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Know Your Neighbourhood - Volunteering

Do you have lots of questions about volunteering and why this might interest you? Watch our short video about real-life experiences of volunteering in our libraries and see the joy it can bring: Volunteering in libraries.

Be part of our vision of creating a stronger, more connected community. Discover the power of volunteering and see how you can make a real difference. Find out more about volunteer opportunities at your local library by visiting our website Know Your Neighbourhood | Cambridgeshire County Council or stop by your library today.

Whittlesey Library temporary closure

Whittlesey Library will be temporarily closed from Thursday 27 March for essential building works and the installation of an Air Source Heat Pump. 

Starting from Monday 7 April, alternative provisions will be available at Scaldgate Child and Family Centre (PE7 1SD) whilst works are ongoing, including an interim library service and Barclays community banking. Find out more here

A reminder to customers that Cambourne Library is now closed for refurbishment. During the closure we have additional hours at Comberton: Cambridgeshire Online | Comberton Library and Papworth Libraries. Cambridgeshire Online | Papworth Library

To find out more please visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/temporary-library-works.

#DigitalSpaces VR tour

Look out for our exciting VR tour where you can experience the world of Monoliths, Wallace & Gromit, Phase Space, The Lark Ascending and Berlin Blitz 1943. The project is supported by Arts Council England, The British Film Institute and The Space.

Ask at the library or email them to book a VR session.

March Library - 26th, 28th, 29th April 

March.Referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Wisbech Library - 2nd and 3rd May

Wisbech.Referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Chatteris Library - 6th May

March.Referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Huntingdon Library - 9th and 10th May

Huntingdon.Referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

DigitalSpaces VR Tour at Wisbech Library — Library.Live

EverySpace at Central Library

From Monday 7th April works will begin on the third floor of Cambridge Central Library to create a new community space known as EverySpace. These works are expected to last for approximately 14 weeks.  Whilst works are ongoing visitors will still be able to access most of the third floor - for more information on EverySpace, including frequently asked questions and what to expect, please visit our website: EverySpace project | Cambridgeshire County Council

Author talks

A Touch of Romance: Meet author Heidi Swain

Wisbech Library - Monday 28th April, 2-3pm

Heidi is a Sunday Times bestselling author of feel-good romantic fiction set in Fenland and Norfolk. She loves to chat with her readers – this is an exciting opportunity to meet her in person!

Tickets £3, please book in the library. Includes refreshments.

Author Talk - Heidi Swain — Library.Live

Meet Robin Ince

Looking for laughs and a fun brain workout? We’re offering two chances to meet popular author, broadcaster, comedian and passionate library advocate, Robin Ince.

Huntingdon Library - Tuesday 29th April, 10am-12pm

Drop in and say hello to Robin when he stops by to meet and greet library visitors. All welcome.

St Neots Library - Tuesday April 29th, 2:00-3:30pm

Enjoy an afternoon with Robin as he introduces his latest book, Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal. Tickets are free but must be booked ahead in the library or contact StNeots.Referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Author Talk - Meet Robin Ince — Library.Live

Spread the Word - Library.Live

When you want to show your friends just how much goes on in Cambridgeshire Libraries, don’t forget to point them to Library Live | Home. Our events website showcases the huge variety of activities we host – fascinating talks, music and theatre, local history events, crafts, children’s activities and more. 

Take a look - what’s happening in your local library?

New books

Click on the button below for our full selection of new books for April

Cambridgeshire Reads and Listens 

Our Cambridgeshire Reads and Listens collection brings you a wide range of books to borrow in eBook and eAudiobook format. Available for multiple use, they're great for reading groups and workplace reads. 

Each month the selection of adult, young adult and children's titles are refreshed - they're available to borrow over a 60-day period. Try the link to look at this month's offerings. 

We have five titles available as Reads:

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton, The Kellerby Code by Jonny Sweet, The Crash by Robert Peston, The Household by Stacey Halls, Garden to Save the World by Joe Clark

We have ten titles available as Listens:
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty, Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty, Minerva by M.C. Beaton, The Disappearance of Adele Bedeau by Graeme Macre Burnet, The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose, Eliza Mace by Sarah Burton and Jem Poster, My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes, Stop Them Dead by Peter James, The Secret Life of Cows by Rosamund Young

We have five Junior/teen Listens:

Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal, Six O’Clock Tales by Enid Blyton, Luna Loves Stories by Joseph Coelho, Nora and the Map of Mayhem by Joseph Elliott, Greenwild The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson

World Book Night

If reading brings you joy, we invite you to share your love of books with friends or neighbours for World Book Night, 23 April. Tell someone about a book you’ve enjoyed, lend them a copy or invite them to find it at the library!

Special library events ahead of World Book Night include:

Novel-Tea Book Group at Chatteris Library - Thursday 17 April, 7-8pm. Enjoy refreshments and chat with others about books you have been reading. Free, all welcome.

Pop-up Book Club at St Neots Library - Saturday 19 April, 2-3pm. Our book choice is ‘What you are looking for is in the library’ by Michiko Aoyama.  A book about books to celebrate World Book Night. Read the book in advance and come to discuss over tea & biscuits. Free to attend. Book in St Neots Library or via stneots.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Business & IP Centre Cambridgeshire

Spring Programme

Business beginner? Dreamed of starting a business and not sure where to start:or maybe you have a side hustle?

Join us on our Spring Programme - a unique series of workshops delivered by BIPC Cambridgeshire.The sessions are aimed at Cambridgeshire residents looking at starting or have just started a business. These workshops are a mix of online & in-person and can be stand alone or treated as a whole series.

For information and to book your slots see Business Beginner by Business & IP Centre Cambridgeshire | Eventbrite

World Autism Acceptance Month

World Autism Acceptance Month in April is an opportunity for everyone to come together and raise awareness, foster acceptance and create a society where autistic people are supported, understood and empowered.

The library offers a range of books about autism, for readers of all ages. Many are written by authors with lived experience of autism. Maybe you are autistic yourself or wonder if you might be. Or you want to better understand how your autistic friends or family members may experience the world.

Through fact and fiction books, discover characters and insights you can personally relate to; or find out how daily life might look and feel for autistic people you know. To find titles, visit our online catalogue and type autism or autistic in the search bar.

International Children's Book Day

Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, 2 April, International Children's Book Day (ICBD) has been celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books.

Celebrate the day by visiting a library and borrowing fantastic books to read yourselves or share with the children in your life. Visit ibby.org/awards-activities/activities/international-childrens-book-day to know more.

NHS Healthy Start Card

Are you pregnant or have a child under 4? You might be entitled to get help towards the cost of healthy food and milk with the NHS Healthy Start card. This scheme supports parents on certain benefits who have at least one child under the age of 4. You can also get free vitamins with the card.

Check your eligibility and apply online today: www.healthystart.nhs.uk 

Here's a Youtube video for more info - NHS Healthy Start | Could you be eligible?

Earth Day

Take an action or make a pledge for Earth Day, 22^nd April 2025 - and for even greater impact, let other people know. Visit the Earth Day website for simple environmental actions and ways to inspire others to do something positive for the planet.

Why not pledge to share resources with your community by using your library even more and encouraging others to join?

Stephen Lawrence Day 

April 22nd is Stephen Lawrence Day.This day commemorates Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in a racist attack in 1993. 

Cambridgeshire Libraries offer a range of books and other resources to learn more about the lasting impact of racism and other forms of discrimination. These include the Mark My Words collection of eight titles by Black authors selected by the Universal Music Group and The Reading Agency, including fiction, non-fiction, and children’s and YA titles. Look for them at your local library or reserve them online.

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