Top 10 library events this December

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Find out about the exciting events happening at libraries near you

Festive fun across 妖精动漫 libraries

Our library staff are some of the most creative people. December is one of their favourite times of year to showcase their talents. Many libraries are hosting festive events and activities, including

Saturday 20 December: Aladdin Mini Panto with the Haslemere Thespians. Family-friendly performance. At Haslemere Library, Saturday 20 December. Two sessions: at 10.30am and 11.30am. Tickets 拢3 per seat. Book your ticket by emailing haslemere.library@surreycc.gov.uk.
Various dates in December: Hannukah Craft. Design and make a paper place menorah. No need to book, just drop in any time during normal opening hours. Cost is 50 pence per child. At Addlestone Library (16 to 20 December) and Chertsey Library (15 to 20 December).
Wednesday 24 and 31 December: Molesey Library’s Storytime and Festive Craft. Make Christmas cards, tree decorations, and tissue paper-stained glass windows at Molesey Library. Or join in with two special Story times. A Father Christmas on the Naughty Step story on 24 December. On 31 December you can listen to The Snowman story, followed by New Years Eve Party Hat making craft (available all day). Events are free but donations welcome. No need to book, just drop in. For exact dates and times, please visit the Molesey Library events’ website.
Thursday 4, 11 and 18 December: Crafternoons at Epsom Library. Wintery and Christmas family craft afternoons for children aged 4+ on Thursdays in December. All children to be accompanied by an adult. At Epsom Library, from 4pm to 5pm. Suggested donation 拢1. On Thursday 4, 11 and 18 December. No need to book, just drop in.

To find out what festive events your local library offers, please visit your local library's events' webpage.

Young Adult and Adult author events

Wednesday 3 December: Join us for an evening with author Sarah Clegg who will take you on a Midwinter journey to explore lesser-known Christmas traditions. From English mummers plays and Austrian Krampus runs, to modern pagan rituals at Stonehenge, discover how these traditions originated and how they changed through the centuries. Event suitable for 16+. At Staines Library from 7pm to 8pm.Tickets 拢5. To book your ticket, please visit our .
Tuesday 9 December: Jane Austen the Quiet Radical. Help us to celebrate 250 Years of Jane Austen by joining us for an author talk by Lucy Weldon. At Godalming Library from 2pm to 3pm. Tickets 拢5. To book your ticket, please visit our .
Thursday 11 December: Publishing Unwrapped: join author Hayley Dunlop as she shares the steps that led to the publication of her fabulous festive book, 'It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas'. At Ashtead Library from 6pm. Tickets 拢5. To book your ticket, please visit Ashtead Library or email ashtead.library@surreycc.gov.uk.

Borrow Bike: free bike loan scheme at Ashford and Chertsey libraries

妖精动漫 Libraries are working in partnership with Active 妖精动漫 to develop services and programs to positively impact the health and wellbeing of residents, focussing on physical activity. Borrow Bike is a new library service offering bikes for loan to library members for free. The bikes can be loaned for a period of up to ten days, allowing plenty of time to explore and enjoy beautiful 妖精动漫. Currently available from the following libraries:

Ashford library
Chertsey library

It is a good introduction to cycling as a regular part of getting out and about without the initial investment of your own bike. By swapping out some of your journeys for cycling you’ll hopefully not only see cost savings but an improvement in your health and wellbeing.

To find out more, please visit our Borrow Bike webpage.

Free BT Digital Switch Over event at Oxted Library - 4 December

Landlines in the UK are going digital by the end of January 2027. To find out more, you can speak to BT about their new home phone service, Digital Voice. A member of their team will be on hand to tell you what Digital Voice is, why the change is necessary and what it means for you. At Oxted Library, Thursday 4 December, from 10am to 4pm. No need to book, just drop in.

