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 Looking for a fun way to keep your child reading over the summer?
Starting Saturday 5 July, visit your local Nottingham library and take part in our Summer Reading Challenge!
The challenge:
Read 6 books before September to earn cool rewards along the way.
Complete the challenge and your child will receive a certificate and a special invitation to a medal ceremony!
It’s a great way to keep young minds active, build reading confidence, and enjoy some brilliant stories together.
Drop by your local library to get started – no sign-up needed in advance!
Are you ready to read and win? 🚀📖✨
As part of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, we’re hosting a fantastic line-up of free activities for children and families across the holidays:
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Creative craft sessions, robot fun, and LEGO building
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Live shows with favourites like Geoffrey Jumper and Leila
- A comics masterclass with the brilliant Kev Sutherland
- The exciting HOME: Zero interactive experience at Nottingham Central Library – for two weeks only!
Plus, at libraries with gardens, families can enjoy outdoor storytimes or simply relax with a good book in the sunshine.
Come and join the fun!
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 Come find your next favourite read today – let the summer stories begin!
The Mistake, M.J. Arlidge | Never Flinch, Steven King | Actually, I'm a Murderer, Terry Deary | The Lost Language of Oysters, Alexander McCall Smith | Ink Ribbon Red, Alex Pavesi.
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 Book a 45-minute online session with an expert from Xeinadin Accountancy, exclusively for BIPC Nottingham customers.
- Ask business finance questions - from tax and bookkeeping to structure and financial planning
- Delivered via Microsoft Teams
- Personalised, practical advice tailored to your needs
Free to attend – limited slots available!
 Need help with your business website?
Book a one to one online clinic with a web expert from Champagne Webs, in partnership with BIPC Nottingham.
- 45-minute session via Microsoft Teams
- Friendly, jargon-free advice on design, SEO, and more
- For start-ups, entrepreneurs & small business owners
Free to attend – limited spaces!
 Every 2nd Thursday | 10am to 12pm | Nottingham Central Library
Connect, share ideas, and get inspired in a supportive space designed for ambitious women at any stage of their business journey.
- Guest speakers, coffee-fuelled chats and networking
- Optional co-working after
Hosted by Coffee With Ella in partnership with BIPC Nottinghamshire.
Free to attend – RSVP required!
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 Do you use Hyson Green Library in the Mary Potter Centre? Then we’d love to hear from you!
Thanks to funding from Arts Council England’s Libraries Improvement Fund, the library has recently completed renovations to both the shared garden and the interior space.
Now, we need your help to understand the impact of these improvements.
Please tell us how you use Hyson Green Library and how satisfied you are with the changes. Your feedback will help us continue to improve the space for everyone.
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 Saturday 5 July | 12.45pm to 3.30pm | Nottingham Central Library | Tickets: ÂŁ7.21
Join Greebo Press and Write Queer for a fun, creative session open to anyone 18+ and all experience levels.
You will:
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Learn what zines are and how to submit to them
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Try writing activities to spark ideas and develop your style
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Make your own zine using provided materials
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Connect with other local creatives
All materials supplied, but feel free to bring your own extras like glue, pens, or notebooks.
 Saturday 12 July | 11am to 3pm | Nottingham Central Library |Â Â Tickets: Pay What You Want
Marketing Yourself as an Artist is a half-day workshop for independent, early-to mid-career creatives who want to build a sustainable career, grow their audience, and develop an authentic brand.
Led by ROB.GREEN – a successful self-managed artist in music and theatre – the session offers practical tips and real-world advice on self-promotion and branding without industry backing.
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 30 July to 27 August | 10.30am to 12pm | Nottingham Central Library
Join our fun, friendly book group just for Year 6! Run by a secondary school librarian, you’ll enjoy snacks, chat about great books, try fun activities, and get a sneak peek at Year 7!
- Weekly on Wednesdays
- Free, but booking required
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 Saturday 19 July | 10am to 12pm | Nottingham Central Library
What brought the railways to Nottingham in the 1830s? And why did the last main line built in England run through the centre of the city?
In this fascinating illustrated talk, local historian Steve Wright will explain it all and show how the city and its suburbs were once linked by a wide network of railway lines.
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Location: Floor 1
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Admission: Free, but booking is essential
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 Monday 21 July | 4.30pm to 6pm | Nottingham Central Library
Join us at the monthly creative writing session for the LGBTQ+ community.
Whether you're new to writing or have experience, come along to work on stories, poems, scripts or reflections in a supportive space.
Led by Richard, a friendly queer writer, each session includes fun prompts and exercises. Just bring a pen and paper (the jazzier the better!).
Everyone is welcome – get in touch if you have any accessibility needs.
 Tuesday 29 July | 7pm to 8pm | Nottingham Central Library |Â Â Â Tickets: ÂŁ5.68Â
The Ultimate Showdown!
Six bestselling authors go head-to-head in this fun and fiery literary showdown, hosted by Isabelle Broom. The authors will battle it out with lively chat, playful challenges, and a twist – they must pitch a story in the opposite genre!
Can a romance author write the perfect crime? Can a thriller writer turn up the love?
You decide – vote for your winner!
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 Nottingham Central Library | Free entry
View renowned local photographer Tracey Whitefoot's stunning landscape photos celebrating Nottingham and beyond.
Find out where, why, and how these photos were taken, and the vital role of light in her work.
Available for viewing during library opening hours until November 2025.Â
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 Discover Reading Well for Families – supporting mental health and wellbeing from bump to baby and beyond.
As part of the national Reading Well scheme, this carefully selected collection of books has been created by librarians, health professionals, and parents with lived experience. It offers trusted support for families during pregnancy and the early years of parenthood.
All titles are free to borrow from our libraries.
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Come See What Our Young Coders Have Been Up To! Â
Pop down to our Coder Dojo Exhibition and check out the games and digital creations made by the talented young minds who’ve been learning to code at the library. From creating animations to crafting their own games, these young coders have been busy - and now it’s time to show it all off! Â
- Dates: Monday 14 to Saturday 19 July
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Location: Nottingham Central Library AtriumÂ
Check Out The Showcase
Come have a play, meet the creators, and see how storytelling and tech come together in the most creative ways.Â
- Date: Wednesday 16 July
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Location: Nottingham Central Library, Room 4
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 Visit St Ann’s Valley or Strelley Road Library this July to enjoy a colourful collection of animated stories on our big screens – specially selected to help children explore LGBT+ themes like identity, diversity, and equality.
We’re proud to feature videos from Pop’n’Olly, a leading LGBT+ educational resource for children, created by author and YouTuber Olly Pike. These engaging and inclusive stories are a brilliant way to spark conversations and celebrate every kind of family.
Screenings will run throughout July as part of our celebration of NottsPride.
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 We are pleased to announce that Nottingham City Libraries have successfully maintained our Customer Service Excellence (CSE) Standard certification following our latest assessment.
This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, customer-focused services across all our libraries. The CSE Standard recognises organisations that consistently put customers at the heart of what they do - and we’re delighted to continue meeting that benchmark.
Thank you to our staff, volunteers, and library users for helping us to maintain this standard of excellence.
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