Page contents
- Other popular events and activities
- Creating Sounds this Summer
- Thousand year tree book competition at Surrey Libraries
- Imagination Spaces
- Greener future in libraries
- Author events
- Pebble rhymetime
- Storytime
- Learn coding with Kano
Other popular events and activities
- See what events are taking place at your nearest library, please check individual library event pages for details.
- Summer Reading Challenge for 4 to 11 year olds
- Living Knowledge Network
- Poetry blog
- Libraries from home for children and young people
- Libraries from home for adults
- Surrey culture and leisure
Creating Sounds this Summer
The Summer Reading Challenge is back! Created by The Reading Agency and delivered by Surrey Libraries, this year the Challenge celebrates the Creative Arts whilst, of course, encouraging children to read throughout the summer holidays.
As part of this exciting summer, Surrey Libraries have partnered with Surrey Arts to offer free drop-in sessions for young people of all ages to try a variety of instruments and learn more about playing music in Surrey. Join us in creating a soundtrack for different characters and enjoy making noise at the library at the following locations:
- Monday 12 August
- Dorking library from 10am until 12 noon
- Guildford library from 2pm until 4pm
- Tuesday 13 August
- Oxted library from 10am until 12 noon
- Reigate library from 2pm until 4pm
- Wednesday 21 August
- Walton library from 10am until 12 noon
- Egham library from 2pm until 4pm
- Thursday 22 August
- Godalming library from 10am until 12 noon
- Farnham library from 2pm until 4pm
Booking is not required for these free drop-in sessions. These events are suitable for young people of all ages; however, children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Find out more about taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge.
Thousand year tree book competition at Surrey Libraries
Saturday 1 June to Wednesday 4 September.
An exciting competition kicks off across Surrey on Saturday 1 June to encourage young people to celebrate ancient trees and have their artwork featured in a new children's book, 'The Thousand Year Tree'. Children aged between 4 and 11 are encouraged to head to their local Surrey library to pick up a template and create artwork for the inside covers (known as 'end papers') of the new book. Any art medium can be used, and artwork should be themed around trees and nature.
As England's most wooded county, Surrey is home to some of our nation's oldest trees – many are over one thousand years old! To celebrate these trees, local author Lucy Reynolds and illustrator Katie Hickey, are working with a group of budding book creators from a Guildford primary school. The children have already been involved in a series of creative workshops, school assemblies and educational visits to Newlands Corner, in the Surrey Hills National Landscape where they got to experience the wonder of ancient yew trees up close. The children, guided by the experts will create poems and timelines charting the history of ancient trees which will culminate in the creation of a captivating children's book. The book will be distributed across libraries and schools in Surrey, inviting readers of all ages to delve into the enchanting world of these age-old giants.
The competition runs from Saturday 1 June to Wednesday 4 September and templates can be collected and returned to any Surrey Library.
Further details on how you can get involved and the competition and terms and conditions are available on the Surrey Hills Society website.
The project is a collaborative effort between the Surrey Hills Society, Surrey Hills National Landscape, Surrey County Council and Surrey Libraries and funded through the Surrey Hills Access for All fund, enabling everyone to love and protect Surrey's National Landscape.
Imagination Spaces
We are excited to let you know about some fantastic events coming to Surrey Libraries over the next few months.
Doorstep Duets 2024
Doorstep Duets 2024 presented by New Adventures is coming back to Surrey Libraries for a third year, bringing the joy and wonder of dance to communities across the South East.
This year's performance, Hum, has been created by choreographer and movement director Anjali Mehra with original music by Luke Brady.
Bring your friends and family to join us for a free dance performance celebrating the small acts of kindness that have the power to bring people together.
There is no need to book, except for the British Sign Language (BSL) and Audio Description performances at Camberley Library.
Just pop in and enjoy the opportunity to see a world-class dance performance! Available dates, locations and times are below:
- Tuesday 27 August
- Haslemere library at 10am and 11am
- Cranleigh library at 2pm and 3pm
- Wednesday 28 August in Camberley library at the following times:
- 10am
- With British Sign Language (BSL) at 2pm. Please book for the British Sign Language session.
