Popular library festival returns for fourth year

A popular library festival with a huge array of activities and events across the city is due to return later this week.

The fourth edition of ‘Library Fest’ is set to return, running from Saturday 3 February – Saturday 17 February. Featuring in the programme will be: performances, story times, crafts, coding, workshops, author events and chances to see treasures from special collections.

Just some of the highlights include:

Any over 60s with an interest in music, are invited to come along to Hunslet Library on Tuesday 6 February from 10-11.30am. As part of the event create your own music using a wide range of digital instruments! This is a free event, and no booking is required. Refreshments are also provided.

On Thursday 8 February, children under five can join Pyjama Drama for imaginative fun and games at Dewsbury Road Community Hub from 11.00-11.30am. The session is free, but please book by phoning (0113) 378 5747.

On Monday 12 February, Beeston Library is hosting a Family Quiz Night from 5.30-6.30pm with questions for children and adults, bonus rounds and prizes! Free event, booking required – www.ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibraryevents

Come along to the Open Mic Night at Dewsbury Road Community Hub on Monday 5 February, 7-9pm and read your own work, share the work of a favourite writer who inspires you or just be an audience member.

Find out what happens when Goldilocks keeps stumbling into the wrong fairytale when The Storytellers visit Dewsbury Road Community Hub on Tuesday 13 February 11am-12pm; Beeston Library on Thursday 15 February, 11am-12pm; and Hunslet Library on Friday 16 February 11am-12pm. Events are free, but please book via www.ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibraryevents

There will also be a special range of events at Central Library as part of Library Fest to celebrate LGBT History Month. One of these is Bona! A History of Polari: a talk by Ian Nipper about the origins of this secret gay language and how it has fed into popular culture. Free event, booking required through TicketSource.

To see the full programme, go to: www.leeds.gov.uk/libraryfest

Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities said:

“The past four years of Library Fest have been truly fantastic, and I am delighted to say that this year’s programme once again has something to offer everyone. I am also very pleased to say that this year we will be celebrating LGBT History Month with a range of excellent events at Central Library.

“While many of the events do not require pre-booking there are some listings that do, and with that in mind we would ask people to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.”

 Other highlighted events include:

Crime fans will love these two events with published authors Neil White and Paul Finch at Central Library on Wednesday 7 February – a crime writing workshop from 2.30-3.30pm (tickets £4, book via www.ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibraryevents) followed by a “Crime Writers, Lawyers and Coppers” talk in the evening in Room 700 from 6-7.30pm (tickets £2, bookable as above)

On Saturday 10 February from 2-4pm at Central Library, young people can join authors Patrice Lawrence, Rachael Lucas and Tamsyn Murray for Keep it in the Family, an afternoon of laughter, lies and family ties as they explore the role of parents, grandparents and stress-you-out-siblings in their latest Young Adult books. Free event, booking required – www.ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibraryevents

On Monday 12 February, Beeston Library is hosting a Family Quiz Night from 5.30-6.30pm with questions for children and adults, bonus rounds and prizes! Free event, booking required – www.ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibraryevents

To close the festival, we have a full day of geek and cosplay fun with a Maid Café and retro games arcade from Retro Events at Central Library on Saturday 17 February from 10.30-4pm at “Tosho Con”. Costumed cosplayers get in FREE. £3 per person, booking required – www.ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibraryevents. Our second event celebrating LGBT History Month will take place in the Children’s Library from 11.00-12.00pm. There’ll be a fabulous Drag Queen Storytime for children and families brimming with stories, singalong songs and sparkling crafts. No booking required, just turn up!