Library Events

Solihull Libraries are a hive of activity throughout the year. There are regular events such as Storytimes and Rhyme Time sessions for younger children as well as poetry and author events for adults.

Check below to find out what is happening at your local library:

You can book places for the activities in libraries two weeks in advance, please contact the individual library. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Balsall Common

See Balsall Common library page

• Coffee Morning – First Thursday of each month, 10.30 am – 12.00 noon.
  Come and join us for coffee and a chat.  All welcome.
• Readers Circle – Takes place monthly 10.15am - 11.30am, please contact the Library for details. Everyone welcome. 
• Family History Support Group – Usually on the third Thursday of each month, 1.30 – 3.00pm., with exclusive use of library PCs for research from 3.00 - 4.00pm.  An informal group of library members meeting to discuss and help each other with their family history research.  New members always welcome.
• Teenage Book Swap – A fun opportunity to talk about the books you enjoy. Phone the library for the date of the next meeting.
• Storytime – every Monday, 2.15 pm – 2.45 pm. Stories for pre-school children.
• Rhyme Time - Baby Rhymes and Songs suitable for 0-2 year olds, alternate Tuesdays. Next dates: 14th and 28th May.

Castle Bromwich

See Castle Bromwich library page

• Reading Cafe - Have a chat over coffee (or tea) about any books you have read recently and perhaps be inspired to try some new authors. Free to attend and everyone is welcome. Meetings are held on the last Friday of the month, 10.30am - 12 noon.
• Storytime for Pre-School Children - Fridays 2.15pm - 2.45pm, term time only.
• Rhyme time – a short interactive session for babies and very young children (0-2) that includes finger & action rhymes and songs. Also a chance to meet other mums and carers. Once a fortnight on Mondays starting 10.45am. Upcoming sessions : May 20, June 3 and 17, July 1 and 15.
• Local Councillors Advice Surgeries - held on the first Saturday in the month 10.00am -12.00 noon.
• Family Learning Boxes for loan - these include books, toys, activity sheets, story tapes and more.
• Police Surgery - held on the first Saturday in the month 10.00am - 12 noon.
• Energy Monitors - now available for loan - please contact the library for information.
• Striders and Strollers - Join our friendly group for a gentle stroll, which lasts about an hour, led by a Volunteer walk leader. Group meets once a fortnight on Mondays, starting at 10.15am. Please contact the library for details.
• Health Trainers -Would you like to eat healthier? Stop smoking? Increase your physical activity? Our friendly health trainer Phyllis will be here every Monday morning from 10.00 am -12 noon, to encourage and support individuals with tailored plans to improve your lifestyle.

Chelmsley Wood

See Chelmsley Wood library page

• Homework Club - Thursdays, 4.00pm - 6.00pm, term time only. 
• Rhymetime for under 5s - Fridays, 11.00 - 11.30am.
• Family History Group - every 4 weeks on a Wednesday from 2.00pm. Please contact library for details.
• Local History Group - every 4 weeks on a Wednesday from 2.00pm. Please contact library for details.
• Reading Group - meeting held once a month - please contact library for details.
• Knit and Natter - a new group to knit and chat about knitting, meets every Monday at 11am.
• Energy Monitors - now available for loan - please contact the library for details.
• Bus timetables - variety of local bus timetables now available.

Dickens Heath

See Dickens Heath library page

• NEW! Alphabet Club for the under 5s, every Thursday fortnight, 10.30-11.15am. Stories, rhymes and crafts based on letters of the alphabet. Children will make and build up their own alphabet scrapbook. Next date: 9th May
• Storytimes for under 5s - Come along and enjoy listening to stories for your pre-school child, Thursdays between 2.00-2.30pm
• Rhymetimes - A fun session of action rhymes and songs, Mondays 2.00pm - 2.30pm.
• Monthly Craft/Story and Rhyme Sessions for under 5’s - Mondays, 2.00-2.45pm. Please contact the library for the next date.
• NEW! Young Teenage Reading Group for 12-15 year olds. A chance for young enthusiastic readers to get together to talk about their favourite books each month. Plus games, activities and prizes, Saturdays between 3.00-4.00pm. Next date Saturday 18th May.
• Family History Support Group - Meets monthly on Mondays between 3.00-5.00pm. With exclusive use of library PC’s for research. An informal group meet to discuss and help each other with Family History research. New members always welcome. Next meeting: Monday 13th May.
• Councillors Advice Surgeries
  Held monthly on Saturdays between 2.00-3.00pm. Next date: 25th May.
• Energy Monitors - Available for loan.  Please contact the library for information.

