Top 10 library events this July

Find out about the exciting events happening at libraries near you

Summer Reading Challenge 2025 launch at Newlands Corner

The Summer Reading Challenge is back for another summer of fun with the theme of 'Story Garden'. The Challenge encourages children to read up to six books. They will receive incentives along the way. Surrey Libraries is kicking off this year's Challenge at Newlands Corner on Saturday 5 July between 11am and 2pm. There are free craft activities organised by our colleagues from Surrey Wildlife Trust and Surrey Hills Society. You can also sign up for two unique events:

We are Family

An outdoor Storytime with author Lucy Reynolds. Suitable for families with children of all ages. Suggested donation £2 per family ticket.

Under the Yew Tree: Guided Walk and Storytelling session

A guided walk through the woodlands followed by a Storytelling session with John Kirk under the 1000-year-old Yew Trees. Suitable for 4 to 11 year olds. Suggested donation £2 per ticket per child, accompanying adult goes free.

Please book your tickets via Surrey Libraries’ Events to secure your place. Drop-ins are available on the day, but places are limited.

To find out more, visit our Summer Reading Challenge webpage.

Summer Reading Challenge events in our libraries

If you are not able to make it to Newlands Corner on launch day of the Summer Reading Challenge, then our 52 libraries will offer plenty of events and activities this summer. Here are a few exciting events coming up:

Ashtead Library: a weeklong Summer Reading Challenge Book Buzz fun from 8 to 14 July
Chertsey Library: party fun with Pebble all day Saturday 5 July, including a special Rhymetime, Storytime for older children, craft activities and games in the garden
Egham Library: badge making craft on Saturday 5 July
Farnham Library: special events all summer including a Bee pollinator workshop run by Hive Helpers on 24 July and a Big Butterfly Count event with Surrey Wildlife Trust on 31 July
Godalming Library: wildlife walk, game design workshop and drop-in crafts events during July
Woking Library: face painting, Mario Cart, scavenger hunt and a special Story Garden Rhymetime on Saturday 5 July

For more information, including times, and to find out what our other libraries are offering this summer, please check out your local library’s webpage.

Author events for adults at Camberley and Merstham Libraries

Join award-winning author Alice Fowler as she delves into a world of change and reinvention in her latest book, Truth Has Arms and Legs. This poignant short story collection explores pivotal moments that transform our lives. Camberley Library on Wednesday 2 July from 6 pm to 7pm. Tickets £3. Please book your tickets via Surrey Libraries’ Events.

Author Roseanna Rolph will talk about her book ‘Dear Mr Snippet’. In this moving memoir she brings to life her grandparents love and the effects of war on the family. Merstham Library on Friday 18 July from 2pm to 4pm. Donations welcomed at the event. To book, please email merstham.library@surreycc.gov.uk.

Seed Dance performances at Banstead and Epsom libraries

Katie Green is back with the next Seed Tour. Join Kid and Pinto, two curious Seedologists on a quest to discover new specimens. Observe a new seed’s transformation as it travels through four seasons. This dance performance will be followed by a seed planting workshop.

The tour will go to the following libraries in July:

Banstead Library on Saturday 12 July for 10:30am start

Epsom Library on Saturday 12 July for 2pm start

Events are aimed at children up to 6 years, although all children are welcome. Tickets are available with a donation (minimum recommendation is £2 per person). Book tickets via Surrey Libraries’ Events.

Doorstep Duets dance performances

Doorstep Duets, presented by Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, is returning to Surrey Libraries for a fourth year. These dance performances for all ages will bring the joy and wonder of dance to communities in July.

Farnham Library on Tuesday 1 July at 2pm
Woking Library on Tuesday 22 July at 10am, 11am and 2pm
Henry Plaza, Victoria Place shopping centre, Woking on Tuesday 22 July at 12 noon
Addlestone Library on Tuesday 22 July at 3pm
Walton Library on Wednesday 23 July at 10am and 11am
Molesey Library, Wednesday 23 July at 2pm and 3pm
Merstham Library on Thursday 24 July at 10am
Redhill Library on Thursday 24 July at 12 noon and 3pm
Belfry Shopping Centre, Redhill on Thursday 24 July at 2pm
Longmead Community Centre, Epsom on Friday 25 July at 10am
Epsom Library on Friday 25 July at 11:30am and 1.30pm
Ashtead Library on Friday 25 July at 3.30pm.

The performances are free, 20 minutes long and there is no need to book. Just turn up! To find out more, visit our events and activities webpage.

Unearthed: The Power of Gardening – Living Knowledge Network exhibition at Oxted Library

Surrey Libraries are proud to be one of the Living Knowledge Network Libraries across the UK that will be hosting the inspiring Unearthed: The Power of Gardening exhibition. This exhibition focuses on gardens, plants and sustainability. The next library where this exhibition will be hosted is Oxted Library, from Wednesday 2 July to Saturday 27 July. As part of the exhibition, the following event will take place:

The Kindest Garden – Marion Boswall in conversation with Julia Parker. Oxted Library on Tuesday 22 July for 7pm start. Tickets £5. Booking essential via Eventbrite.

To find out more about this exhibition and other events organised in July at Oxted Library, please visit our Living Knowledge Network webpage or Oxted's events webpage.

Independent Skills course

Are you or a loved one struggling with finances, physical or mental wellbeing? The Independent Skills Course is an eight-week, in-person course teaching Surrey residents skills that support independence. These sessions will cover a range of topics including:

avoiding scams and financial planning
mental and Physical wellbeing
digital skills
using your exiting skills (to help with finding employment and volunteering opportunities)
staying independent

We currently are running these sessions in 18 libraries, including Caterham Valley, Dorking, Godalming, Guildford, Horley, Leatherhead and Reigate Libraries. To find out more about this course, locations and to sign up, please visit our Independent Skills webpage.

Regular green events in libraries

Did you know that Surrey Libraries has signed the Green Libraries Manifesto? As libraries we occupy a place at the heart of the communities we serve. Through this manifesto, we want to come together towards a shared vision - to lead by example through our own environmental actions and use our power and reach to inform and inspire people to take positive action and build resilience in the diverse communities we serve. With this in mind, we host regular ‘Green Events’ in our libraries. These include:

Cranleigh Climate Action and Cranleigh Library climate cafe will be available to provide energy advice and see what financial support is available to help with energy bills. Cranleigh Library, monthly on a Tuesday.
Volunteers from What Next? charity will be on-hand to provide advice, guidance and helpful tips in what you can do to support our local environment. Godalming Library, every Wednesday.
Nature Storytime for 2 year olds and over. Guildford Library every month.

We also have ‘Green Reads’. These are specially selected titles exploring the natural world, environmental issues and sustainability. To find out more visit our events and activities webpage.

Chertsey Woolcraft Guild at Chertsey Library

Chertsey Woolcraft Guild is a group interested in any traditional crafts and skills related to wool. If you want to learn more about knitting/crocheting or using a spindle, why don’t you pop down and they will show you? Chertsey Library every Tuesday from 2.15pm to 4pm. No need to book, everyone is welcome.

Transformation update: Epsom and Staines libraries

We are delighted that Epsom Library reopened recently after undergoing an extensive refurbishment as part of our Transformation programme. Construction work at the new Library Hub in Staines is also nearing completion. Staines Library will close at its current location from 7 July. We are expecting the relocation to be completed towards the end of July. Popular existing and new events will resume at the new location, at the former Decathlon unit in the Elmsleigh Centre. New flexible furniture, new children’s library with sensory equipment, increased study space and meeting pods are just a few of the new improvements. To keep posted about our Transformation programme, please visit our library transformation webpage.