Library Service - Hampshire County Council

02/09/2026

Julian Barnes is an award-winning author of several books of stories, essays, and numerous novels, including the 2011 Man Booker Prize winning novel The Sense of an Ending.

He has also written non-fiction including Keeping an Eye Open: Essays on Art and The Man in the Red Coat. His recent book Departure(s) was published in January 2026. The book is about looking back, facing the future, and coming to the end of life.

Find his books on BorrowBox: https://hampshire.borrowbox.com/

01/09/2026

Have you always wanted to learn the ukulele, but would like to try one before buying your own? Hampshire Libraries now offer a free, four week loan of Ukulele Kits as part of a donation from the South East Ukulele Project.

👉 Reserve a kit today: https://hampshire.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?ENTRY1_NAME=TI&ENTRY1=ukulele%20kit&ENTRY1_TYPE=K&ENTRY2_NAME=AU&ENTRY2=&ENTRY2_TYPE=K&NRECS=20&SORTS=HBT.SOVR

Each kit includes:

🔹 A ukulele
🔹 A protective carry case
🔹 A beginner's guide to playing the ukulele

31/08/2026

Whilst our libraries are closed for the bank holiday, don't forget you can always access free digital books, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers through BorrowBox with your library membership.

Find out more: https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/services/books-and-more/ebooksaudiobooks

28/08/2026

There's only a few weeks left of the Summer Reading Challenge 2026! Make sure to finish those 6 books and pop back into the library to claim your certificate and medal 🏅

We can't wait to see you!

The Reading Agency Hampshire County Council

Has your child joined the Summer Reading Challenge this year? Don't forget to come back and complete it! 📚🪗

Just read six books and you will collect stickers, a certificate and medal. 🏆🏅

The challenge runs until September 12, so there is plenty of time left to sign up, join in, and Read to the Beat! 📖🎶

28/08/2026

Happy ! Stubbington Library have let their creativity shine with 'The Big Book of Tiny Painting' by Leslie Stroz. 🎨

Reserve a copy: https://hampshire.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?ENTRY1_NAME=TI&ENTRY1=the%20big%20book%20of%20tiny%20painting&ENTRY1_TYPE=K&ENTRY2_NAME=AU&ENTRY2=leslie%20stroz&ENTRY2_TYPE=K&NRECS=20&SORTS=HBT.SOVR

'A complete outdoor painting course in ink and watercolour! Learn the art of painting big by going tiny. From building your pocket-sized art kit to conquering creative fears, artist Leslie Stroz teaches you how to capture the essence of a place with just a few strokes of pen and brush.'

Leslie Stroz Art

27/08/2026

Save the date! Only Murders in the Library - our crime and thriller author event is coming back to Basingstoke Discovery Centre in October! 🔍

With authors such as Louise Candlish, TM Logan and Ben Aaronovitch attending, plus many more, it's going to be a weekend to remember.

👉 Start booking your places today! https://shop.hants.gov.uk/collections/library-events?filter.p.tag=Only+Murders+in+the+Library+2026


Hampshire County Council Louise Candlish TM Logan Vaseem Khan Fliss Chester Books and Things - Katie Lumsden Katy Watson, Author Hannah Dennison Tim Sullivan novels

26/08/2026

🦋 We are so sad to hear about the passing of the magnificent Dolly Parton. Dolly's creation of the Imagination Library saw that children from birth to age 5 would receive free books to inspire a love of reading, and this work expanded to the UK in 2007.

Find a book about her for children and the non-fiction title Storyteller: My Life in Lyrics on our catalogue: https://hampshire.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?ENTRY1_NAME=TI&ENTRY1=dolly%20parton&ENTRY1_TYPE=K&ENTRY2_NAME=AU&ENTRY2=&ENTRY2_TYPE=K&NRECS=20&SORTS=HBT.SOVR


Dolly Parton Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

26/08/2026

Just a reminder of our opening hours over the upcoming bank holiday weekend:

Bank Holiday Opening Hours   read ( words) Mar 4 2026 Bank Holiday information for Hampshire Libraries ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Summer Bank Holiday Opening Hours 2026 Saturday 29 August 2026: Open as normal. Please check our opening hours. Sunday 30 A...

24/08/2026

📢 We still have spaces available on our FREE First Words Together programme, starting on Saturday 12 September at 2.30pm at Fareham Library!

Perfect for parents and guardians who may not be able to join us during the week!

This friendly five-week programme offers practical tips and ideas to help support your little one's speech, language and communication development in the early years.

📱 To find out more and register your interest, simply follow the link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=tdiBPwfuF0yGnB20OQGNm5Z6u58NE2JHjFhDgfIY141UN0VTMUlKUzVKVkpGNEJLV1c1TEJCMjJCTS4u&route=shorturl

22/08/2026

We are so proud of the children of Hampshire! We have had over 14,860 sign up to the Summer Reading Challenge and 2,870 have finished so far! 🤩🎻

Keep reading and finish the challenge by Saturday 12 September.

Pop into your local or complete your reading record online: https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/kids-zone


The Reading Agency