Bishop's Stortford Library

01/06/2026

Monday 1 June to Sunday 7 June is Libraries Week! 😄📚📖

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, this year’s theme is Libraries Change Lives through literacy and reading. So we thought there was no better time for a booklist of picture books about books (and libraries)! Check out some of our favourites here: https://tinyurl.com/3d5f3aza

31/05/2026

Sunday Staff choice - Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell.
This book is amazing; my heart was in my mouth from the first chapter. Nesting is claustrophobic, it's more about what isn't being said, than what is. There is a lot left to the readers imagination which is scarier. This is an important read to understand the very complex side of coercive relationships. I highly recommend this great read. You will not want to put this down!

31/05/2026

📣 Happening soon – don’t miss CareFest! 📣

Struggling with everyday tasks because of pain, arthritis or mobility challenges? Starting tomorrow, June 1, seven of our Hertfordshire Libraries are running CareFest events, to help you live more comfortably.

✔️ Pick up FREE to those who need them - daily living aids like jar and bottle openers, sock aids, long handled brushes and car support handles - to qualify, just speak to our occupational therapists and receive one to one advice tailored to you
✔️ Get your blood pressure checked and learn how to use your home monitor
✔️ Take part in life saving CPR training
✔️ Access mental health support from NHS Talking Therapies
✔️ Learn simple movement and posture tips to keep you active

🥐☕ Plus enjoy free breakfast treats from HILS while chatting about local support services.
👉 Come along, get supported, and take positive steps towards wellbeing this June.

Read our blog to find out more https://tinyurl.com/yx4mjx4u

30/05/2026

30/05/2026

Would you like to join our online Facebook book group at Bishop’s Stortford Library?

We have plenty of book recommendations (and we love to hear yours!) and fun book chats. We read and discuss a book, online, every two months. During May and June, we are reading ‘Into the Fire’, by M J Arlidge, one of the authors who came to the library for our ‘Unreliable Narrators’ evening. This gripping thriller is number 13 in the Detective D I Helen Grace series, but can be read as a stand-alone, as it features a self-contained plot.

We will be discussing this title online on Saturday 27 June.

Our Facebook book club is a great place for book lovers to talk about books and get lots of reading ideas; you are welcome to join, even if you choose not to read the book!

To join our book club, go to the ‘Visit Group’ button at the top of our Bishop’s Stortford Library main page and request to join.

Everyone welcome!

We look forward to seeing you there!

29/05/2026

Welcome back to 'Past and Present', where this month Fran tells us about her favourite childhood book, with quite a different choice for her current read! 📖❤️

Please let us know your favourites in the comments, and which books you'd recommend that you're reading at the moment 🙂

Let's Go All In for this National Year of Reading! 😆

29/05/2026

Want to make a difference this summer? Volunteer at your local library and help inspire children to get reading!

Summer Reading Challenge starts Saturday 4 July – Saturday 5 September.
Volunteers must be aged 14+

Apply to be a Summer Reading Challenge volunteer today!

http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/src-volunteers

Challenge

28/05/2026

June at Bishop’s Stortford Library...

Discover the county’s role in the creation of some of cinema’s most iconic films while we display a trail of 11 posters drawn from the BFI Archive’s Screencraft collections. Pop in every week to view a new one!

Wed 3:
This ‘n’ That presents a talk on guide dogs.
Free, 10.30-11.30am. Donations welcome.

Fri 5:
Join us for Sensory Storytime.
Free, 10.30am. Donations welcome.

Sat 6:
Build STEM skills and get creative with our Gravitrax marble run!
3-4pm. Booking required. Ages 6+, £4.40 per child.

Mon 8:
Bring a project to Craft Club and have a cup of tea and a chat while you work.
Free, 10.30am-12pm. Donations welcome.

Wed 10:
Enjoy active rhymes for toddlers at Wiggle, Giggle, Jump!
Ages 2-4, £4.40 per child. 10.15-11.15am. Booking required.

Thurs 11:
We're celebrating Empathy Day with a special Elmer Storytime and craft.
2pm. Free, drop-in. Donations welcome.

Of course, our regular events are running throughout the month:
Baby Rhyme Time- Tuesdays at 10.15am and 11.15am. Free, drop-in, donations welcome.
Storytime- Thursdays and Sundays at 2pm, Fridays 10.30am. Free, drop-in, donations welcome.
Lego Club- Mondays at 4-5pm and Saturdays at 3-4pm during term time only. Age 6+, booking required.
Page One- Wednesdays at 4-5pm. Age 8-13, booking required.
Children’s Creative Craft Corner- Saturdays at 11am-11.45am. Free, drop in.
D’n’D Club- Saturdays 11am-1pm. Age 12-16. Free, booking required.
Friday board games- Fridays 2-5pm. Free, drop-in.

[ID: A chalkboard with handwritten information about events happening at Bishop's Stortford Library in June.]

28/05/2026

🙂Marvellous Maps!📍

Thank you for coming along to our deep dive into Bishop's Stortford's pictorial history, as we opened up the map cabinets, dusted off our magnifying glasses and had a fascinating morning discovering how where we live has changed over the years 🔎

I think we would have been there all day had we not needed our lunch!

If you'd like to look at any of our maps, you can ask a member of staff for help at any time. We also have a microfiche reader for you to rifle through past pages of the local newspapers and many, many local history books to read or borrow.

We'd love to see you 🙂

27/05/2026

At a loose end next Wednesday morning? Would you like to learn more about guide dogs?

Next week at This 'n' That, the star of our show will be Muttley, our visiting guide dog! 🐶

The lovely Sue will also be here to talk all things dogs, explaining how the guide dogs are trained and how they help people with visual impairments.

There will also be a doggy-themed quiz and as always, tea, coffee and cake! ☕🍰

The session starts at 10.30 on Wednesday 3 June, so pop into the library and let us know if you'd like to attend, or turn up on the day 🙂