Library activities and events for adults

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Events

Regular Events

Aloud in the Cloud shared reading group (in person) – Mondays

Aloud in the Cloud is a weekly shared reading group held at a library in Westminster. Come along to hear us read aloud some of our favourite stories and poems. 

Book your free place for Aloud in the Cloud shared reading group via Eventbrite.

Aloud in the Cloud shared reading group (online) – Tuesdays
  • 2pm to 3pm
  • Online

Join us online for a reading aloud adventure. 

Aloud in the Cloud is a weekly shared reading group held online. Come along to hear us read aloud some of our favourite stories and poems. These sessions are led by library staff who are skilled at creating a relaxed atmosphere for a group of people brought together by love of literature.

Come along and discover people, books, stories - here is your chance to listen and to be listened to.

Book your free place for Aloud in the Cloud shared reading group (online) on Eventbrite.

Computer help sessions at North Kensington Library – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
  • Tuesday, 10am to 11am
  • Thursday, 4pm to 5pm
  • Saturday, 11am to 1pm
  • North Kensington Library

Need some help using a computer? We can assist you with computer basics such as setting up an email address (please bring a mobile phone), printing, finding information online, uploading a CV and much more.

There’s no need to book a place, just turn up.

Graphic novel online reading group – second Monday of the month
  • Second Monday of the month, 7pm to 8pm

The group meets monthly online via Zoom and they talk about adult comics, graphic novels, current events and pop culture. The event is currently chaired by volunteer and long-running member of the group, Mike Belbin. To find out more email: [email protected]

Grenfell Memorial Quilt sewing bee at North Kensington Library – Tuesdays
  • 10am to 1.30pm
  • North Kensington Library

Come and join Tuesday Greenidge to add your touch to the Grenfell Memorial Quilt.  Join us to sew together, support each other and take part in this celebratory memorial project.  No experience needed and supplies and machines are provided.

There’s no need to book a place, just turn up.

North Kensington Library’s reading group – every third Tuesday
  • 6.30pm to 7.30pm
  • North Kensington Library

North Kensington Library’s reading group is a friendly relaxed reading group which meets once a month in the library. 

To find out more about the group and what they’ll be reading for their next meeting, pop into the library or email us: [email protected].

Virtual knitting club – Wednesdays
  • Wednesday, 3pm to 4pm

Join our weekly virtual knitting club, led by library staff who are expert knitters. They'll inspire you to try a new knitting project or can help you when you get stuck.

Book your free place for Virtual knitting club via Eventbrite

Chelsea Library’s reading group – every third Thursday
  • Every third Thursday, 6.30pm to 7.30pm
  • Chelsea Library and online 

 

Chelsea Library’s reading group is a friendly relaxed reading group which meets once a month. The group reads prize-listed and new fiction but will read anything suggested by its group members. Full details of the books they will be discussing each month are on Eventbrite.

Book your place for Chelsea Library’s reading group via Eventbrite

Kensington and Chelsea libraries online book group – Fridays
  • Friday, 2.30pm to 3.30pm

Join our weekly online book group where we discuss our Books of the Week. Full details of the books we will be discussing each week are on Eventbrite.

Book your place for the RBKC online book group via Eventbrite

Coffee time at North Kensington Library – third Friday of the month
  • 11am to 12 noon
  • North Kensington Library

Join us at the library for coffee, cake and a chat. It’s a great chance to meet new people in a relaxing atmosphere.

There’s no need to book a place, just turn up.

IT help session at Kensington Central Library - Saturdays
  • 10am to 12 noon
  • Kensington Central Library

Need some IT help? Come along to our weekly IT help session at the library. Our volunteer can help with:

  • How to set up an email account
  • Printing
  • Downloading and uploading pictures and documents
  • How to use social media 

You are welcome to bring along your device such as laptop, tablet or smartphone or you can use one of the library computers. 

There’s no need to book a place, just turn up.

Self-Help Book Club (online) – every other month on a Saturday
  • Once a month on a Saturday, 10am to 12 noon

Self-help books are some of the most popular and most borrowed books of all genres. People love to read about how they can improve their health, their attitudes and their lives in general. So many people read self-improvement books, but how many actually attempt to put some of what they've read into practice?

The Self-Help Book Club aims to do just that - help you help yourself by discussing ways in which theory can be put into practice. Each month the group meets online and will discuss a different book; full details are on Eventbrite.

Book your free place for Self-Help Book Club on Eventbrite.

