its a great place to meet people in your community. There is no requirement to attend every talk and refreshments are available for a small contribution.

Library clubs are held at:

Basford Library Second Tuesday of the month 10.30am to 11.30am

Clifton Library First Thursday of the month 10:30 am to 12 pm 

Sherwood Library Third Thursday of the month, 10am to 11am 

Are you interested in creative writing? Do you want to meet others with similar interests? Here are some writing groups in Nottingham where you might find inspiration!

DIY Poets

Third Tuesday of the month, 8 pm

The Peacock pub, Mansfield Road, Nottingham

07905 322813

Lowdham Writers' Group

Second Tuesday of the month, 7:30 pm

Old Ship Inn, Main St, Lowdham

Nick Sparrow 0115 914 4057

Nottingham Poetry Society

Fourth Saturday of the month, 2:45 pm

The Mechanics, North Sherwood Street, Nottingham

01773 712282

Nottingham Shakespeare Society

First and Third Tuesday of the month, 7 pm

The Mechanics, North Sherwood Street, Nottingham

0115 925 6551

Nottingham Writers' Club

First and Third Wednesday of the month, 7 pm

The Mechanics, North Sherwood Street, Nottingham

Jeremy 0115 962 1453

Nottingham Writers' Studio

A work and resource centre for professional-level writers

Aly Stoneman 0115 959 7947 / admin@nottinghamwritersstudio.co.uk

Notts Writing Group

Mondays 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm The Bell Inn, Angel Row, Nottingham nottswritinggroup@gmail.com

Open to anyone unemployed and looking for work or training. Delivered in partnership with trained employment advisers from local organisations, drop in for help with your CV, interview skills, job searching, finding training and apprenticeships.

Universal Skills is an online resource aimed at anyone who is looking for work. It’s free to use in the library or from home, just log in with your library card number.

Topics include:

• Basic IT Skills
• How to use Find a Job 
• Universal Credit
• Employability Skills, including job search, interview skills, CV writing

Libraries with sessions are listed below: