Westmorland and Furness Libraries
Our events are a celebration of literacy, learning and culture.
Author Event- Highway Cello with Kenneth Wilson
Thursday 24 April 2025
Join us for a delightful evening of travel adventure tales interwoven with a beautiful live performance of classical cello.
From Hadrian's Wall to Rome on a bike with a cello.
Kenneth Wilson straps his cello to the back of a fifty-year-old Dawes Galaxy bike, and cycles from Hadrian's Wall to Rome, performing every day en route. Highway Cello is about the 1800 mile journey, and the music and the mishaps along the way. Kenneth’s event includes live cello performance. Come and enjoy the ride!
Refreshments provided
Kendal Library
Blood on the Clocktower Game Session
Saturday 26 April 2025
The award-winning social deduction game Blood on the Clocktower promises a session of gothic chaos and carnage. No experience needed - come along and learn as you play in this game of misinformation!
Barrow Library
Ancestry and Local History Group
Between Monday 21 April 2025 and Monday 26 May 2025
Interested in your family tree? Looking to start your Ancestry? Curious about Local History?
Come along to learn from our volunteers about how to use online Ancestry tools, where to begin when starting your family tree and meet like-minded people in your area 🔎 Full use of computers and our Local section available during the session!
Please bare in mind that we only have limited computers. A booking in the system corresponds with one PC - if booking for multiple people, please get multiple tickets. We can unfortunately not accommodate more than eight people in one session.
Barrow Library
The Railway Women across The Northern Pennines
Wednesday 7 May 2025
As part of Kirkby Stephen's Railway Celebrations, Anne Taylor has been collecting stories about the women who worked on the Stainmore Line and the Eden Valley Railway from railway crossing gatekeepers to clerks and engine cleaners, and finding some surprising sources of information for a new book
Penrith Library
'The Lady in the Lake' author talk with Jeremy Craddock
Saturday 10 May 2025
A body in a lake. A wife missing for 21 years. A husband's denial of murder. A local crime reporter revisits the shocking crime 25 years on.
Join us at Kendal Library for this local history month author talk.
Kendal Library
Author Talk- The Postal Paths by Alan Cleaver
Wednesday 14 May 2025
For over 200 years, postmen and women have delivered post to homes across Britain on foot, no matter how remote. A chance remark by a farmer about a Postman’s Path led Alan Cleaver on a quest to discover more about this network of lanes, short-cuts and footpaths in the British landscape. From the rolling fells of Cumbria to Kent’s shingle coast, he walked in the footsteps of 20th Century posties.
And what he found, through conversation and painstaking research, was not just beautiful scenery. It was an incredible, forgotten slice of social history – the tales and toil of rural postmen and women trudging down lanes, over fields, and even across rivers to make sure the post always came on time.
Penrith Library
Alan Cleaver author talk 'The Postal Paths'
Saturday 17 May 2025
Join us and author Alan Cleaver for a fascinating local history month talk. Alan's new book takes us on a journey along Britain's forgotten postal paths and into the lives of the men and women who once walked them. Ticket price includes light refreshments.
Kendal Library
Saved by the Preservationists
Monday 19 May 2025
Find out about the history of the Stainmore & Eden Valley Railways
focusing on the key role that they played in transporting coal, coke
and iron ore, the conversion of Kirkby Stephen East into a Bobbin Factory and then the huge amount of work that has been undertaken by the volunteer team over the last 25+ years to return the sights and sounds of working steam to part of the route.
Penrith Library
Author Talk - Jonathan Whitelaw
Friday 11 July 2025
Join us for a fun evening with the amazing Jonathan Whitelaw, author of the fantastically popular Bingo Club Murders books. A fun cosy crime series set in the Lake District. Tickets £2.
Barrow Library
Jonathan Whitelaw - Kendal Library Author Talk
Saturday 12 July 2025
Join Jonathan Whitelaw as he discusses his Cumbria based Bingo Hall Detectives series. Set in the wonderful Lake District, the mystery novels see mother-in-law and son-in-law amateur detective duo Amita and Jason hunt down mayhem, mischief and murderers across the region. Jonathan is an award-winning author, journalist and broadcaster who scooped the Lakeland Book of the Year prize for fiction in 2023. He'll be chatting about writing, books, inspirational Cumbria and anything and everything else!
