Event and activity information

View the current events schedule

Upcoming events

SUMMER ACTIVITIES PROGRAMME

Children's Summer Activities - 23 July to 3 September 2022

All events are free to attend but some require booking online in advance. You will see the links to book your place included with the activity details. Drop-in events do not need to be booked in advance - just come along on the day.

If you have booked a place on an activity and find you are unable to attend, please email us to let us know, so that places can be reallocated.

All activities show which ages they are suitable for. Parents/carers are responsible for their child’s safety and must remain with their children throughout the sessions.

Download a copy of the Summer Activities Programme.

Weekly on Tuesdays (drop-in)

  • Central Library - Baby Songs and Rhyme Time (Under 2s) - 10-10.30am
  • Central Library - Story Time (Under 7s) - 10.45-11.15am
  • Wolverton Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 3.30-4.30pm
  • Central Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 2.30-3.30pm

Weekly on Wednesdays (drop-in)

  • Stony Stratford Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 10.30-11.30am *NEW*
  • Newport Pagnell Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 3.30-4.30pm

Weekly on Thursdays (drop-in)

  • Olney Library - 'Read and Play' (All ages) - 2.30-4.30pm
  • Bletchley Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 3.30-4.30pm
  • Westcroft Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 3.30-4.30pm

Weekly on Fridays (drop-in)

  • Olney Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 3.30-4.30pm
  • Kingston Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 3.30-4.30pm
  • Woburn Sands Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 3.30-4.30pm

Weekly on Saturdays (drop-in)

  • Central Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 10.30-11.30am *NEW*
  • Stony Stratford Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 11am-12pm

Please note that the following events are not listed on the events schedule, but there is more information on each activity's online booking page.

Wednesday 17 August

Thursday 18 August

  • Kingston Library - Pirate Story Time (Under 7s) - 10-10.30am (drop-in)
  • Stony Stratford Library - Story Time: At the Seaside (Under 7s) - 10-10.30am (drop-in)
  • Wolverton Library - Storytelling by the Theatre of Widdershins: Pirates, Robbers and Rock n Roll (Ages 4+) - 10.30-11.10am (Book Wolverton Storytelling online)
  • Woburn Sands Library - 'Jim and the Beanstalk' Story Bag Crafts (Ages 8-12) - 10.30-11.45am *SOLD OUT*
  • Newport Pagnell Library - 'The Little Prince' Crafts with Community Learning MK (Ages 3+) - 2.30-3.30pm (Book Newport Pagnell Crafts online)

Friday 19 August

  • Central Library - 'The Little Prince' Crafts with Community Learning MK (Ages 3+) - 10.30-11.30am *SOLD OUT*

Tuesday 23 August

  • Stony Stratford Library - Wreath Making and Wind Chimes (Ages 5-10) - 10.30-11.30am *SOLD OUT*

Thursday 25 August

Friday 26 August

  • Newport Pagnell Library - Story Time: Up in the Air (Under 7s) - 11-11.30am (drop-in)

Saturday 27 August

  • Olney Library - Story Time (Under 7s) - 11-11.30am (drop-in)

Tuesday 30 August

Wednesday 31 August

Saturday 3 September

  • Olney Library - Lego and Duplo Club (All ages) - 10.30-11.30am (drop-in)

Positive Mindful Drumming at Central Library

10 September 2022

Join Adey as he takes you through upbeat rhythms and mantra for mindset development. Sessions are 30-40 minutes and involve body-percussion and drumming with drum-sticks on a pad, a box or on your body. All equipment is provided.

  • 11.30am Under 5s and parent/carer
  • 12.30pm Children and families
  • 1.30pm Young people and adults

Visit the Drum United Academy website to read all about positive mindful drumming and view the weekly livestream. You can also join the drumming community and access free resources.

Book your free places online for the sessions at Central Library. Contributions to support the project are always welcome and you can read more on the website.

Summer Crafts from FoLiO at Olney Library

Join volunteers from FoLiO, the Friends of the Library in Olney, for crafts and creativity at Olney Library this summer.

Sessions cost £2 per child (payable on the day) and must be booked in advance by emailing olneyfoliofriends@gmail.com, visiting Olney Library or phoning 01234 711474.

Crafts are suitable for ages 3-12 and each session is limited to 12 children.

  • Wednesday 3 August - 10.30-11.15am OR 11.45am-12.30pm
  • Wednesday 10 August - 10.30-11.15am OR 11.45am-12.30pm
  • Wednesday 17 August - 10.30-11.15am OR 11.45am-12.30pm
  • Wednesday 24 August - 10.30-11.15am OR 11.45am-12.30pm

Parents/carers must remain with their children throughout the session. 

Regular events

Adult - various regular activities

Children - various regular activities

Please note that some activities are term time only.

  • STORIES, SONGS AND RHYMES at various libraries
  • LEGO AND DUPLO CLUBS at various libraries
    (These will continue over the summer.)
  • READ AND PLAY sessions at Olney Library - Thursday 2.30-4.30pm
    (These will continue over the summer.)
  • STORY AND SONG TIME (by Woodlands and Tickford Meadow Children's Centres) at Olney Library - Tuesdays 11.15-11.45am
    (These sessions have stopped for the summer and will resume on 6 September 2022)
  • CODE CLUB for 8-12 year olds - Central Library (currently on hold)

English conversation club

English conversation club is for anyone who would like to practise and improve their English as a second language, gain better skills for study or employment, or just get on in everyday life.

Sessions at Central Library

  • Everyone is welcome to join us on the day and you don't need to register.
  • Conversation club sessions are held in the foyer at Central Library on Thursday mornings 11am-12pm.
  • If you'd like to know more you can phone 01908 254050 or speak to library staff.