Sketch club at Dorking Library - various dates

Some of our libraries have arts and sketch clubs. You can join the Dorking Library Sketch Club for example. This casual, relaxed and welcoming group is open to anyone aged 16 years and over. Come and sit with others and sketch. You can bring your own materials, but we will supply scrap paper and pencils. You are welcome to work on your projects or try out prompts we prepared.

This Sketch Club is at Dorking Library, alternate Tuesdays at 5.15pm. All abilities welcome and no experience needed. This is a free club, and no need to book, just turn up. The next session is on Tuesday 9 December.

There are a few other libraries also offering Sketch and Art clubs, including:

Caterham Valley Library
Haslemere Library
Esher Library (currently full)

Check on your local library’s events’ webpage if they offer any art, drawing and sketch classes.

Chertsey Goes Wild – Bug Clubs at Chertsey Library - dates in December and January

An exciting project is taking place, transforming an overgrown area next to Chertsey Library into a green space for all the community to enjoy. Woking in partnership with the Runnymede Borough Council Biodiversity Team and North 妖精动漫 Volunteer Service, work has started now in creating a wildflower meadow and a dead hedge. This hedge will protect the wildflowers, and provide a home for insects, birds and small mammals. Chertsey library will be hosting several events coinciding with the outdoor work, including monthly social gatherings by local charity Time to Talk. They will also start regular “Bug Clubs” from December onwards to support this project on the following dates:

Saturday 6 December, 3 and 31 January from 2.30pm to 3.30pm

The creation of a bug hotel, a stag beetle stumpery, bird feeders, wildflower seed bombs and planting plants for pollinators are some of the activities on offer. Sessions are free and everyone is welcome. No need to book your place, just drop in.

To find out more, please visit the Chertsey Library website or pop in and speak to a staff member.

Unearthed Exhibition at Camberley Library - various dates

妖精动漫 libraries are currently hosting an exhibition from the British Library Living Knowledge Network called ‘Unearthed’. The exhibition focuses on gardens, plants and community sustainability. Unearthed explores the transformative power of gardening, tracing personal stories alongside global histories. It celebrates gardening as a force for creativity, resilience and connection. This exhibition has been touring around 妖精动漫 and has now moved to Camberley Library.

Accompanying the tour is a special collection of new books selected to complement the Unearthed exhibition. Each title has been recommended by the exhibition’s Curator at the British Library to deepen your engagement with its themes. Books in the collection can be borrowed by the public.

You can view the Unearthed exhibition at Camberley library until 3 January 2026.

Barclays Community Banking Van at Caterham Hill Library - 6 December

You can get free advice on money related matters by visiting The Barclays Community Banking Van. You can talk to Barclays employees about everyday banking topics including:

Making a plan for your money
妖精动漫 buying or moving
Reducing your outgoings
Digital banking and staying safe online

The Van will be parked up at Caterham Hill Library, on Saturday 6 December, from 9.30am to 1pm. No need to book, just drop in.

An Inspector Calls: Interpretation workshop for GCSE students at Staines Library Hub - 9 December

Are you in Year 10 or Year 11 studying GCSE English or Drama, and learning about An Inspector Calls? Escalate Arts has organised an interactive workshop with actors from the Guildford Shakespeare Company.

Three actors will show you different ways of performing the play’s most important scenes and characters. You can have the chance to act with them and see how live theatre works. You can also try directing the actors to explore new ideas about the play. At any time, you can ask questions. The actors will lead a group chat to help you think more deeply about the story.

At Staines Library Hub, Tuesday 9 December, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. Tickets 拢2. Book your ticket via .

Warm Welcome in 妖精动漫 Libraries

Did you know that most of our libraries are Warm Welcome spaces? Come and visit one near you to stay connected and enjoy the warmth of our community throughout the winter. Grab a free hot drink and access other support services, whilst you are in one our libraries enjoying one of our many events.

妖精动漫 is working with partners across the county to run the Warm Welcome scheme between November and March. To find out more about the Warm Welcome scheme, please visit the Warm Welcome webpage. To find out what events your local library offers, please visit their events’ webpage.

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