Kendal Library
Wordsworth Grasmere Easter Activities: Kendal & Windermere
Thursday 17 April 2025
Thursday 17 April - Free activity sessions!
Kendal Library
10.30–11.30: Rucksack of Rhymes: Daffodils, Daisies, Springtime (0-5)
11.30–12.30: Wake Up to Spring (age 5+)
Windermere Library
2-3pm: Rucksack of Rhymes: Daffodils, Daisies, Springtime (0-5)
3-4pm: Wake Up to Spring (5+)
Rucksack of Rhymes: Daffodils, Daisies and Springtime
For children aged 0-5 and their parents/carers
Join us for songs, crafts and play as we explore the flowers we can see at Springtime and what else the season holds, using the lives and work of the Wordsworth’s as our inspiration.
Wake Up to Spring
For children age 5+ and their parents/carers
Join us for a fun and creative craft session as we celebrate the colours of spring! We’ll explore the sights and sounds of the season, from whirling daffodils to chirping cuckoos, and discover how William and Dorothy Wordsworth found inspiration in nature. Get ready to create, learn, and bring the magic of spring to life!
Westmorland and Furness Libraries
LitCraft Minecraft Workshops
Between Monday 14 April 2025 and Thursday 17 April 2025
Kensuke’s Kingdom Adventure
Join us for an exciting Minecraft-powered literary adventure where we bring Michael Morpurgo’s classic tale to life!
Suitable for ages 9-12 years.
-Explore Kensuke’s Island in Minecraft
-Engage with the story through interactive activities
-Survive, create, and discover!
No need to bring your own device as iPads will be provided for the session.
Barrow Library- Monday 14 April (10am and 2pm)
Kendal Library- Wednesday 16 April (10am and 2pm)
Penrith Library- Thursday 17 April (10am and 2pm)
Please book one space per child aged 9-12yrs
Ages 5-8 (Drop-in/ No booking required)
Giant map of Kensuke’s Island to colour in
Minecraft LEGO fun
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Grown-ups will be guided through the world of Minecraft and fun add-on activities are provided for younger siblings who are welcome to stay for the session.
-Giant map of Kensuke’s Island to colour in and Minecraft LEGO fun
Westmorland and Furness Libraries
The Soaring Swifts
Wednesday 16 April 2025
Richard Dixon , a member of the Penrith Swift Group and who leads the North Cumbria RSPB Group will describe the Swifts' amazing life cycle and outline what can be done to help them now that they are on the red list of conservation concern.
£1- Unlimited Refreshments on the Evening
Penrith Library
Wordsworth Easter Activities: Ulverston Library at The Coro
Tuesday 15 April 2025
Tuesday 15 April - Free activity sessions!
Ulverston Library at The Coro
2pm–3pm: Rucksack of Rhymes: Daffodils, Daisies, Springtime (0-5)
3pm-4pm: Wake Up to Spring (age 5+)
Rucksack of Rhymes: Daffodils, Daisies and Springtime
For children aged 0-5 and their parents/carers
Join us for songs, crafts and play as we explore the flowers we can see at Springtime and what else the season holds, using the lives and work of the Wordsworth’s as our inspiration.
Wake Up to Spring
For children age 5+ and their parents/carers
Join us for a fun and creative craft session as we celebrate the colours of spring! We’ll explore the sights and sounds of the season, from whirling daffodils to chirping cuckoos, and discover how William and Dorothy Wordsworth found inspiration in nature. Get ready to create, learn, and bring the magic of spring to life!
Westmorland and Furness Libraries
Swift Bird Children's Activities
Tuesday 15 April 2025
Learn all about Swifts through art and games-
Make a Swift model out of clay
Recreate a Swift nest with feathersy
Play the Swift Migration Game and find out the difficulties experienced by the birds on their journey to Africa
Free Activity open to all.
Penrith Library
Wordsworth Easter Activities: Roose Temporary Library
Tuesday 15 April 2025
Tuesday 15 April - Free activity sessions!
Roose Temporary Library at Barrow Park
10.30–11.30: Rucksack of Rhymes: Daffodils, Daisies, Springtime (0-5)
11.30–12.30: Wake Up to Spring (age 5+)
Rucksack of Rhymes: Daffodils, Daisies and Springtime
For children aged 0-5 and their parents/carers
Join us for songs, crafts and play as we explore the flowers we can see at Springtime and what else the season holds, using the lives and work of the Wordsworth’s as our inspiration.
Wake Up to Spring
For children age 5+ and their parents/carers
Join us for a fun and creative craft session as we celebrate the colours of spring! We’ll explore the sights and sounds of the season, from whirling daffodils to chirping cuckoos, and discover how William and Dorothy Wordsworth found inspiration in nature. Get ready to create, learn, and bring the magic of spring to life!
Westmorland and Furness Libraries
Swift Bird Children's Activities
Tuesday 15 April 2025
Learn all about Swifts through art and games-
Make a Swift model out of clay
Recreate a Swift nest with feathersy
Play the Swift Migration Game and find out the difficulties experienced by the birds on their journey to Africa
Free Activity open to all.
Penrith Library
Wordsworth Grasmere Free Library children's workshop Penrith
Friday 11 April 2025
Wake up to Spring
For children aged 5+ and their parents/carers join us for a fun and creative craft session as we celebrate the colours of spring. We'll explore the sights and sounds of the season, from whirling daffodils to chirping cuckoos and discover how William and Dorothy
Wordsworth found inspiration in nature. Get ready to
create, learn and bring the magic of spring to life!
Penrith Library
Wordsworth Grasmere Free Library children's workshop Penrith
Friday 11 April 2025
Rucksack of Rhymes: Daffodils, Daisies and Springtime
For children aged 0-5 and their parents/carers
Join us for songs, crafts and play as we celebrate the joyful arrival of spring. Exploring the flowers, animals and other wonders of the season, using the lives and writing of William and Dorothy Wordsworth as our inspiration.
Penrith Library
Cyber Fairytales at Barrow Library
Tuesday 8 April 2025
Get involved with our exciting Cyber Fairy Tales challenge! Is your team ready to save the World-Wide-Web ?
Join us for an exciting activity where you will work as a team of 'Cyber Crime Prevention Officers' to solve challenges, puzzles and interrogate evidence.
This challenge is themed to the Hansel and Gretel traditional tale and helps young people develop their STEM skills, critical thinking and problem solving. This session is designed for children aged 9-11 years, although everyone can participate with adult supervision. There is no charge for this event, but booking essential!
Please book one ticket for your team (of up to 5 people, including adults).
Barrow Library
Cyber Fairytales at Walney Library
Tuesday 8 April 2025
Get involved with our exciting Cyber Fairy Tales challenge! Is your team ready to save the World-Wide-Web ?
Join us for an exciting activity where you will work as a team of 'Cyber Crime Prevention Officers' to solve challenges, puzzles and interrogate evidence.
This challenge is themed to the Hansel and Gretel traditional tale and helps young people develop their STEM skills, critical thinking and problem solving. This session is designed for children aged 9-11 years, although everyone can participate with adult supervision. There is no charge for this event, but booking essential!
Please book one ticket for your team (of up to 5 people, including adults).
Walney Library
Zambezi Reflections
Thursday 3 April 2025
Susan Ryding will be reading extracts from her memoir, talking about her book and the process of writing and publishing it.Having lived and worked in a remote Namibian village for over two years listen to the Anecdotes of her life in Namibia woven with reflections on the country, its history, people and wildlife. £1 for Unlimited Refreshments. Signed copies of the book will be available to buy on the night.
Penrith Library
Creative Nature Exploration
Saturday 29 March 2025
Connect with nature through hands-on creativity and mindfulness at the Go Green Hub Barrow Library.
A morning of creative Nature Exploration activity including a guided walk and artist led workshop!
FREE ACTIVITY FOR ADULTS
Book a space now!
