Barnsley Book Festival

30/04/2026

26/04/2026

📘 Happy Independent Book Shop Week! 📘

Especially great to see The Book Vault on the front page BBC news today (and thank you for a mention of the Barnsley Book Festival!).

What are you reading this week? Let us know 📚

The Book Vault and Truman Books have been chosen as Book Champions for Independent Bookshop Week.

23/04/2026

Some great author events coming up.

🌎 HAPPY WORLD BOOK NIGHT! 📚

On World Book Night, we're looking forward to welcoming all these wonderful authors to Barnsley Libraries over the next few months.
Whether you're a fan of folk horror, historical drama, romance or crime - there's something for everyone at these free talks.
Book online: https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/libraries/events-at-our-libraries/

18/04/2026

This will be a brilliant talk!

Val Wood's romantic historical novels are amongst the most loaned titles in UK libraries. Aged 91, Val is a force of nature - her latest book, A Woman of Fortune, was published last November.
Come to Library @ the Lightbox on Saturday 9 May (1.30pm) to hear Val discuss her writing life and sign copies of her books.
Born in Castleford, she has written 30 novels, all set in Hull and the East Riding. Her first novel, The Hungry Tide, was published in 1993 and won the Catherine Cookson Prize for Romantic Fiction.
Over the years, Val and her work have been featured on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row and in the BBC documentary 'Books That Made Britain'.
Book a free place here: https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/libraries/events-at-our-libraries/

27/03/2026

We’re still buzzing from an incredible Book Festival this year - filled with books, creativity and community spirit. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us — from brilliant authors and passionate partners to the families and readers who filled every event with energy and curiosity. Shall we do it all again next year?

📸Gavin Joynt Photography
📸 Bolder Visual

Arts Council England

23/03/2026

Earlier this month we joined Ian McMillan at Mapplewell Library for his form extravaganza poetry workshop.

From haiku and limericks to sonnets and sestinas, there was so much packed into the session - writers were even introduced to a brand‑new poetry form: The Mapplewell!

Thanks to everyone who joined us. Here’s a little glimpse of the creativity in action….

19/03/2026

We loved welcoming LiveWire back to the Library @ The Lightbox, with another fantastic poetry showcase and open mic session as part of .

It was a fantastic chance for Barnsley’s poetry lovers to hear from award‑winning writers and even step up to the mic themselves. Watch the video to find out more 👇

13/03/2026

As part of , our brilliant Home Library Service team were at the Library @ The Lightbox to chat with residents and share Telling Stories – a powerful collection of local stories and a brand‑new book celebrating the voices of people across Barnsley.

If you haven’t discovered this fantastic service yet, now’s the perfect time. They bring the library straight to people who can’t easily get out and about, helping keep our communities connected through the joy of reading.

12/03/2026

For anyone that loves an open mic night this will be great! 🎤

A reminder for our Open Mic night this Friday 13th March from 7pm. Refreshments will be available.
Hope to see you there!

12/03/2026

Have a look at these creative opportunities we've released for the National Year of Reading! 📚📚📚

📣📚National Year of Reading - Creative Commissions 2026

We're really excited to announce our Creative Commissions for2026! We’re looking for:

✒️A Writer / Poet in Residence to celebrate the National Year of Reading (£6,000)
🎨An artist/s to submit an idea for a Creative Micro Commission at Cudworth Library (£2,000)
🌱An artist/s to submit an idea for a Green Libraries Commission at any one of the branch libraries (£3,000)

Application deadline: Monday 13 April 2026

For more information visit https://shorturl.at/3yBxb