Hampton in Arden

See Hampton in Arden library page

• Storytimes for under 5s -  Fortnightly, term time only, Tuesdays 1.45pm - 2.15pm. Please call for details on 01675 442629.
• Hampton in Arden Library Readers' Circle - Please contact the library for further dates. Meets monthly on a Wednesday between 2.00-3.30pm.
• Beginners' Computer Drop-in Sessions - Tuesdays between 10am and 12noon.  Please call 01675 442629 to book your place.
• Family History Support Group – an informal group of library members meeting to discuss and help each other in their family history research. Meeting once a month on Fridays between 11-12am.  First meeting on 9th March.

Hobs Moat

See Hobs Moat library page 

• Rhymetime - Monthly on a Tuesday from 2.30 – 3.00pm. The dates for 2013 are 21st May, 18th June, 23rd July, 20th August, 24th September, 22nd October and 26th November.
• Local Councillors Surgeries - last Saturday of every month.
• Homework Club - every Thursday during term time 3.45pm - 5.45pm with designated staff to support children.
• Under Fives Story Session - every Thursday morning during term time 10.00am - 10.45am join the 'Little Hobbits' and listen to stories and enjoy colouring with your pre school child.
• Family History Explorers fortnightly on Saturdays between 10.00am and 12 noon.  Volunteer run group to assist you in your research into your family tree.  Please contact library staff on 0121 743 4592 for more information.
• Credit Union Collection Point - every Monday 2-4pm. For more information about the Credit Union please go to their webpage: http://www.nbccu.org.uk/.
  

Kingshurst

See Kingshurst library page

• Kingshurst Readers Circle - have a chat over coffee or tea about any books you have read recently and perhaps be inspired to try some new authors. Free to attend and everyone is welcome. Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of the month 2.00pm – 3.00pm. Contact library staff for details on 770 3451.
• Story time for Pre-School Children - Thursdays 11.00am – 11.30am term time only.
• Rhyme time – a short interactive session for babies and very young children (0-2) that includes finger & action rhymes and songs. Also a chance to meet other mums and carers. Once a fortnight on Fridays starting 2.30pm. Upcoming sessions: May 17 and 31, June 14 and 28, July 12.
• Local Councillors Advice Surgeries - held on the first Saturday in the month 11.00am -12.00 noon.
• Energy Monitors - now available for loan - please contact the library for information.
• Health Trainers - would you like to eat healthier? Stop smoking? Increase your physical activity? Our friendly health trainer Elliot is available to encourage and support you with tailored plans to improve your lifestyle. Sessions take place every week from 2.00pm – 5.00pm on various days please ask staff for a timetable.
• Family History Support Group – usually on the first Tuesday of each month, with exclusive use of library PCs for research from 11.00am – 12.00am. An informal group of library members meeting to discuss and help each other with their family history research. New members always welcome.

Knowle

See Knowle library page

• Jellybeans - story-time and rhymes for the under 5s, held monthly on a Thursday, 10.45-11.30 - Join us for stories, fun and crafts  Next session 16th May. No need to book just come along and join in the fun. £1 charge per child.
• Alphabet Club - Activity and story-time session for the under 5s, held alternate Mondays, 2 - 2.30pm. May date, 13th May "V" is for Van" £1.00 charge per child. No need to book just pop along and join us.
• Chatterbooks Session - Our children's reading group for age 9-11 years. Next date Thursday 9th May 4pm-5pm.
• Knowle Readers Circle - Next meeting Friday 17th May 2.15pm.
• Knowle self run readers group - next meeting date Tuesday 21st May. Book to be discussed – “Past Imperfect" by Julian Fellowes.
• Police Surgery - No appointment necessary. Please contact the library for the next date.
• Councillors surgeries held on the 1st Saturday of the month. Please contact the library if you wish to book a meeting with one of our local councillors.
• Energy Monitors these can be borrowed free from the library for up to two weeks and show the amount of energy you are using in your home.
• Computer Taster Sessions we are offering a six week course on a one to one basis. Charge applies. Please contact the library for details.