Special Events

Windrush comes to North Kensington Library – Wednesday 22 June to Friday 28 October 2022
  • Wednesday 22 June to Friday 28 October 2022
  • North Kensington Library
     
  • Wednesday 22 June 2022 to Saturday 30 July 2022
  • Queen’s Park Library

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Council are proud to host the exhibition Windrush Generation: Unsung Heroes, starting on Windrush Day, Wednesday 22 June 2022 until the end of Black History Month in October.  The Windrush Generation included soldiers, doctors, nurses, teachers, university students, politicians, and athletes, who came to London between 1948 and 1970 upon invitation from the British Government to rebuild a nation ravaged by war. 

This exhibition will take place at North Kensington Library and Queen's Park Library in Westminster. It showcases the personal stories of ordinary people living through extraordinary circumstances and will be accompanied by Windrush-era artefacts, guest speakers and special events.

Visit the Windrush Exhibition page or email: [email protected] for more information.

Please note: there’s no level access to the exhibition at North Kensington Library.

Intro to Poetry: School of Rhyme at North Kensington Library - Tuesday 28 June 'til Tuesday 26 July
  • 6pm to 8pm
  • North Kensington Library

Join Paul Lyalls, poet, performer and writer for this five week course on Tuesdays at the library. 

School of Rhyme is a fun and accessible way into writing your own original poems. Participants will learn and put into direct use different styles of poems. They will also learn how to access their own ideas and tap into the rich, funny, beautiful and powerful experiences of their own lives.

The course works on lots of different levels and aims to produce original poems written by everyone taking part. It’s at times funny, at time moving but all of the time it’s bonding and a shared learning experience for all. Warning course may contain rhyme – but not all of the time!

Course content

  • Different styles of poetry
  • Exploring your experiences and memories
  • How to play with words and meaning
  • Literary technique
  • Performance skills
  • Creativity.

Learning objectives

By the end of the course you will have:

  • Written over ten poems
  • Worked with a variety of poetic styles
  • Discovered how to explore your own experiences
  • Being inspired by others and also an inspiration to others.

This course costs £30. 

More information about the course and how to book on the Westway Trust's website.

IT help sessions at Chelsea Library - Monday 4, 11, 18 and 25 July
  • 3pm to 5pm
  • Chelsea Library

Do you need some IT help? Do you have questions like how to print and how to set up an email address or use social media?

Come along to our drop-in help sessions. You are welcome to bring along your device such as laptop, tablet or smartphone or you can use one of the library computers.

There’s no need to book a place, just turn up. For more information please speak to a member of library staff.

Study skills help at Chelsea Library - Tuesday 5 and 19 July
  • 3pm to 5pm
  • Chelsea Library

Do you have questions such as 'How to structure an essay?', 'How to research effectively?', 'How to use a library catalogue?' Or even 'What is university like?'.

Come along to our study skills help sessions where we answer your questions about studying. These sessions will be delivered by friendly library staff members with experience in tutoring and researching. Only limited places available, so do book in advance. For more information please speak to a member of library staff.

Note: these sessions are suitable for the over 16s.

Book a place for Study skills help at Chelsea Library on Eventbrite.

Stories on Screen: pop-up cinema at North Kensington Library - Saturday 9, 16, 23 and 30 July
  • 2pm to 4pm
  • North Kensington Library

Join us for a month of film screenings at North Kensington Library

As part of our Stories of Us season, we will be showing a series of classic films, set in the local Ladbroke Grove area. Come along to see how the Portobello Road area has been translated into film over the decades. To find out what films we are showing, please ask library staff. 

Note: films are suitable for anyone over the age of 12.

Book a place for Stories on Screen: pop-up cinema at North Kensington Library on Eventbrite.

Women writers and supernatural short stories (online) - Wednesday 13 July
  • 5pm to 6pm

Join Kate Macdonald online for a conversation with Professor Melissa Edmundson.

Kate Macdonald of Handheld Press will be in conversation with Melissa Edmundson of Clemson University, South Carolina. They will cautiously investigate two new editions of lost supernatural short stories by the forgotten Australian novelist Helen de Guerry Simpson and by eminent British historical author D K Broster.

Simpson's The Outcast and The Rite was published by Handheld on 10 May. Broster's From the Abyss will be published on 9 August. Both collections were curated by Melissa.

Book a place for Women writers and supernatural short stories on Eventbrite.

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Last updated: 29 June 2022