Have you ever walked past The Leeds Library on Commercial Street and wanted to find out more about our beautiful building and its collection? ...Then book a free tour! The Leeds Library is the oldest surviving members’ subscription library in the UK. Founded in 1768, the Library moved to its current purpose-built premises on Commercial […]

The Leeds launch of Ian Harker's poetry pamphlet 'Gain Access', co-winner of the 2025 Poetry Business Book & Pamphlet Competition, judged by Kim Moore. Kim said of 'Gain Access': “I’ve always loved poems about work, but I’ve never read anything quite like this. Written from the viewpoint of a social housing officer, we get an insight […]

Jonathan Goodwin plays Count Dracula, Lord of the Undead, and a host of others in this classic tale of late-Victorian vampirism! Prepare to learn the bloody truth that lies beyond the legend! Written and performed by award-winning actor/writer Jonathan Goodwin.

This talk will examine the historic account of the haunting that occurred at the Leeds Library in the 1880s, looking at the individuals involved in the case and why in fact a librarian needed a gun! Fast forward to the 1960s, what did former president of the library—the controversial Trevor Hall—uncover when he re-examined the […]

This in-depth 5-session course will take you through the many and varied stages of creating a medieval-style hardback book with wooden boards, leather cover, and metal clasps. The class involves a small group of ten participants. All the tools and materials you need will be included. The course will take place at The Library on […]

The first film in our Crazy Little Thing Called Love Season Please note that due to licensing restrictions, you must be a member of the Leeds Library to attend this screening, and we are not able to advertise details of the film publicly beforehand. Join fellow Members of the Library for an afternoon in front […]

Come along to this informal event to hear about research being undertaken by postgraduate researchers at Leeds Beckett's School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Research papers will be short and showcase work that is under development. Topics range from research on survivors of the Rwandan genocide living in the UK, to Shakespeare, to language nationalism […]

Have you ever walked past The Leeds Library on Commercial Street and wanted to find out more about our beautiful building and its collection? ...Then book a free tour! The Leeds Library is the oldest surviving members’ subscription library in the UK. Founded in 1768, the Library moved to its current purpose-built premises on Commercial […]