What’s on in Hackney libraries
All library events have moved online.
May
Mental Health Awareness Week
Monday 10 May – Sunday 16 May
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week’s theme is nature. Join us online for nature related books, activities, and resources to get you out of your head.
Dementia Festival
Saturday 15 May – Saturday 23rd May
As part of Hackney’s Dementia Festival, we will learn more about dementia, highlight books with characters living with the condition and recommend resources for living well.
Storyteller John Kirk’s interactive reinterpretation of the Emperor’s New Clothes
As a dedicated follower of fashion the Emperor must have the latest styles but when two crooks come to town and convince him to buy clothes he can’t see he ends up with nowhere to hide his pride. This is a pre-recorded presentation with suggested opportunities for participation that can be watched at any time from 15 May via our YouTube channel.
You Say, Me Say a recorded poem by Lydia Julien
Listen to our amazing library poet, Lydia Julien, reading the poem she wrote by collecting memories from The Bells Project. In 2017 Lydia Julien worked with the Peppie Close residents, an event organised by The Community Library Service.
She created a prose poem, Me Say, You Say from all of the resident’s oral history and memories which was performed at Peppie Close and the Windrush Tea Party at Hackney Town Hall 2018. This is a pre-recorded presentation that can be watched at any time from 15 May via our YouTube channel.
Online Hackney memories workshop
Wednesday 19 May, 11-11.20am
If you used to step out to the Rio Cinema, Hackney Empire or loved your local library, join us for a friendly and relaxed session chatting about well-loved places in Hackney. Share memories and experiences promoted by a wide variety of fabulous photos, posters and pamphlets from Hackney Archives. This is a zoom live session that will be recorded and available to watch after the live event via our YouTube channel.
Eid
Thursday 13 May
Happy Eid! Get ready to celebrate this world-wide holiday making your own Eid al-Fitr banner to decorate your home.
National Children’s Day
Monday 17 May
Relive your childhood with our selection of classic stories that shaped us into who we are today.
Elmer’s birthday
Saturday 29 May
Upcycle your own patchwork elephant using an old milk bottle and paper.
Bus ride reads
All month long
Every day our librarians will post a recommendation for a book with under 200 pages on Twitter @HackneyLibs and our Hackney Libraries Facebook page.
June
Bike Week
Sunday 30 May – Saturday 5 June
Hop on your bike for a week of cycling books, resources, and tips. #7daysofcycling
Hi-Vis Fortnight
Monday 7 June – Sunday 20th June
This year we will be celebrating the diversity of reading by highlighting the wonderful world of accessible books. We have a wide selection of audiobooks free to download.
#EmpathyDay
Thursday 10 June
Hackney Libraries joins Empathy Lab to present fun home based activities to help children read, connect and act using empathy.
Father’s Day
Sunday 20 June
Honour the important male figure in your life with our smart looking Father’s Day card.
#MakeMusicDay
Monday 21 June
Get ready to make some noise. See our Twitter @HackneyLibs and our Hackney Libraries Facebook page and learn how to make your own instruments at home.
We will feature our wonderful music scores collection and access to free online concerts and music performances.
#NationalWritingDay
Wednesday 23 June
Start writing – or get back to writing – with tips and tricks from our creative library staff. #247Challenge
Graphic novel recommendations
All month long
Every day our librarians will post a recommendation for a graphic novel on Twitter and Facebook.
Summer Reading Challenge 2021
Coming soon
Reading groups
Don’t miss our April reading group. It’s National Tea Day, so grab a cuppa and join us as we discuss one of the novels chosen for World Book Night.
Lockdown poetry group
Every Thursday evening from 6pm
Poets, wordsmiths, and poetry fans, take part in our weekly lockdown poetry group, run by Hackney Libraries’ poet in residence, Jack Houston. This season Jack is running several thought-provoking workshops to inspire your creative energies. For more information, email jack.houston@hackney.gov.uk.
Reading Friends
Reading Friends is a reading befriending programme that helps to start conversations and connect people who are lonely and isolated. The aim of the programme is to help end loneliness and support mental health and wellbeing through the proven power of reading.
Quizzes and jigsaws
Keep yourself and your young ones entertained with Hackney Libraries’ #WhereInHackney jigsaw puzzles and #HackneyQuirkyQuizzes.
Online quizzes
- how big a Star Wars fan are you? Try our Star Wars quiz and see if you can beat the timer
- spelling bee time – can you correctly spell the names of the planets in our solar system?
- this Mental Health Awareness Week, try our mental health quiz for adults. You may be surprised what you learn
Virtual jigsaw puzzles
- this jigsaw puzzle features an image of Braidwood’s Academy, the first deaf school in Britain. This academy was built in the 18th century and stood at what is now 36 Chatham Place
- the more things change, the more things stay the same. Solve this jigsaw puzzle and take a look at a school class visiting Hackney Central Library in 1958
- Elmer’s birthday is at the end of May, so we’ve made a jigsaw puzzle featuring everyone’s favourite patchwork elephant.
Live sessions
Comic workshops with Emily Fellah
Take part in our live comics workshops with writer and illustrator Emily Fellah as she teaches your young artists how to create original characters and come up with their own fun comics. With her step by step instructions, anyone can become an illustrator.
Online ‘Heroes and Villains’ robot comics workshop
Draw your own robots from simple shapes and turn them into heroes and villains, then create your own comic strip.
Online Chinese New Year comics workshop
Take inspiration from Chinese legends and zodiac animals to create your own mythical characters and comics.
Online Shakespeare comics workshop
Get inspiration from illustrated versions of Shakespeare plays and brainstorm for character ideas, then create your own characters and comic strips. For ages 7+.
Social media
Follow Hackney Libraries on social media to take part in our virtual events. From craft sessions to storytimes, our Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are jam packed with activities to keep you and your family entertained.
Sign up to our newsletter
Hackney Libraries
Address
Telephone
- Renewals020 8356 2539
Opening times
- Renewals and information line open Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm