Events and activities in libraries

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Imagination Spaces

We are excited to let you know about some fantastic events coming to Surrey Libraries over the next few months.

Heads and Tails: interactive storytelling performance

Heads and Tails explores folklore and fables of Southern African cultures, promising fun, laughter, and unforgettable tales. Be ready to roar like a lion or stretch as tall as a giraffe!

Due to the success of the tour in November and in celebration of National Storytelling Week, professional storytellers Andy Copps and John Kirk are returning to Surrey Libraries in February 2025. They will be performing African animal stories with audience participation and interaction throughout. Come join us at one of the libraries below for a magical storytelling adventure that is not to be missed.

To find out more about Heads and Tails visit their website.

A Southern African Storytelling Spectacle

Tour dates and locations:

  • Saturday 22 February:
    • Guildford Library at 10am and 11.30am
    • Godalming Library at 2pm

Booking is essential so book now to avoid missing out. Tickets price is donation based (minimum suggested is £2 per person attending).

Book a session for Heads and Tails: interactive storytelling performance

Gathering Place 360 - Explore, Watch and Make

For two days in February and March, come join Made By Katie Green for a chance to step back in time and visit four fascinating archaeological sites in Surrey, all from the comfort of Woking or Staines Library!

This brand-new opportunity to learn more about Surrey's hidden history, and to think creatively about how we are connected to people living here hundreds or even thousands of years ago, will be available to you for free!

  • Explore the Bronze Age, Medieval, Tudor and World War One archaeology of Surrey through creative history workshops.
  • Watch virtual reality 360 films inspired by four fascinating historical sites in Surrey. Read more about some of the archaeology we explore.

Make your own artwork. After watching some or all of the films, you can take part in an art activity designed by Hannah Maiya-Mills from Paintbox, inspired by the film content.

Booking is essential. You will need to book at ticket for every person attending. Due to the size of the Virtual Reality headsets and age recommendations for their use, it is aimed at young people and adults, aged 9 years old and above.

Sessions are 45 minutes long and several sessions are available each library throughout the day starting at 10.30am, last session starts at 3.15pm. Sessions will be held at:

Woking Library on Saturday 15 February.

Book a session at Woking Library

Staines Library on Saturday 15 March.

Book a session at Staines Library

Booking is essential. You will need to book at ticket for every person attending.

LGBTQ+ stories through movement and words

Taking place at Farnham Library on Saturday 8 March from 12 noon to 1pm.

In partnership with Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, Farnham Maltings and Farnham Town Council, Surrey Libraries are excited to be delivering an LGBTQ+ community event double bill for free!

You will experience an original LGBTQ+ community movement piece and an author talk about the experience of telling LGBTQ+ stories.

We are building on the success of last year's piece in response to Matthew Bourne's dance version of Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands that was performed at Woking Library. This year's focus is themes explored in New Adventure's current touring show of Swan Lake. LGBTQ+ adults (18+) who live or work in Surrey have been offered the opportunity to be part of the creation and performance of this original movement performance.

The performance will be followed by an author talk by William Hussey, author of over a dozen novels, from thrillers for Young Adults to gripping whodunnits for grown-ups, across almost every genre of fiction.

Tickets are free but booking necessary.

Please book a ticket for LGBTQ+ Stories Through Movement and Words

In the Margins art exhibition – touring Surrey Libraries

Dates and locations to be confirmed.

Working in partnership with Disability Arts in Surrey (DAiSY), Artist Jon Adams, and several of DAiSY's member organisations (Art Matters, Bloomin' Arts and The Orpheus Centre), they created a fantastic collection of artworks that were installed at Reigate Library for over 2 months. 'In the Margins' aims to empower marginalised disabled artists and share their life experiences. The project tells their life stories, explores their passions, and highlights places where they feel a sense of belonging. Visitors are invited to explore these stories, promoting understanding, empathy, and inclusion.

DAiSY and the project "In The Margins"

After the successful exhibition at Reigate library, we are very excited to let you know that the "In the Margins Art Exhibition" will be touring around other libraries across Surrey.

Greener future in libraries

Have your say on your experience of Surrey's Countryside

Residents and visitors are being invited to take part in a new survey designed to help understand how they use and enjoy Surrey County Council's owned and managed countryside spaces. Anyone who has enjoyed a walk, picnic, or bike ride in Surrey's countryside, is encouraged to share their views.

The survey runs until Friday 30 May 2025, and takes around 10 minutes to complete.

Read more about Surrey's Countryside

Regular green events in libraries

Monthly Tuesdays:

Cranleigh Climate Action and Cranleigh Library climate cafe will be available to provide energy advice and see what financial support is available to help with energy bills.

Every Wednesday:

What next? Wednesdays at Godalming library. Volunteers from What Next? charity will be on-hand to provide advice, guidance and helpful tips in what you can do to support our local environment.

Saturdays:

Monthly Nature storytime at Guildford library. Suitable for 2 years old and over.

Green reads

We've specially selected some titles exploring the natural world, environmental issues and sustainability.

World around us eBooks on Libby

Step into nature eAudio books on BorrowBox

Library of Things

Why buy when you can borrow!

We are pleased to support a number of Libraries of Things across our network. Allowing users to borrow everything from garden tools, sports and exercise equipment, table top games to camping equipment

Each library is run by a local environmental organisation and hosted in the library, providing easy access to this great service.

You can find a Library of Things in the following locations:

Biodegradable eco library cards

Crafted from environmentally friendly materials, these cards not only reduce waste but also contribute to the preservation of our planet. By opting for these compostable and recyclable cards, library-goers become part of a growing movement to protect the environment and foster sustainable practices.

Surrey's greener future

The Surrey Energy advice tool, will help you by asking a series of short questions and depending on the answers will offer tailored information on grants, support and advice, and non-financial help on a range of topics

Find out more about Surrey's Greener Future, Surrey County Council's climate change strategy.
Surrey's Greener Future

Grants of up to £25,000 are now available for eligible Surrey residents to help make their homes warmer and more energy efficient. Read more about the grant funding available to Surrey residents.

Sign up to our Greener Matters newsletter to get updates.
Our climate change newsletter

Author events

Surrey Libraries are pleased to offer a programme of author events for 2025. Select an event to find out more and how to book.

Digital welfare support

The Digital Welfare Support Project is a community outreach program that is closing the digital divide and reducing isolation in Surrey.

We aim to do this by identifying and targeting areas of the county where digital deprivation is highest, cultivating community links and providing IT skills sessions to those most in need. Our experienced and dedicated Digital Welfare Support Officers, Alys and Eleanor, are putting together a programme of events and opportunities to offer foundational knowledge of essential digital skills.

Upcoming events

Digital tools to help you stay well this winter roadshow

Digital Welfare Support Officers Eleanor and Alys will be visiting libraries across Surrey this winter as part of the Warm Welcome scheme to introduce you to a range of online tools that can help you save money on your energy bills and stay well this winter. Simply drop-in for a chat.

Upcoming sessions: Next session to be confirmed.

Pebble rhymetime

Rhymetimes are now running in most libraries. Spaces may be limited and booking may be necessary, please check individual library event pages for details.

Storytime

Storytimes are currently back up and running in most libraries. Spaces may be limited and booking may be necessary, please check individual library event pages for details.

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