Upcoming events at Hackney Libraries
You can find out about regular activities across our Libraries here!

A Boy From Haggerston
Kevin Flude will tell the story of his father, Benjamin Flude, who was born in Haggerston in October 1927.

A Portrait of Hackney 2005-2025: Sean Pollock in Conversation
Join photographer Sean Pollock as he launches his new book, A Portrait of Hackney 2005 -2025, celebrating the people and spirit of the London Borough of Hackney.

Patterns and Palm Trees
Join artist Skye Baker to create plant-inspired artwork, to help redesign Hackney Central Library.

C.L.R. James Festival 2025 Panel Discussion & Networking
Panel discussion with exclusive guests discussing C.L.R. James' influence and legacy in Hackney and beyond.

Hundred Feet Tall
FULLY BOOKED - WAITING LIST ONLY
The Old Vic present Hundred Feet Tall at Hackney Central Library -a musical play exploring how youβre never too small to make a big difference

Bold Feelings: exploring emotions through shape, colour and line
Join Scriberia for a fun, interactive family drawing workshop at Hackney Central Library

Bold Feelings: exploring emotions through shape, colour and line
Join Scriberia for a fun, interactive family drawing workshop at Homerton Library

Patterns and Palm Trees
Join artist Skye Baker to create plant-inspired artwork, to help redesign Hackney Central Library.

C.L.R. James Community Activism and Legacy Open Day
To celebrate 40 years of the renaming of Dalston C.L.R. James Library, come along to our community day!

I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist
Corrina Antrobus talks about her recent book on loving romantic comedies as a feminist, and introduces a screening of a romance classic.

Anthology Launch- Lockdown Poetry Group
Join Hackney Libraries Lockdown Poetry Group for the launch of their first anthology

Let's Make Some Art
Join artist Oma to take part in a fun, collaborative mark-making workshop

Queertopia Community Forum
Join the Queertopia Community Forum β A Space for LGBTQIA+ Residents in Hackney

Child Migrant Voices in Modern Britain
An evening with Eithne Nightingale, Hackney author and film maker, celebrating her book Child Migrant Voices in Modern Britain: Oral Histories 1930s β Present Day.

Clapton Commons Community Choir Winter Concert
The Clapton Commons Choir will perform a delightful free show, featuring festive songs, songs from around the world, and favourite sing-along carols!

Dean Atta x UK Black Pride Creative Writing Workshop
Supportive, affirming, generative creative writing workshop for QTIBiPoC. Led by guest facilitator Dean Atta

Hackney Libraries Writers Showcase
Join us at Hackney Central Library on Thursday 28 November from 5:30 for a 6pm start for our first Hackney Libraries Writers Showcase!

Romance Elsewhere
A workshop with Youjia Qian exploring the Chinese romance novels collected at Hackney Central Library to uncover the hidden diasporic experiences of Chinese-speaking women living in Hackney.

A Night in Celebration of John Berger
Booker Prize winner, art critic and poet John Berger was a Hackney resident and friend of CLR James, Dalston libraryβs namesake, and Ken Worpole and Farrukh Dhondy will join us for the evening to speak of their memories of their friendship. We will also be joined by Bergerβs biographer, Tom Overton, who has edited several collections on Bergerβs work.

A Night in Honour of Gboyega Odubanjo - Readings
Join us for a special night to honour the life and legacy of Gboyega Odubanjo. Includes readings from Kareem Parkins-Brown, Raymond Antrobus, Tice Cin and more.

A Night in Honour of Gboyega Odubanjo - Poetry Workshop
Join Poet and Visual Artist Kareem Parkins-Brown, who will lead a generative poetry workshop using the work of Gboyega as inspiration. All abilities welcome, open to all.

Dr Ronx Presents: How to Save a Life
Award-winning non-binary emergency medicine doctor and TV presenter Dr Ronx is BACK with an essential guide to handle any emergency situation!
Join us for an amazing interactive session, a special guest and even some freebies...
Great for kids of all ages!

An Introduction to Black British Literature
This workshop, An Introduction to Black British Literature, is for anyone wanting to explore some important Black British writers, from ER Braithwaite, Buchi Emecheta, Andrea Levy, and Zadie Smith through to Alex Wheatle.

Mind Book Club with guest Mary Martins
Special session of the Mind Book Club with guest Mary Martins, all welcome! No need to book, just turn up on the day.

What Was Baldwin Doing in Hackney?
Sample the Black History Walks 6-week course on Baldwin showing why he chose to spend time in '85 ungentrified Hackney & the story of his Blue Plaque

Sea Sick: Emily Jones in conversation with author Ruth Taylor
Join Emily Jones in conversation with author Ruth Taylor

Romance Elsewhere
Join this Mandarin Chinese collection workshop at Hackney Central Library

The Last Director of Shoreditch
Join Melanie Parkhill and the Shoreditch Library Reading Group in Conversation with Author Huw Jones

The Spirit of James Baldwin
In this interactive essay presentation, Dr Michelle Yaa Asantewa explores the role of Baldwin as a βwitnessβ, linked to Baba Esu.

Childrenβs Black Book Fair 2024
Join the Young Lit Starsβ takeover of Hackney Central Library for the Childrenβs Black Book Fair!

If Beale Street Could Talk: Rio Screening + Q&A
Jacaranda Books and the Rio present a very special screening of the Barry Jenkins 2018 adaptation on Baldwin's 'If Beale Street Could Talk' plus a post film Q&A