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Bookshelves in St Anns Valley Library

       October 2025





YOUR NEW READS

Take a look to see what's new on our shelves in October.

October New Stock

*Visit our website* [ [link removed] ]






BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Explore Black History Month with Nottingham City Libraries!

Jacaranda Books - Ever Since We Small

*Jacaranda Books presents: ever since we small by Celeste Mohammed | Nottingham Central Library | Thursday 16 October | 6.30pm to 9pm | Tickets £3.96 *

We're welcoming Jacaranda Books’ Celeste Mohammed in conversation with Panya Banjoko to celebrate her second novel, diving into the legacy of indentureship and the layered Indo-Caribbean heritage that was born out of an under-discussed historic migration.

*Book tickets* [ [link removed] ]


Jacob Lawrence - The shoemaker

*Jacob Lawrence Children's Crafts* - This half-term, take part in drop-in crafts inspired by the art of Jacob Lawrence to celebrate Black History Month.



*Browse our Black History Month Collection* [ [link removed] ]

Black History Month Book River




LEARN ENGLISH WITH NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

*Hyson Green Library | Thursday 23 October (weekly until Thursday 11 December) | 10am to 12.30pm | Ages 18+*

NTU English Course

Nottingham Trent University’s *MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages [TESOL]* students are partnering with Nottingham City Libraries to deliver an 8-week course, teaching English to speakers of other languages.  

*Visit our website* to take the English assessment and register your interest. The course will be offered at the level that is most common among those who complete the test.

When taking the test, you *must* include your name and contact details and be 18+ to take part.  

*Find out more* [ [link removed] ]






TECH BUDDY GROUP

*Technology Support Sessions for Adults from Nottingham Mencap*

Tech Buddy Group Logo

Some of our libraries will be hosting the* Tech Buddy Group*, who offer free and friendly sessions to support people with varying skill levels to gain more confidence with technology.

The sessions will last 2 hours with a 1 hour drop-in afterwards.

*Sessions will be held at:*


* Bulwell Library
* Clifton Library
* Hyson Green Library - Mary Potter Centre
* St Ann's Valley Library
* Strelley Road Library

*To book onto the sessions, contact Nottingham Mencap by ringing: *

*0115 920 9524*






OCTOBER HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES
October Half-Term Activities

There's so much going on across our libraries for families to join in with this October:


* *LEGO Fun* - Come along and see what you can create with LEGO!
* *Jacob Lawrence Crafts* - Take part in crafts inspired by the art of Jacob Lawrence to celebrate Black History Month.
* *Spooky Totstime at Nottingham Central* *Library *- With special Halloween themed rhymes, and a costume competition!

*Check out the full list of activities in your local library* [ [link removed] ]


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BLUE BADGE BUNCH

Blue Badge Bunch Logo

Straight from The Edinburgh Fringe Festival comes *Blue Badge Bunch* – an interactive game show for *ages 7+*. Ever tried drawing with your feet? Made your lunch one-handed? Had a go at audio description? It’s trickier than you think! Join comedian *Benny Shakes*, as the audience battle it out in a game show where disadvantage is an advantage!

 

*Tickets: £4 per person, or £14 for a family of four.*

*Nottingham Central Library | Saturday 1 November | 11am to 2pm*



*Book your place* [ [link removed] ]


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SPELL MONSTER WITH RUTH QUAYLE

Ruth Quayle Creative Writing

Using poetry, word play and a giant cauldron full of story prompts, best selling author Ruth Quayle will inspire children (and parents!) to cook up monster stories and create spells for confronting the monsters under their beds.

Ruth will share ideas, concoct weird and wonderful vocabulary, and encourage imaginations to run wild.

*Tickets: Free, booking required - Suitable for ages 7 to 11.*

*Nottingham Central Library | **Tuesday 21 October | 1.30pm to 2.30pm*



*Book your place* [ [link removed] ]


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GANGSTA GRANNY STEM WORKSHOPS

A creative, hands on session where children use their imagination to make an alarm system to protect The Crown Jewels.

Gangsta Granny STEM Workshop

Inspired by the book* ‘Gangsta Granny’ by David Walliams*, children will use a cardboard box and electronic components to connect a circuit to make their alarm buzz or light up!

