Thought the library was dead? Think again. Footfall might have depleted over the past two decades, but a significant number of our public libraries remain alive and well. And to celebrate their service to the general public, Manchester is hosting a Festival of Libraries for a third year running.
The city’s Central Library is the busiest public library in the UK, with the Greater Manchester area boasting another 112 sites for book lovers. Manchester is also a Unesco City of Literature, making it an ideal host for such a celebration.
Festivities will begin on Wednesday, June 7, and will run until Sunday, June 11. Events will be taking place across the city’s literary venues including the Central Library, Chetham’s Library, The Portico Library and the John Rylands Research Institute and Library.
Supported by Arts Council England, visitors to the festival will hear from leading literary figures and well-known Mancunians. They’ll even be able to check out live music, dance and theatre performances, poetry commissions and a writing trail, all in between the bookshelves.
Among the headliners is poet laureate Simon Armitage, who will be running a masterclass, and Ru Paul’s Drag Race star Cheddar Gorgeous, who will be speaking as part of the event’s ‘Inspired By’ section.
The full programme will be revealed at the end of the month, when tickets will go on sale too. You can keep an eye out here.
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