10:00am Meet at Barrow Library
10:10am walk sets off (Walk optional)
Join a 20 minuet guided urban walk, pause to connect collecting ideas and inspiration.
The social guided walk is on level surfaces and will incorporate rest stops and drawing prompts to tap into all the senses.
10:30am- Back to the Library for refreshments
11:00am- 13:00pm Artist Led Creative Workshop
The creative workshop incorporates both nature inspired and paper based techniques led by artist Hannah Postlethwaite.
Create a simple sketchbook
Make a cyanotype sun print
And try a nature craft- Hapa Zome (eco printing with leaves and petals)
Mindful and sustainable creative workshops
Barrow Library
Wainwrights without a Car- A Year on the Lake District Fells
Thursday 27 March 2025
Ron Kenyon uses his extensive knowledge of the Lake District to bring us tales about ascending the 214 Wainwright summits, leaving the car at home and using Public Transport to get there.
Copies of the book will be available for sale on the
evening.
£1 Unlimited Refreshments will be available
Penrith Library
Penrith A few Yards of Interest
Wednesday 19 March 2025
Join Carol Mitchell talking about her NEW Book about The Yards of Penrith including a special focus on the illustrations of the Yards by Barbara Hitch and Rosemary Koch-Osborne
Penrith Library
Copper Plate Calligraphy Workshop
Wednesday 19 March 2025
Join Angela Seager at Ambleside Library for an afternoon of calligraphy.
A free mini calligraphy well-being workshop, away from the digital age of computers, with therapeutic handwritten calligraphy.
You’ll learn how to identify the main supplies needed, warm-up exercises, up and down strokes, letter formation and connecting words. The session ends with a DIY activity for you to take home.
We'll provide the workbooks and stationery for name cards, gift tags, and greeting cards.
Ambleside Library
Murder in Anglo-Saxon England - Annie Whitehead Author Talk
Saturday 1 March 2025
We all love a good murder story, and the chronicles of the Anglo-Saxon era are full of them! Join local award-winning author and historian Annie Whitehead (FRHistS) as she talks about her new book, Murder in Anglo-Saxon England, and whether all the stories are true. She’ll also discuss the cruel treatment of the family of King Dunmail of Cumbria.
The talk will take place in Kendal Library. Booking essential. Ticket £2 - refreshments included.
Kendal Library
Chapters & Cheers!
Friday 28 February 2025
Get ready to celebrate at Barrow Library as we throw a Project Finale to wrap up the fantastic ‘Love Barrow Libraries’ Volunteer project! After 18 months of hard work in the Library and our community, it’s time to celebrate! We’ve got a wonderful buffet planned, accompanied by toe-tapping live music, fun games, and bubbly to pop! Come join the celebration with our amazing partners, organizations, staff, and fabulous volunteers! Can't wait to see you there! 🎉📚🥳
Friday 28th February 2025
Barrow Library: 5pm - 6.30pm
Doors open for arrival between 5pm - 5.15pm
Food and Live music: 5.30pm - 6.30pm
Finish: 6.30pm
Barrow Library
Wordsworth Grasmere Changing Seasons at Penrith Library
Friday 21 February 2025
Come and join us for a crafty and interactive session as we explore the seasons on the edge of change!
We will learn about how William and Dorothy Wordsworth explored the landscape at this time of year, think about the environment around us and look forward to the coming spring using crafts and creative writing.
For children age 5+ and their parents/carers.
Tickets are only booked for children, not their parents/carer.
Penrith Library
Wordsworth Grasmere Rucksack of Rhymes at Penrith Library
Friday 21 February 2025
Join us for songs, play, crafts and a story
whilst exploring the natural world in Winter.
Learn what life was like for William and
Dorothy Wordsworth when they lived in Dove
Cottage over 200 years ago.
For children age 0-5yrs and their
parents/carers. Tickets are only needed for children, not their parent/carer.
Penrith Library
The Edge of Solitude: a Voyage to Antarctica with Katie Hale
Thursday 13 February 2025
Exhilarating, terrifying and thought-provoking at once, The Edge of Solitude is a novel about climate emergency and human fallibility, of the clash of ambition and principle - and of the choices we make when we know that time is running out. The event will feature a reading, in-conversation and a Q&A.
