Alton Library - Hampshire County Council

15/06/2026

Refugee Week starts today.
Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

15/06/2026

Loneliness Awareness Week starts today.
The theme this here is : Giving loneliness a voice.
Alton Library is here to help you fight loneliness. Have you ever thought about joining one of our free weekly events?

- Chat About
Every Tuesday
2pm to 3:30pm
Come along to our weekly drop in and meet new friends and have a chat.
Funded by the DWP Household Support Fund

- Community Connections
Every Saturday
1pm to 3pm
Open to all seekers of sanctuary for a chat, helpful information and signposting.
No need to book, just turn up!

- Loopy Loopers
Every Thursday
2pm to 4pm
Do you enjoy crochet, knitting and crafting? Come along and join our group. A great opportunity to meet others and share ideas. Please bring your own equipment. Beginner’s welcome.

All info on Loneliness Awareness Week here
https://www.lonelinessawarenessweek.org/

13/06/2026

SPREAD THE WORD!

The Book Cupboard will be open tomorrow Sunday 14th June between about 11am and 1pm ish and again, we look set to be blessed with sunshine! 🌞

For those who are new to this, you'll find a great selection of pre-loved gift wrapped books available for the teeniest of £1 donations. There are clues to the genre and content on the gift tags but the books are a mystery and it's SO much fun, giving the magical gift of reading to yourself or a chum. You may even discover something completely new to read and love.

We'll be in a sun patch somewhere just outside the community cupboard on Alton High Street and don't forget to bring cash! You never know, you may get an extra free treat with your mystery book...

Warning: as ever, we may try and talk to you about books 📚💕😄

13/06/2026

The Countdown is on!

Just 4️⃣ weeks to go until the start of the Summer Reading Challenge in Hampshire Libraries! 🎻📚

Sign up in our libraries, or online through our Kids' Zone, from Saturday 11 July.
https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/kids-zone

12/06/2026

Jane Austen Regency Childrens Craft Activity at Alton Library!
Saturday 27 June
Drop-in between 1O:3Oam – 12pm

Come along and create your own Jane Austen themed greeting card.

Suitable for ages 6-10 years. Parents/carers to stay.
£1 per child – collect pack from the enquiry desk.

11/06/2026

Explore the Jane Austen Special Collection.

Thursday 25 June
Drop-in 2pm – 3:3Opm

Discover a selection of books that make up the Hampshire Library Service’s specialist Jane Austen collection at Alton Library, close to Chawton, where Jane’s cottage and museum is located.
Local Historian Jane Hurst will be on hand to talk about the collection and provide additional information on the author and the local area.

09/06/2026

Do you need a room for up to 10 people for a meeting? Or a quiet, bright space to complete that important project?
Look no further. The Hops Room at Alton Library is your solution.
Find out all details here
https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/services/room-hire/alton-hops

08/06/2026

This month's challenge for the National Year of Reading is to read a graphic novel. An unusual choice for many adult readers, a very usual choice for our young'uns! :) Check out our collection at Stubbington, take one out and let us know what you think!

07/06/2026

Chilling news: June is National Crime Reading Month!
National Crime Reading Month aims to promote and celebrate crime reading across the genre.

Browse our catalogue for a physical copy
https://hampshire.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?QRY=SVL(JUN26CRM)&SORTS=SQL_RANDOM&QRYTEXT=National%20Crime%20Reading%20Month&NRECS=12

Visit your Library

or search BorrowBox
https://hampshire.borrowbox.com/product-group/48637/national-crime-reading-month

05/06/2026

Hear from one of our amazing Home Library Service volunteers below, as part of Volunteers' Week!

Hear from one of our amazing Home Library Service volunteers below, as part of Volunteers' Week!

Find out more about about becoming a Home Library Service volunteer: https://www.hants.gov.uk/jobs/volunteering/volunteeringopportunities/homelibraryvolunteers

"Being a home library service volunteer is incredibly rewarding because it allows you to directly brighten the lives of housebound individuals, such as the elderly, disabled, or those recovering from illness, who might otherwise feel isolated from the world of books and ideas. By delivering carefully selected titles, audiobooks, or magazines tailored to their interests, you provide not just reading material but also a vital connection to knowledge, escapism, and intellectual stimulation. This simple act combats loneliness, sparks conversations during your visits, and fosters a profound sense of companionship. Volunteers often describe the joy of seeing a recipient’s face light up over a favorite author or discovering a new story together, creating meaningful human connections that transcend the transaction of borrowing a book.

On a personal level, volunteering with a home library service offers tremendous fulfilment and growth, as it builds empathy, organisational skills, and a deeper appreciation for diverse life experiences while fitting flexibly around your own schedule. Many volunteers find it revitalising to step away from daily routines and contribute to their community in a tangible way, often reporting improved mood, reduced stress, and a stronger sense of purpose. It’s a low-pressure way to give back that yields high emotional returns, whether through the satisfaction of matching the perfect book to a reader or knowing you’ve helped maintain someone’s lifelong love of reading. In a fast-paced world, this role reminds us of the quiet power of kindness and shared stories."