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LGBTQ+ History Month

February is LGBT+ History Month - why not mark the occasion by reading one of the many books by LGBTQ+ authors available through Cambridgeshire Libraries? You can visit the library catalogue at Cambridgeshire Libraries for a list of reading suggestions and to request titles, and all year long you can explore our LGBTQ+ Celebrate Diversity collection. You can also keep an eye out for displays at your local library.

Don’t forget that at Cambridge Central Library you can join us all year long for our regular LGBTQ+ Board Games Social and Queer Café. We’re also hosting some special events this month, including a visit from teen author Sarah Hagger-Holt The Fights That Make Us, a Rainbow Storytime, and a workshop on Black Queer Lives: Exploring the Archive and Mini-Zine.all at Cambridge Central Library. 

For details and to book your free place, please visit our Eventbrite page. 

National Storytelling Week

National Storytelling Week (31 January - 8 February)

In this National Year of Reading, National Storytelling Week gives us another opportunity to celebrate of the power of sharing stories. Visit our libraries to find brilliant stories to share, for all ages; to hear stories read either at our children’s Storytimes or a Read a Little Loud session; or to join a library-based Reading Group. To find out what is happening in your local library visit: Cambridgeshire Libraries

Safer Internet Day

February 10 is Safer Internet Day. Don’t forget that libraries can help you learn more about how to be safe online all year round, for example through the Safety and Security Online module on Learn My Way.

To mark the occasion, we’re hosting a free event at Cambridge Central Library on Thursday 12 February (10.30-11.30am) where you can learn more about how you and your family and friends can use the Internet safely. Book your free place on Eventbrite (Introduction to Safety and Security Online Tickets) or just come along!

Know Your Neighbourhood

We’ve been really listening to what the local communities in Fenland would like to see happen in their local libraries. We asked through surveys and community cafes and the results showed patterns in people's local interests.

We have a variety of new social groups starting in our Whittlesey and March Libraries which will be planned, supported and funded by the Know Your Neighbourhood project - a drive that aims to tackle loneliness in the Fenland area through volunteering opportunities and social events.

New Groups/Events at Whittlesey Library:

- Keep Calm and Colour (Adult Colouring) – Every Monday, 10-11am (Begins on Monday 26 January)

- Cuppa and Company – Every Wednesday, 10-11am (Begins on Wednesday 28 January)

- Retro Gaming Club (16yrs+) – First sessions on Saturdays 31 January, 28 February and 28 March

New Groups/Events at March Library:

- The Gardening Friends – Every first Thursday, 10-11.30am (Begins on Thursday 5 February)

If you wish to volunteer your help at any of these new groups, or would just like to know more, please contact wisbech.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk (for Whittlesey groups) or march.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk (for our March group).

National Year of Reading

And just like that, we're already a month into the National Year of Reading 2026! Public libraries will be at the heart of this national movement by welcoming new visitors, hosting creative events, and celebrating the joy of reading in every community.

Together, we’re aiming to inspire more people to visit their local library across the UK. This nationwide push will reconnect people with the power of libraries and everything they make possible.

Why not support us by popping into your local library sometime this month to borrow a book in person? Better still, invite a friend to meet you there! And if you can't get out of the house, not to worry - we have plenty of online resources that you can loan from home here: Read and listen online | Cambridgeshire County Council

Author Talks

Please click on the links for more information about each event and how to book tickets.

Atlantic Furies with author Midge Gillies

At Milton Road Library: Thursday 12th February, 7:30-9:00pm

Those magnificent women and their flying machines! Discover the adventurous history of pioneer women aviators.

The event includes Q&A plus time to buy books and have them signed.

Free event, donations welcomed. Please book tickets on Eventbrite or in the library. Refreshments kindly provided by Friends of Milton Road Library.

Atlantic Furies, with author Midge Gillies Tickets | Eventbrite

The History of Medicine in Twelve Objects with Dr Carol Cooper

At Willingham Library: Wednesday 25th February, 7:30-9:00pm

Explore the fascinating, sometimes gruesome, history of medicine with doctor, author and broadcaster Dr Carol Cooper.

The event includes Q&A plus time to buy books and have them signed.

Tickets £3 from the library or contact BarHill.Referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

The History of Medicine in Twelve Objects — Library.Live

The Library Presents - Half Term

Breakin’ Beats or Musical Theatre? There is something for you this February Half Term!

The Library Presents has thrilling PAY WHAT YOU CAN events taking place in Whittlesey, Cambridge, Huntingdon, St Neots, Chatteris and Ely.

Something OUTTA Nothing - a playful show combining Breakin’ with immersive audio storytelling that puts you in the driver’s seat. Grab a headset and join the journey of three friends as they hit the road, change the music tracks and discover real, relatable stories. Join in with the pre-show workshops to try out moves from the show and discover hip-hop culture. Perfect for young adults and adults (minimum age 7 years). Saturday 14 – Monday 16 February (various libraries).

