Levenshulme Old Library

Levenshulme Old Library Levenshulme Old Library is a community-led arts and heritage centre.

Based in Manchester’s oldest Carnegie library building, we run workshops, performances, exhibitions and events that support creativity, local history and community wellbeing.

A full house for last night's screning of People's Emergency Briefing!A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at Leve...
10/10/2026

A full house for last night's screning of People's Emergency Briefing!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at Levenshulme Old Library last night for our first screening of The People's Emergency Briefing and to our wonderful volunteers for helping make it all happen. It was wonderful to see a sold-out room of local people coming together to engage with the biggest challenge our planet faces.

The film makes for a frankly terrifying snapshot of the current state of the world but also reminds us of something important: that collective action can only begin with people coming together and recognising what they can achieve collectively. We're proud to provide a space for our community to meet, learn and work out what we want to do next and we will hosting a follow-up discussion next month for those who attended the screenings and want to learn more about what they can do.

We're also really grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund - their support in the past year has allowed us to invest in our building via our community cinema resources which really expands what our main space is able to provide for local residents.

And the good news is that if you missed last night's screening, there's another chance to see the film here at Levenshulme Old Library!

📅 Sunday 18 October, 2pm
📍 Levenshulme Old Library
🎟️ Free entry - just a few tickets remaining.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/peoples-emergency-briefing-tickets-2000410796542

🧵🍂 October Stitch Club at Levenshulme Old Library - what could be cosier?Stitch Club is our relaxed, friendly space for ...
10/10/2026

🧵🍂 October Stitch Club at Levenshulme Old Library - what could be cosier?

Stitch Club is our relaxed, friendly space for anyone interested in sewing, stitching, clothes, fabrics and textiles. Bring along a project you're working on, have a go at something new, mend or alter something you've been meaning to get around to or just come and see where your creativity takes you.

You don't need to be an expert and there's no pressure to produce a technical finished piece. It's about sharing ideas, learning from each other and enjoying some creative time together. We also have sewing machines, thread and materials, all of which people are welcome to com and use.

Stitch Club is part of LOL Art Clubs, our programme of accessible creative sessions for adults, including collage, stitching, zine-making and creative writing. Led by local artists and facilitators, the clubs offer opportunities to try new things, develop skills and meet people in a welcoming, informal setting.

Our Art Clubs are free to attend but if you can afford to contribute while you're booking a place, please consider making a donation at checkout. Even a small contribution helps us pay our facilitators and keep offering these sessions for free.

And if you're not in a position to donate, you're just as welcome. That's why we do it this way.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/levenshulmeoldlibrary/1517703

Last chance to have your say on Levenshume Old Library's future!Today is the final day of our public questionnaire about...
09/10/2026

Last chance to have your say on Levenshume Old Library's future!

Today is the final day of our public questionnaire about the future of Levenshulme Old Library.

We're working with architects Editional Studio to explore how we can adapt and improve the building for the years ahead - protecting its heritage while making sure it can continue to serve the needs of Levenshulme's changing community.

What works well? What doesn't? What would you change? And what should we make sure we protect?

Whether you're here each week, drop in occasionally or have never set foot inside, we'd love to hear what you think.

Thanks to everyone who's contributed so far. We've already had some loads of useful responses but there's still time to add yours before the questionnaire closes tonight.

https://levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/2026/09/29/the-next-chapter/

Lovely news alert! 💚We're delighted to have been shortlisted for the Best of Manchester Awards which celebrates the peop...
08/10/2026

Lovely news alert! 💚

We're delighted to have been shortlisted for the Best of Manchester Awards which celebrates the people and organisations making a difference in their communities, often through work which goes unrecognised.

We're in the 'Bringing Communities Together' shortlist, which feels fitting given that always feels very much at the heart of what we do - providing free creative activities for our community, putting on cultural celebrations, hosting dozens of community groups, creating volunteering opportunities, and very often just giving people a place for people to meet.

We're enormously grateful to Manchester City Council for recognising the value of Levenshulme Old Library and our community that saved the the building and has spent the past eight years making it what it is. And an enormous thank you to everyone who makes things happen here - volunteering, organising, participating, supporting us or even just comes through the doors.

We're looking forward to celebrating alongside the other amazing people and organisations doing great work across Manchester (but fingers crossed for Levenshulme! 🤞)

https://www.manchester.gov.uk/people-and-communities/best-of-mcr-awards

Levenshulme is home to Manchester's oldest surviving Carnegie library building.Andrew Carnegie, one of the richest men i...
08/10/2026

Levenshulme is home to Manchester's oldest surviving Carnegie library building.

Andrew Carnegie, one of the richest men in the world, helped build more than 2500 libraries across the world in the early 20th century, including 24 across Greater Manchester.

At the time our building was called Levenshulme Free Library - the idea was that access to knowledge, learning and opportunity shouldn't depend on your background or how much money you had. Although our building is no longer a library, that ethos still guides what goes on here - each week you'll find free children's activities, free art workshops, free exhibitions and affordable room hire so community groups can make fun and interesting things happen in our neighbourhood which residents can come to without needing to worry about cost.

We want Levenshulm Old Library to remain a place where money isn't a barrier to taking part in community and cultural life. If you're able to, please consider making a donation.

@[https://levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/support-us/]

Have your say on the future of Levenshulme Old Library.Our consultation on the future of the Old Library building is wel...
07/10/2026

Have your say on the future of Levenshulme Old Library.