Exhibitions

Discover MK

The Discover MK Showcase area is on the first floor at Central Library. It is the primary showcase for the archive, museum and heritage of Milton Keynes and the surrounding area. It has a regularly changing series of exhibitions throughout the year and more information can be found on the Discover MK website.

MK PROUD TO BE A CITY

In May 2022, as part of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, eight new cities were created including Milton Keynes.

This photographic exhibition looks back at the last 55 years, featuring archive images of the people, places, and events that have made Milton Keynes a great place to live. Also on display will be MK themed memorabilia from MK Museum and MK City Discovery Centre.

DETAILS at Central Milton Keynes Library (first floor)
9 June - 27 August 2022

See ten of Milton Keynes’ most iconic places in a new light as we launch the newly commissioned DETAILS: Drawings publication and accompanying exhibition. 

DETAILS compares and contrasts the first post-war new town of Stevenage with the final, largest and most ambitious new town of Milton Keynes, created 20 years later.

DETAILS brings new drawings, insights and stories into the architectural narrative of how new towns are one of the greatest building achievements of the 20th Century and the design heritage lessons we can learn for current regeneration and future growth.

Read more about DETAILS here.

UEFA Women's Euros at Kingston Library
9 August - 3 September 2022

First hand stories of women participating in a sport they love are paired with contemporary photography commissioned by photographer Katherine Green.

Read more about the Women's Euros here.

THE MILTON KEYNES GOSPEL FESTIVAL at Central Library (first floor)
August 2022

This photo exhibition showcases The Milton Keynes gospel Festival which was held at the Amphitheatre in Campbell Park on Sunday 3 July. You'll find great photos to share the experience of this open-air festival of music, dance and fine poetry.

Friends Groups

Friends Groups work in partnership with us and closely with local library teams to help support and enhance libraries in our local communities.

They provide an important contribution to support and maintain awareness of a library in a local community.

FoLiO - Olney Library

FoLiO (The Friends of the Library in Olney) run a programme of talks which are held 7.30-8.30pm at The Olney Centre, Room 4.

  • 5 September 2022 - The History of Olney by Tom Jones, Cowper & Newton Museum
  • 3 October 2022 - The History of Allotments by Elaine Merchant and Mike Totton
  • 7 November 2022 - Alan Turing and the Real Imitation Game by Michael Kushner from Bletchley Park

Register in advance to attend by emailing olneyfoliofriends@gmail.com, visiting Olney Library or phoning 01234 711474.

Tickets are £5 to be paid on the door and refreshments are served after each talk.

FoSSL - Stony Stratford Library

FoSSL (The Friends of Stony Stratford Library) run regular talks at the library and details for booking tickets for these events will be released closer to the time. If you'd like to join the mailing list to receive news and updates from FoSSL, email fosslmk@gmail.com.

  • Wednesday 14 September at 7pm - 'British Rail' by Christian Wolmar (Part of the StonyWords festival - details and booking on the MK Lit Fest website.)
  • Tuesday 11 October at 7pm - Tom Jones from The Cowper and Newton Museum speaks about the museum in Olney and its celebration of the 250th anniversary of 'Amazing Grace'
  • Thursday 1 December at 7pm - Tony Kaye speaks about his collection of West African street art.
  • Monday 23 January 2023 at 7pm - local author Sarah Pinborough speaks about the process of writing for books and for screen. (Part of the StonyWords festival)

Knit and natter

  • Several libraries host Knit and Natter groups.
  • Beginners and experts are all welcome.
  • Admission is free.

Lego and Duplo clubs

  • Free all-round fun with Lego/Duplo clubs at several of our libraries.
  • We provide the bricks and you provide the imagination.
  • Everyone regardless of age is invited to join the fun.
  • Parents and carers are responsible for their child's safety.
  • Parents and carers must remain with their children throughout the sessions.

Tuesday

  • 2.30-3.30pm at Central Library (summer hours - 4-5pm will be resumed in September)
  • 3.30-4.30pm at Wolverton Library

Wednesday

  • 10.30-11.30am at Stony Stratford Library *NEW* session for the summer - starting 27 July
  • 3.30-4.30pm at Newport Pagnell Library

Thursday

  • 3.30-4.30pm at Bletchley Library
  • 3.30-4.30pm at Westcroft Library

Friday

  • 3.30-4.30pm at Kingston Library
  • 3.30-4.30pm at Olney Library
  • 3.30-4.30pm at Woburn Sands Library

Saturday

  • 10.30-11.30am at Central Library *NEW* session for the summer
  • 11-12pm at Stony Stratford Library
  • First Saturday of each month - 10.30-11.30am at Olney Library

Library news

You can subscribe to library newsletters to hear the latest news or follow us on our various social media pages.

Reading groups

Do you enjoy reading? Would you like to talk about what you have read? Would you like to share your views with an informal group? Then why not join a reading group.

Stories, songs and rhymes

Summer Reading Challenge

We're excited to bring you 'Gadgeteers' the Summer Reading Challenge 2022 which runs from 22 July until 10 September.

Vacancies at Milton Keynes Libraries

We hope you'll consider joining our team here at Milton Keynes Libraries. You'll find details of any current vacancies across our libraries on the library vacancies webpage.

Volunteering with Milton Keynes Libraries

  • We welcome volunteers at all ten of our Libraries.
  • There are many interesting opportunities for volunteers within Milton Keynes Libraries and there's bound to be something that suits you.
  • Volunteers need to be at least 13 years old.

 

Milton Keynes Libraries contact information

Milton Keynes Central Library, 555 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 3HL