*Tickets: Free, booking required. Suitable for children 8+.*


* *Hyson Green Library | Tuesday 28 October | 1.30pm and 2.45pm*
* *Nottingham Central Library | Wednesday 29 October | 1.30pm and 2.45pm*
* *Wollaton Library | Thursday 30 October | 1.30pm and 2.45pm*


*Book your place* [ [link removed] ]


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PUMPKIN CARVING WITH WINDMILL COMMUNITY GARDENS

Wanting something spooky to do this October half-term? Come and join us at Hyson Green Library to do some pumpkin-carving with *Windmill Community Gardens! C*arve out a pumpkin, and learn about cooking the remaining pumpkin into some special seasonal pancakes!

Pumpkins in the process of being carved

*Hyson Green Library | Friday 24 October | 10.30am to 12pm *

*Tickets: Free, booking required. S**uitable for children 5 to 8 with significant parental involvement, or 8+ with occasional parental involvement. *Please book a ticket for _each child_ that you would like to take part. Accompanying adults do not require a ticket.

*Book your place* [ [link removed] ]






MARSH FORUM: PIONEERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Marsh Forum Pioneers of Photography

*Saturday 18 October | Nottingham Central Library | 10.30am to 12pm*

Join Eric Butler, local photographer and archivist, to discover the remarkable story of Alfred Barber, owner of the Midlands’ first photographic studio.

This illustrated talk explores the early days of photography in Nottingham, showcasing the work of those who followed in Barber’s footsteps.

*Book your free place here* [ [link removed] ]






BUSINESS & IP CENTRE

Access free support and resources for businesses, entrepreneurs, and inventors across Nottinghamshire. Delivered by Nottingham City Libraries with The British Library.

*Find out more* [ [link removed] ]


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BIPC Women's Network
BIPC Women's Network

*Thursday 9 October | Nottingham Central Library | 10am to 12pm*

Join the BIPC Women's Network for their monthly meetup of like-minded women in business. Discuss ideas, make new connections, and get inspired.

*Book your free place* [ [link removed] ]






EERIE eBOOKS WITH BORROWBOX
BorrowBox October Collection

From deliciously dark gothic retellings to classic hair-raising horror, this Halloween, find these terrifying tales on your BorrowBox!

*Visit BorrowBox* [ [link removed] ]






WHAT'S ON AT CENTRAL LIBRARY

*Discover what's coming up...*

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty event

*World Photography Day Exhibition Launch | Tuesday 14 October | 6.30pm to 9pm | Free Entry | *Celebrate the local photographers who took part in the workshops and community photo-walk for 2025’s World Photography Day with this exhibition launch and social.

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*Mum Beauty & Brunch with Charlotte Tilbury: By Essential Woman | Friday 17 October | 10.30am to 1pm | Tickets £29 | *Start your Friday with a touch of luxury from Charlotte Tilbury cosmetics, in partnership with Essential Woman. Indulge in freshly baked pastries, hot drinks, and uplifting conversation while stepping into Charlotte Tilbury’s iconic world of beauty.

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*Notts Space Library Takeover: Creators in Residence | **Saturday 18 October | 10am to 4pm | Free Entry | *Join us for Future Makers: Space Lab, a free and inspiring event that delves into the wonders of space exploration and science, with thanks to Arts Council England, Libraries Connected, and University of Nottingham researchers Associate Professor Jez Turner and Associate Professor Chantal Cappelletti.

Night Sky with logos from funders
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More events upcoming:

* *After Exploitation Presents: As I See It [ [link removed] ] |* Week starting Monday 13 October
* *Write Queer Nottingham [ [link removed] ] |* Monday 20 October
* *Books Beyond Words [ [link removed] ] |* Wednesday 22 October
* *Speak Easy Workshops [ [link removed] ] |* Friday 24 October & Saturday 25 October
* *Sisterhood Collective Workshop [ [link removed] ] |* Saturday 25 October

*Visit our What's On Page* [ [link removed] ]






JOANNE EAVES RESEARCH

*A message from Joanne Eaves, researcher at Loughborough University.*

"We’re saying a big thank you to the children and families who participated in our recent project “Understanding the Development of Early Algebraic Thinking”, run by researchers in the Centre for Mathematical Cognition, Loughborough University.

Over 60 children between Year 2 and Year 6 at Nottingham Central Library took part, and we are very grateful for their help. The findings provided useful insights, and we now plan to use the research activities in a 4-year study tracking children’s mathematical development across the East Midlands.

Without the help from Nottingham Central Library, this work would not have been possible, so thank you for lending us your time and interest."






That's all for October's update, see you in November! ??













     

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Come check out the Nottingham Goose Fair - Friday 26 September through Sunday 5 October at the Forest Recreation Ground [ [link removed] ]


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