Lambeth Libraries announces its events, talks and listings for August 2025

Adult Events

Radical Readers Summer Discussion: I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel.

Friday 8 August, 7pm

Carnegie Library. SE24 0DG

Booking via Eventbrite

Join Lambeth Libraries’ Radical Readers reading group as they discuss Sheena Patel’s I’m a Fan. We’re delighted that author Sheena Patel will be joining us to discuss her novel.

Lest We Forget with Tessa Dunlop

Tuesday 12 August, 7pm

Carnegie Library. SE24 0DG

Booking via Eventbrite

Join award-winning broadcaster, historian, and author Tessa Dunlop to discuss the pride, pain and personalities involved in remembering war. Event organised by the Friends of Carnegie Library.

Other Library Events and Activities

Bring Your Baby Zine Club

Thursday 1 August, 2pm

Brixton Library. SW2 1JQ

New parent? Come along to make a zine and do crafts and collaging with your baby. For more info contact Colette at [email protected]

Streatham Library’s 50+ Group

Last Friday of each month, 10.30am to 12pm. Streatham Library. SW16 1PN

Streatham Library’s 50+ Group meets for board games, cards, puzzles, quizzes and colouring. It’s an opportunity for a friendly chat and to catch up with old friends and make new ones. New members welcome, £1 per meeting for tea/coffee and biscuits.

Book at Breakfast

Thursdays Fortnightly 10.30am to 11.30am. Online

Join us for a book at breakfast – a place to relax, a chance to make new friends and a new way to share reading.

You don’t have to read anything. You can simply drop in and enjoy having a good story or poem read to you – and chat about whatever you like.

For further info and Online joining links contact Sophia on email: [email protected]

Big Tasty Read

Throughout August

All Lambeth Libraries

This summer, Lambeth Libraries are cooking up something special – and it’s bound to whet your literary appetite! We’re joining the Big Tasty Read, a deliciously delightful national celebration that blends the joy of reading with the universal love of food. Whether its fiction or non-fiction, adult or children’s, pop into any Lambeth Library to be offered a menu of titles – all based around food.

Exhibitions

Brixton Society’s 50th Anniversary Exhibition

Showing until Saturday 9 August. Brixton Library, SW2 1JQ Exhibition available during Library opening hours

Brixton Society’s 50th Anniversary exhibition: Understanding the past, looking to the future. The exhibition looks back over the last 50 years, charting the changes in Brixton and the work Brixton Society and its members have done. The aims of the Society have always been to improve the area for residents, local businesses and visitors.

Isabella Tessier: The Library of Movement

Showing until Friday 22 August. Durning Library, SE11 4HF.

Exhibition available during Library opening hours.

This exhibition displays artworks made in response to Isabella Tessier’s residency in Durning and Brixton Libraries where she used a methodology of drawing to capture fleeting gestures, movements and points of connection by the community. Tessier is a London-based, award-winning artist and printmaker with a practice centred around interdisciplinary collaborations with dance and theatre performers, schools and community groups.

Further information: Bankside Gallery

@isabella.tessier

A Vanished Kennington: The studio archive of Manning Photographers

Showing until 16 August.

Lambeth Archives, SW2 1ET

Exhibition available during Archive opening hours

The father and son photographer’s business of Jim and Frank Manning operated out of Windmill Row in Kennington from 1949 to 2022.

After Frank’s sudden death, their archive of 500,000 negatives passed to Lambeth Archives. Our latest exhibition celebrates this extraordinary body of work taken over almost seventy-five years.

Life drawings from SketchPad

Showing until August.

Carnegie Library, SE24 0DG.

Exhibition available during Library opening hours.

SketchPad is a life drawing class and group of artists that has been going for almost 20 years, holding regular life drawing classes at the Prince Regent Pub in Herne Hill. Here they display their work from life drawing.

From Our Friends

Black Culture Market

Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August, 11am to 5pm

The Department Store. 248 Ferndale Road. SW9 8FR

Booking via Eventbrite

Please join BCM for an inspiring showcase of carefully selected Black businesses. An indoor event that supports emerging entrepreneurs and new Black businesses of African and Caribbean descent with retail opportunities.