- With Touch Tour and Audio Description at 3pm. Please book for the Touch Tour and Audio Description session.
- Thursday 29 August
- Egham library at 10am
- Staines library at 2pm and 3pm
- Friday 30 August
- Banstead library at 10am
- Ewell library at 2pm and 3pm
- Saturday 31 August
- Reigate library at 10am and 11am
- Oxted library at 2pm and 3pm
We look forward to seeing you at one of the performances!
Find out more about Doorstep Duets.
In the Margins art exhibition – touring Surrey Libraries
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.
Dates and locations to be confirmed.
Greener future in libraries
The Remarkable World of Trees Exhibition
Dorking and Leatherhead Libraries from 28 May 2024 to 31 August 2024.
Dorking library and Leatherhead library are excited to be able to host this fantastic exhibition, brought to us by The Surrey Tree Warden Network, The Tree Council, creator Kate Bretherton and Surrey Libraries.
Inspired by Kate Bretherton's book, The Remarkable Trees of St Albans, this exhibition was originally displayed in St Albans Museum, and explores the world of trees from the soil they grow in, to the insects, birds, and animals that call them home. Visit the exhibition and events to get lots of ideas of how you can help trees, hedgerows, and our whole environment.
The exhibition at Dorking Library includes collaborative artwork, author talks and book signings, and interactive art and craft workshops and activities for children. We also have a world of trees photographic display from the Dorking Camera Club.
At Leatherhead Library, we have a display of paintings by artist and illustrator Judit Matthews, as well as a variety of activities and events for adults and children.
Paintings by Judit Matthews will be available to buy at Leatherhead Library, and additional items from authors and artists will be available to buy at both Dorking and Leatherhead libraries.
Dorking and Leatherhead libraries will be holding the following events in support of the Exhibition. Select an event to find out more and how to book if required.
Dorking Library
Storytelling and creative workshop with Tina Talbot, Saturday 3 August, from 10.30 to 11.30am.
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:
Weekly Woking Environment Action (WEAct) advice sessions at Woking library. Volunteers from WEAct climate action group will be on hand to offer advice each week.
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
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.
Read more about our new eco library cards.
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 2024. Select an event to find out more and how to book.
- Musical Storytime with S P K-Mushambi at Ewell Library on Saturday 3 August from 10am to 10.45am, Suitable for ages 3 to 7.
- Judith Heneghan discussing her new book "Birdeye", at Farnham Library on Tuesday 6 August, from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Event suitable for adults.
- An evening with Catherine Steadman at Camberley Library on Tuesday 6 August from 7.30pm to 9pm. Event suitable for adults.
- Nabil Steals a Penguin with author Nishani Reed at Godalming Library on Friday 9 August, from 11am to 12 noon. Event suitable for children aged 4 to 7.
- Mini Book Makers with Tim Tilley at Egham Library on Saturday 10 August, from 1pm to 2pm.
- Harry Heal the Friendly Footballer with David Vaughan. Suitable for children aged 8 and under at:
- Riley and Ricky: Two Houses, Two Different Homes with Kerri Patel at Horley Library on Tuesday 13 August, from 10.30am to 11am. Event suitable for children aged 8 and under.
- Creative writing workshop with Mel Taylor-Bessent at Camberley Library on Wednesday 14 August, from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Event suitable for children aged 7 to 11.
- Traditional West African drum and dance workshop with Kaira Kafo at Ewell Library on Saturday 17 August, from 2pm to 3pm. Event suitable for adults.
- A Common Treasury for All with Dr David Taylor at Cobham Library on Friday 30 August, from 1pm to 2pm. Event suitable for adults.
- Crime Thriller Evening with Jacqueline Sutherland and A.A. Chaudhuri at Haslemere Library on Thursday 26 September, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Event suitable for adults.
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.
Learn coding with Kano
Open the door to coding with Surrey Libraries and iamtheCODE! Start your coding adventure now.
All you need is your library card number, and you can reserve Kano free of charge to collect from your local library!
Reserve Kano and let the fun begin
All our Kanos have been kindly donated by iamtheCODE.