Libraries Week is an annual showcase of the best that libraries have to offer helping you discover the range of things you can do at your library, from play and learning for children, to managing your health, to accessing wifi and games, to finding a job, a hobby or starting a business. This year’s theme is Taking Action, Changing Lives focusing on the central role that libraries play in their community as a driver for inclusion, sustainability, social mobility and community cohesion.

In Kent we are applauding the difference that our libraries have made throughout the pandemic and will make as we all look to the future. We are also celebrating the upcoming launch of our new Business and IP Centre (BIPC) Kent, providing free and accessible business advice, support, information, and resources. 

Come to your library for books galore and find out about which of our groups and activities are starting up again! You can find details for your local library on our website. Take a look at some of the things we've been up to over the last year in this video:

Find out more about our Playground Project in the video below. Playground is a partnership project with Kent Libraries, Kent County Council, Artswork, Arts Council England and the University of Kent with support from Reconnect Kent. Led by a team of brilliant artists and musicians, parents, carers and their children can share creative fun in songs and rhymes, drama, music dance and art!  We've recently put on another series of taster sessions across Kent ahead of a new programme of free Playground weekly creative activities for children aged 0 to 3 and their families or carers in libraries and early years settings later this year. Keep an eye on our pages and website for updates.

It's Libraries Week and in this video we're celebrating our brilliant volunteers who have helped us to deliver hundreds of events and activities in Kent as well as supporting services across Kent Libraries and Archives! We have lots of clubs, events and activities returning to our libraries for you to enjoy! Contact your local library to find out which events and activities are back in your area.

We're also looking for new volunteers to help us deliver events and to help support our services. Interested in volunteering with us? Visit our website for more information and to apply online. 

The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. This year's theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is 'Mental Health in an Unequal World'.

Have you heard of our Reading Well collection? Reading Well supports you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using helpful reading. All of the books are recommended by health experts, as well as people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered and their relatives and carers and are free to borrow from Kent Libraries.

From Change Makers to making changes yourself, find our Libraries Week reading lists below. These titles are all available to reserve from our online catalogue, to collect from your local library. Click on the image below to browse our eLibrary collection. These titles are also available to read via the Libby app.

Not a member of the library? Join online today.

Find Kent Libraries on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Soundcloud for free online activities to enjoy. We'll be releasing new content and videos over the next week, take a look at our online line up for Libraries Week 2021 below.

Visit our website to find out more about what you get with your free Kent Libraries membership. 

Learn how to get the most out of your Kent library card with our video guides!
Find the full playlist on our YouTube channel.

Our Libraries Week Kent Archives quiz is here! Test your Kentish history knowledge in this brilliant quiz by Jason from Thanet Libraries and Rob from the Kent Archives team. Click on the image below to play! 

Libraries Week takes place in the second week of October each year and is the annual showcase of all the creative, innovative and diverse activities that UK libraries have to offer. Here's some of our favourite highlights from 2020's Libraries Weeks 'Passport to Reading', from online events and author talks to behind the scenes footage.