Our consultation on the future of the Old Library building is well underway - and there are plenty of ways to get involved.

If you're in the building this week, you can add your thoughts directly to our big Old Library drawing which can be found in the main space - tell us what works well, what could be better and what you'd like to see change.

You'll also find QR codes around the building taking you straight to our questionnaire, or you can complete it here:

And if you happen not to be in the building this week you can also complete our online form. Or if you've got more to say, you can always email us at [email protected]

https://forms.gle/bU4YSM7SuWUqbcEa8

We're working with architects Editional Studio to look at how the Old Library could be adapted and improved for its future life as a community-led arts centre, so this is the time to tell us what you think about the building - what works, what doesn't, what should change and what we should protect.

Responses to the questionnaire are open until Friday 9th October.

A lovely bit of recognition for the Old Library 💜Last week, the Spirit of Manchester Awards took place, celebrating Manc...
06/10/2026

A lovely bit of recognition for the Old Library 💜

Last week, the Spirit of Manchester Awards took place, celebrating Manchester’s amazing voluntary and community sector courtesy of Manchester Community Central. This year, the awards spotlighted Spaces of Hope and Connection, community venues across the city through - with tables named after some of the places where people meet, make things, organise, learn, perform, celebrate, find support and turn ideas into something real

We were really pleased to see Levenshulme Old Library featured as one of those spaces - we're a home to community groups, creative activities, performances, workshops and events, we provide affordable space for other local organisations to make things happen in Levenshulme.

We’re proud to be featured alongside all the other wonderful community spaces from across Manchester, and to be part of a much bigger network of people working make sure communities have somewhere where they can come together.

If you value having the Old Library in Levenshulme, we would appreciate your support. Our funding has dropped and our costs have gone up, so every donation, however small, helps us look after the building and keep it full of community activity.

https://levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/support-us/

If you could change one thing about Levenshulme Old Library, what would it be?Maybe you’ve been coming here for years. M...
05/10/2026

If you could change one thing about Levenshulme Old Library, what would it be?

Maybe you’ve been coming here for years. Maybe you’ve only visited once. Maybe you walk past every day but have never actually been inside. Either way, we’d like to hear from you.

We’re currently looking at the long-term future of Levenshulme Old Library building - and before plans start taking shape, we want to understand what people think works well and what could work better.

That might mean warmer rooms, better toilets, improved accessibility, more flexible spaces, a better kitchen facilities, more storage, better sound for performances, or making more of the garden. Or you might have spotted something we haven’t.

The Old Library was built for Levenshulme more than 120 years ago. We want to make sure the next chapter works for the Levenshulme of today - and for the people who’ll use it for generations to come.

Our consultation is open now, and it only takes a few minutes to take part.

We're work is supported by The Architectural Heritage Fund through the Heritage Revival Fund, funded by the UK Government.

https://levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/2026/09/29/the-next-chapter/

We're getting properly into autumn now, and if the darker evenings are making you want to stay indoors and make somethin...
04/10/2026

We're getting properly into autumn now, and if the darker evenings are making you want to stay indoors and make something, Collage Club might be just the thing.

Join us at Levenshulme Old Library tomorrow evening for a couple of hours of cutting, sticking, rearranging and experimenting - with piles of paper, old mags and other materials to get stuck into.

Our Collage Club is part of our LOL Art Clubs programme, which has been bringing people together to make, create and try new things for the past few years. Our funding was cut earlier this year, but we're determined to keep sessions like these accessible to everyone for as long as we can so you can still book a free place, but if you're able to make a donation when booking, however small, you'll be helping us keep our Art Clubs running and open to the whole community.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/levenshulmeoldlibrary/1517729

Do YOU have some time, skills or ideas you'd like to put to good use locally?We're launching Caretakers and Creatives, a...
02/10/2026

Do YOU have some time, skills or ideas you'd like to put to good use locally?

We're launching Caretakers and Creatives, a new volunteering programme at Levenshulme Old Library - and we've got our first two get-togethers coming up.

We are a tiny charity but the Old Library is a big and busy community building and there's a lot that goes into keeping it going. We know there's loads of people locally who'd like to play their part in looking after the place and finding new ways to use our spaces creatively, whether that's regularly, occasionally or just when something comes up that they're interested in. Caretakers and Creatives is our way of helping make that happen.

🛠️ Caretakers brings together people who love the Old Library and want to help care for it - painting, fixing and improving our 120-year-old building and its garden.

🎨 Creatives is for local artists, writers, performers, photographers, makers and basically anyone creative who wants to meet, swap ideas and explore things we might make happen together at the Old Library.

We're also building a skills bank - a directory of local people with particular skills who are keen to get involved in their community. You might be a carpenter, plumber, decorator, gardener or general DIY whizz - or have a completely different skill that could be useful. If you've got something you could lend a hand with from time to time, we'd love to hear from you.

There's no expectation of a big commitment - come to a session, get involved when you can, or simply sign up and tell us what you're interested in.

👉 Find out more, sign up or book onto one of the first sessions: https://levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/caretakers-and-creatives/

Address

Cromwell Grove
Manchester
M193QE

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 2pm
Tuesday 10am - 2pm
Wednesday 10am - 2pm
Thursday 10am - 2pm
Friday 10am - 2pm

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