Libraries - news and events

On this page you can read about library news and events across the city.

In addition, view all library events in the Events Online listings to explore activities happening throughout Bristol Libraries, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

J3 consultation prizewinner

Bristol Libraries recently asked for local people's views on the new library service at Junction 3 Easton before it opened in March 2013. Those who responded were entered into a free prize draw to win an iPod Nano and pictured is our winner Matthew Patrick-Olden, a local Easton resident, at the new library. Since opening, the new library has proved a huge hit with local residents and hundreds of people have joined Bristol's newest local library -the service is currently the 5th busiest public library in Bristol

 Junction 3 Library opens

Mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson was on hand to declare the new Junction 3 service open in a fun packed opening day at the new library.

Mayor Ferguson marked the opening of the brand new library in a cake cutting ceremony with Cllr Simon Cook, Nick Medhurst, Chair of Knightstone Housing, David Orr, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, Kate Murray, Head of Bristol Libraries and Mark Cotton, Senior Head of Region Big Lottery.

The Mayor then entertained local children with a special storytime in the new children's section at the library.

The new library has already proved to be an instant hit with locals, attracting 2,000 visitors on its first day of opening. First visitors were treated to a fabulous array of entertainment at the library throughout the day including a Nintendo Wii tournament, Circus skills workshop, Bhangra music from RSVP and a live Drivetime show from local community radio station BCfm.

Junction 3 library page

Mini tour of the library on the Evening Post website

Library giveaway of rising star's debut novel

Readers in Bristol have the opportunity to get a free copy of the debut novel from one of Britain's brightest young novelists in a one of a kind giveaway from libraries throughout the Bristol area.

1,000 copies of Gavin Extence's novel "The Universe Versus Alex Woods" will be given away in Bristol Libraries as well as Somerset's branch in Glastonbury, where the book is set. The giveaway coincides with the publication of the paperback version of the book.

Libraries will then be encouraging readers to join in a ‘Big City Read’ of the hotly-tipped debut novel, in a partnership activity between The Reading Agency, publishers Hodder & Stoughton, Bristol City Council’s and Somerset County Council’s library services and local book shops.

The novel chronicles the adventures of unlikely teenage hero Alex Woods who despite his unconventional start in life and clairvoyant single mother, knows lots of things, such as how long it would take to drive to the sun (over 140 years, if you drove 24 hours a day and stuck to the motorway speed limit.)  When he meets ill-tempered,reclusive widower Mr Peterson he makes an unlikely friend, who tells him that you only get one shot at life. Then Alex is stopped at Dover customs with 113 grams of marijuana, an urn full of ashes on the passenger seat, and an entire nation is in uproar…

Kate Murray, head of libraries for Bristol City Council said, "We're celebrating 400 years of public libraries in Bristol this year, so we're delighted to be able to offer our readers a ‘birthday present’ in the form of this fantastic book”

The ‘Big City Read’, will culminate in special finale events in Bristol and Glastonbury, including an author visit to Bristol Central Library on Wednesday 12th June at 7:30pm. Tickets for the event are available at all Bristol Libraries.

See Salley Vickers at Bristol Cathedral

Thursday 6th June, 7pm.

Salley Vickers, the bestselling author of Miss Garnet's Angel, will be visiting Bristol in June to talk about her new book The Cleaner of Chartres. The novel – "A rich weave of loss and redemption, magic and mystery" – is set in and around the cathedral at Chartres and so the author will be speaking in the beautiful and very appropriate setting of Bristol's own cathedral. Salley's books will be available for sale and signing on the night.

Tickets for this very special event cost just £3 and are available from any Bristol Library.