Marston Green Library

See Marston Green library page

• Story Time - Mondays at 2.30 pm. Half an hour of stories, rhymes, songs and colouring for the under 5s.
• Councillors' Surgery - 1st Saturday in the month 10.30-12.30.
• Police Surgery - held monthly, please contact the library for dates/times.
• Health Trainer - every Monday 2.00-4.00 for free and confidential one-to-one support, motivation and information available to anyone 18+ who wants to make a healthy lifestyle change.
• Energy Monitors - these can be borrowed free from the library for up to two weeks and show the amount of energy you are using in your home.
• Coffee mornings - please contact the library for details.

Meriden

See Meriden library page

• Reading Café – Pop into the Reading Café every other month on a Monday from 10.30am to 12.00 noon.  Everyone is welcome.  Have a chat over coffee (or tea) about authors’ books or anything else! Free to attend. Please contact the library for details.
• Computer Taster Course - we also offer a six week computer taster course, where you can learn on a one to one basis with a tutor.  These lessons are held on a Monday morning and a small charge applies.  Please ask staff for more details.
• Energy Monitors are now available - these can be borrowed free from the library for up to two weeks and show both the amount and cost of the energy you are using in your home. Call in now to borrow your monitor and start saving on your energy bills.
• Storytimes - Mondays 2.45pm - 3.15pm (term time only).
• Community Surgeries - once a month, community police officers and representatives from the Parish Council give advice. Please contact staff for date & time.

Olton

See Olton library page

• Local Councillors hold monthly surgeries
• Poetry Circle - meets monthly on Tuesdays - please contact the library for dates and times on 706 3038
• Readers' Circle - meets first Friday of the month at 3.30pm. Contact library staff for details on 706 3038
• Storytime sessions for under 5s on Friday afternoons (term time only) 2:30pm - 3:00pm, come along and enjoy listening to stories for your pre-school child in the company of other children and their families 
• Family History Group - Old Bones - meet fortnightly on Saturdays between 10 - 12 noon to help you research your family tree - volunteer run. 

Shirley

See Shirley library page

• Baby Rhyme Time -Tuesdays during term time at 10.30am and 2.00pm.
• Story Time - Storytime for children under 5 years will be held monthly on the first Friday of the month  from 2.00pm - 2.45pm   
• Poetry Group - meets 1st Thursday of the month from 10.30am - 12 noon 
• Readers' Circle - meets on the 2nd Monday of the month from 2.00pm - 3.00pm followed by refreshments, please contact the library for further details
• Shirley Library Local History Group - Meetings take place on the 3rd Saturday of the month 2.00pm - 4.00pm.  All welcome
• Reading Cafe - Cafe takes place on the 2nd Thursday of the month 10.30am-12 noon - all welcome to come and chat about books  
• Work Club – Shirley Library Work Club runs every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month 10.00 am – 12.00 noon.
  For more information please contact Employment & Skills Team on 0121 704 8076
  Or visit the website: http://www.solihullforsuccess.com/
• Creative Writing – Shirley Library Creative Writing Group meets on the first Friday of each month 11.00am-12.00pm
  New members welcome
• Health trainer Drop In Service -  every Thursday from 1.45 pm – 4.45 pm for free and confidential one-to-one support, motivation and information available to anyone 18+ who wants to make a healthy lifestyle change.

Solihull Central

See Solihull Central library page

• Rhyme Time - Wednesdays, 10.15am -10.30am, term-time only. A short interactive session for 0-2s that includes finger & action rhymes and songs.  Come along and meet up with other parents/carers and discover what the library can offer your child
• Rhyme Time 2 - Fridays, 10.15am - 10.30am, term-time only, a second session of finger & action rhymes and songs for 0-2s. And more networking for parents and carers
• Story Times - Mondays 2.00pm - 2.30pm, term-time only and Saturdays 11.00am - 11.30am (during the school year)
• Readers' Circle - last Thursday every other month 10.30am - 12 noon (contact the library on 0121 704 6965)
• Listeners' Circle - Wednesdays every other month 10.30am - 11.30am (contact Doreen Lane on 0121 704 6965 for dates)
• Homework Club - Tuesdays 3.45 - 5.15pm, term time only