Summer Reading Adventure

Here are some highlights of the Summer Reading Adventure, but each of our libraries will be hosting weekly events and activities throughout the summer including arts and craft sessions, games, costume making, 3D printing, slime and so much more…

For further information visit Lambeth Libraries or speak to a member of staff.

Origami Animals

Join us to fold and create animals from around the world using our fun origami paper! Ages 4 to 12 years.

Upper Norwood Library. Tuesday 5 August, 2.30pm.

Waterloo Library. Wednesday 6 August, 2.30pm.

Minet Library. Wednesday 13 August, 2.30pm.

Carnegie Library. Thursday 7 August, 2.30pm.

Free Lego Robotics for Children

Build your own mini adventure using LEGO bricks, then bring it to life with simple coding. Create, explore, and watch your robot move!

Minet Library, Wednesday 6 August, 2.30pm. Ages 4 to 12 years

Join our LEGO robotics taster session and build amazing robots to go on exciting adventures around the world.

South Lambeth Library, Friday 29 August, 3pm. Ages 7 to 12 years

Forest School: Woodland Session

Join us for a fun-filled Forest School experience hosted by Nature Vibezzz. Rain or shine there’ll be nature themed arts and crafts activities inside or out!

West Norwood Library, Wednesday 6 August, 2.30pm. Ages 4 to 12 years

Creative Writing Workshop with Patrick Gallagher

Unleash your imagination and join Patrick Gallagher, author of the unmissable Transcendent series, for an out-of-this-world creative writing workshop and learn how to create your very own action-packed adventure story. For ages 7 to 12 year olds.

Round Table Books will be selling copies of his book for you to purchase and get signed.

Brixton Library, Thursday 7 August, 2.30pm. Booking via Eventbrite

Mask Making

Which mask would you choose to make? A colourful Luchador mask like a Mexican wrestler? A fancy Masquerade mask with glitter and feathers? A fierce and fun Chinese Dragon mask? Or a bold and bright African paper mask with cool patterns? Pick your favourite and let’s get creative! Ages 4 to 12 years

Upper Norwood Library. Tuesday 12 August, 2.30pm.

Carnegie Library. Thursday 14 August, 2.30pm.

Minet Library. Wednesday 27 August, 2.30pm.

Treasure Map Making

Every explorer needs a map. Come create yours and hunt for hidden treasure. Ages 4 to 12 years.

Brixton Library. Wednesday 13 August, 2.30pm.

South Lambeth Library. Friday 15 August, 3pm.

Clapham Library. Thursday 28 August, 2.30pm.

Summer Nature Explorers Drama Workshop

Join us for a fun-packed family drama workshop this August. We will be thinking about what summer means to us, and what about it makes us happy. From lazing in the back garden to exploring far-flung lands, the smell of sunscreen and the taste of the first ice cream. Using summer as a starting point we will work towards a small theatrical sharing. It will be fun, fresh and for all the family!

West Norwood Library, Wednesday 13 August, 2.30pm. Ages 5 to 12 years

Afterward, at 3.30pm, we’ll take a short walk across the road to the South London Theatre for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. A perfect blend of creativity, drama, and adventure!

My Flag, My Story… Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month

We’re celebrating South Asian Heritage Month by making flags that show our identity, heritage, or favourite books. Ages 4 to 12 years

Durning Library. Saturday 16 August, 2pm

Summer Explorer – Animal Trail Under 5s Sessions.

Under 5s can also join in the fun over the summer by signing up to receive their own Summer Explorer Animal Trail Collector card! Read 7 books or more to your child and receive stickers and more…

Wriggle and Rhyme

Free in all Lambeth Libraries. Contact your local library for times and details.

Enjoy songs, rhymes and stories with your baby or toddler in a free weekly session at your library. These sessions are great fun for everyone and help develop speech and language skills, encourage social interactions and help prepare children for school. All welcome.

Tony B: Happy Drums

Free music workshops for children under 5 throughout the summer. For more information contact Tony on [email protected]

Wednesdays, 11am to 12pm. Brixton Library, SW2 1JQ