The Sound Collector - a family musical by Roger McGough and Sound Maker workshops inspired by the show. Perfect for noisy and curious children aged 7+ years. Wednesday 18 Feb and Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 February (various libraries).

New books

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

Cambridgeshire Listens 

Our Cambridgeshire Listens collection brings you a wide range of books to borrow in an 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 fifteen titles available as Listens:

Run Away by Harlan Coben, Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas, Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton, Caledonian Road by Andrew O'Hagan, Identity Unknown by Patricia Cornwell, All Fours by Miranda July, Killing Time by Alan Bennett, A Cold Wind From Moscow by Rory Clements, The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, Poppy's Choice by Dilly Court, Love by Elizabeth Von Armin, The Daughter by T.M. Logan, The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman and We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes

We have three Junior/Teen titles available as Listens:

Bunny vs Monkey by Jamie Smarts, The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton and Hunt for the Golden Scarab by M. G. Leonard

Children's Mental Health Week

“To know our place and really feel part of our environment is a basic human need. … when we feel that we belong, it empowers us to contribute to the world and make a real difference.”

Children’s Mental Health Week takes place from 9 to 15 February. This year’s theme - This is My Place – invites all of us to support children and young people and help them feel like they belong. To get involved, visit Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week official site where you will find information and free resources.

Our libraries offer Reading Well for Children and Reading Well for Teens book collections, providing helpful reading to support children’s and young people’s mental wellbeing. Please visit our page on Children and Young People on our online catalogue.

Lunar New Year

Tuesday 17 February is Lunar New Year, an event based on the lunar or lunisolar calendar and marked by celebrations across various countries in East and Southeast Asia.

We’ll be entering the Year of the Fire Horse, and we’re very happy to be partnering with the Cambridge Chinese Academy again for a community-led family crafts session at Cambridge Central Library (3rd floor). This event will take place on Saturday 14 February from 11am-1pm. It’s free and everyone is welcome – register your interest on Eventbrite or just come along! Lunar New Year Crafts Tickets | Eventbrite

To find out what else is happening in our libraries, please visit Library Live. And don’t forget you can visit our catalogue at Cambridgeshire Libraries to explore our diverse range of stock, including books about East and Southeast Asian history and culture.

ClearVision

Cambridgeshire Libraries subscribe to the ClearVision Project, a postal lending library of children’s books designed to be shared by children and adults with and without sight. ClearVision books all have braille, regular print and pictures. This allows children with a sight impairment to share books with their sighted friends and family. It also allows adult braille readers to enjoy stories with sighted children.

Titles are changed throughout the year. The current books are a range of picture books and stories. These are a mix of grade 1 and grade 2 braille.

Search “Clearvision” on our library catalogue to see what is available. You can browse the collection at Cambridge Central Library or reserve them on the catalogue to be picked up at your local library.

You can find out more about the library services we offer for people with a visual or print impairment on Cambridgeshire County Council website or on our library catalogue.

Mother Language Day

February 21 is International Mother Language Day, a celebration of linguistic diversity and multilingualism.

As part of our Libraries of Sanctuary offer, our libraries hold collections of books in a wide range of languages other than English. Whether you want to read a story or share a picture book with your little one in your first language, we may have the books for you.

You can also download international eNewspapers via PressReader, study or find out about a vast range of topics using the translation function on the online Encyclopaedia Britannica, and access bilingual dictionaries in a range of languages thanks to our subscription to Oxford Dictionaries. You can find both of these resources via our Online reference library.

New Reading Group Sets

Arbury Court Library 60th Anniversary

Join us at Arbury Court Library during February half-term for a very special half day of activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Arbury Court Library, which first opened its doors in January 1966.

Come along on Wednesday 18 February (10am-2pm) for stories, crafts, music, refreshments, a Memories of Arbury Court session with our Local Studies Librarian and more.

Free and all welcome! Visit our Eventbrite for more details and to register your interest or just come along.

Arbury Court Library 60th Anniversary Celebration Tickets | Eventbrite

February Half-Term Highlights

February half-term is just around the corner - don’t forget that our libraries offer a wide range of free and low-cost events and activities for all ages. 

For example, we have Intergenerational Chess Club at St Neots Library, Virtual Reality at Sawtry Library, and two exciting events in partnership with the Cambridge Arts Festival and the Cambridge Literary Festival respectively at Cambridge Central Library: a mixed-media workshop with Rowan Humberstone and a special visit from author and illustrator Elys Dolan.

To find out what’s happening at your local library, please visit Library Live.

Time to Talk Day

Time to Talk Day takes place on 5 February this year. This national campaign encourages everyone to come together and talk about mental health. By having open and honest conversations, we can help reduce stigma and support others in taking their first steps towards better wellbeing. 

There are many ways to get involved. Visit Time to Talk Day - Mind for inspiration and ideas on how to start meaningful conversations.

You can also explore our Health and Well-being collection on our online catalogue, where you will find the Reading Well for Mental Health alongside many other helpful titles for you and your family.

To find local support and wellbeing activities to help people of all ages and needs, visit How Are You Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

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