Balsall Common Library

27/08/2026

Monday 31 August is a Bank Holiday, and so we will be closed for the day. Don't forget, with your library membership, you can always access our digital library on BorrowBox for a range of eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers. The link is in the top comment 🔗

27/08/2026

Longer opening hours will soon be available at three of our libraries 📚

Between the end of this year and early next year, we're introducing Open Plus technology at Dickens Heath Library, Hobs Moat Library and Balsall Common Library, making them more accessible and flexible community spaces.

Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Wazma Qais (pictured) said 💬: “Open Plus will extend opening hours and give people choice of how and when they use their local library, fitting visits in around work, school, families and other commitments."

Staff will continue to be available during normal opening hours to provide advice and support! 🙌

The project is grant funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Read more online: https://loom.ly/T25MCwk

26/08/2026

🦋📚 Remembering Dolly Parton 📚🦋

We were so sad to hear about the passing of the magnificent Dolly Parton. 💔

Dolly’s love of books inspired her to create Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, providing free books to children from birth to age five and helping to spark a lifelong love of reading. The programme was extended to the UK in 2007 ❤️📖

Why not celebrate Dolly’s incredible legacy by borrowing her music, or one of our books about her, or written by her?

🔎 Find them on our catalogue; the link is in the top comment.

A truly wonderful legacy — bringing the joy of books to children everywhere. 📚🦋

Photo: Dolly Parton reads to children in the Library of Congress Great Hall in 2018. (Wikimedia Commons)

21/08/2026

We're delighted to share a new national prize opportunity as part of Summer Reading Challenge 2026: Read to the Beat!
Visit your local Solihull Library to find out more.

21/08/2026

We're thrilled to be welcoming local author, Abigail Johnson to The Core Library to tell us all about her second novel, The Memory Keeper.

Join us for this FREE event on Thursday 17th September at 6pm - book your FREE place using the link below

21/08/2026

19/08/2026

This year's Summer Reading Challenge, Read to the Beat, focuses on the connection between reading and a love of music. We thought it would be fun to look at some contemporary musicians who advocate for reading and have a love of books, from Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo to Harry Styles and Jisoo; reading is a creative force to be reckoned with!

Explore your love of reading with your completely free Solihull Libraries membership, more information in the top comment.

And, there is still time for children to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge! Just pop in to see a member of the team to get started.

14/08/2026

What a hedgehog-tastic afternoon we had yesterday. A big thank you to the wonderful members of .craftivism who shared hints on helping hedgehogs and provided an imaginative array of crafts for everyone to enjoy.
Well done to all who attended, here is a small selection of their hedgehog handy work.

13/08/2026

We will be making this wonderful selection of hedgehog 🦔 crafts between 2.30pm and 4.30pm this afternoon.