Barrow Library
Blood on the Clocktower Game Session
Saturday 8 February 2025
Table top board game session for customers aged 16 and over 🎲
Clouds roll in over Ravenswood Bluff, engulfing this sleepy town and its superstitious inhabitants in foreboding shadow.
The award-winning social deduction game Blood on the Clocktower promises a session of gothic chaos and carnage.
Playing on either the side of good, trying to root out evil from the town and survive to see another night, or the side of evil vying to be the last one standing as the town falls beneath you. Blood on the Clocktower is perfect for anyone who enjoys a game of deception and deduction. If you have played games like Mafia, Werewolf or Town of Salem, or even watched shows like The Traitors this is perfect for you.
Do not worry about the complicated parts. We have that covered. You can come along and learn as you play this game of misinformation.
'Best board game of all time (Board Game Rundown). Recommended by Shut Up and Sit Down. Best Party Game 2022 (Tabletop Gaming Magazine UK).
Barrow Library
The Edge of Solitude: a Voyage to Antarctica - Author Talk
Saturday 8 February 2025
The Edge of Solitude: a Voyage to Antarctica - Kendal Library Author Talk with Katie Hale.
Exhilarating, terrifying and thought-provoking at once, The Edge of Solitude is a novel about climate emergency and human fallibility, of the clash of ambition and principle - and of the choices we make when we know that time is running out. The event will feature a reading, in-conversation and a Q&A.
Kendal Library
Kamishibai Picture Theatre at Dalton Library
Saturday 8 February 2025
This special Japanese theatre show comes to Dalton Library in this fun and educational story event!
Dalton Library
A Book Party
Wednesday 5 February 2025
Join us at Ulverston Library at the Coro
Hosted by local author, Zosia Wand.
Celebrate your favourite stories with cake,
a licensed bar, gifts, and games.
A perfect night out for individual readers, book groups
and anyone hoping to join or start a group.
Young adult readers are very welcome.
Book Swap
Please bring a book you have enjoyed recently, beautifully gift-wrapped, for the book swap.
Tickets £5, to include a free, signed copy of Once Upon A Place, by Zosia Wand.
Ulverston Library at The Coro
Q&A with Jeremy Craddock at Barrow Library
Wednesday 29 January 2025
A body in a lake. A wife missing for 21 years. A husband's denial of murder. A local crime reporter revisits the shocking crime 25 years on.
Join us at Barrow Library as we host a Q&A session with Jeremy Craddock.
Barrow Library
Engineering Fairytales at Walney Library
Monday 23 December 2024
Can you build a paper boat strong enough and quick enough to help the Gingerbread Man escape? Test your skills during this fun, practical STEM session!
Aimed at children aged 6-10 years, although all can participate with adult supervision. Booking essential!
Walney Library
Engineering Fairytales at Barrow Library
Monday 23 December 2024
Can you build a paper boat strong enough and quick enough to help the Gingerbread Man escape? Test your skills during this fun, practical STEM session!
Aimed at children aged 6-10 years, although all can participate with adult supervision. Booking essential!
Barrow Library Childrens' Library
Ellie Wood in Conversation at Barrow Library
Thursday 5 December 2024
What's the real recipe for happiness? Barrow Library invites you to tuck into a feast of friendship, food and finding your joy as we welcome author Ellie Wood to discuss her latest book, one of the most uplifting novels of 2024.
Barrow Library
Kamishibai Picture Theatre at Barrow Library
Saturday 9 November 2024
This special Japanese theatre show comes to barrow Library in this fun and educational story event!
Barrow Library Childrens' Library
Festival of Built Heritage
Saturday 7 September 2024
Celebrate the Festival of Built Heritage with us at Barrow Library this Saturday by coming along to our special themed Lego Day. Can you build your favourite local building out of plastic bricks? Or maybe even design your own building? We can't wait to see!
This is a drop-in event and you can come any time from 10am to 3pm. Booking is not required, the tickets are to gather information on interest.
Barrow Library