Event booking now available online
You can now browse our events calendar and book your place for our events online via our library catalogue. Membership is not required, all you need is a contact email address or phone number to secure your place.
‘City Of The Living, City Of The Dead’ – Holocaust Memorial Day Exhibition
Monday 13 January – Saturday 15 February at Central Library
A photography project by Robert Wilczyński that combines archival images of people and places in the Warsaw Ghetto (from the Warsaw Ghetto Museum collection) with photographs of Warsaw today – in multiple exposure in camera technique, the artist brings back and visualises a dramatic period in the city’s history.
Due to the annihilation of almost all of Warsaw’s Jewish community during World War II and the destruction of its material and cultural heritage, the images of the ghetto and those confined there appear in the photographs as ephemeral traces. They permeate the fabric of the contemporary city like memories rooted in a bygone age, demanding that their story be remembered. The photographs are accompanied by selected quotations from primary sources, including journals and diaries documenting daily life, suffering and death in the ghetto in 1940-1942.
Holocaust Memorial Day Talk with Chava Nissimov
Monday 27 January, 6pm at Central Library
To coincide with this year’s exhibition, social activist, writer, and Holocaust survivor Chava Nissimov will speak on her experiences of growing up in, and escaping from, the Warsaw Ghetto.
She is an award-winning writer, both poetry and prose, and created works referring to her personal experiences during the war and the period after its end, passing on knowledge about the Holocaust and examples of Polish help to Jews during the German occupation.
Event supported by Polish Association of Aberdeen and the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh.
'Pittodrie - The History' Book Launch
Monday 20 January, 6pm at Central Library
Join us and AFC Heritage Trust at Central Library for the book launch of Pittodrie - The History.
"Pittodrie has been home of the current Aberdeen FC since the club’s inception in 1903. This book is the definitive history of the grand old stadium, with tales of previous grounds used in the City of Aberdeen, leading to the opening of the grandest footballing venue in the north of Scotland in 1899."
Chris Gavin has extensively researched the development of the stadium, as well as its part in the cherished history of the club and the hearts of Dons fans. Including rarely seen photos from Aberdeen FC’s past, Pittodrie – The History is an opportunity to wallow in red-tinted nostalgia, along with consideration of what might come of the stadium in future years.
Mike Gibb on the Songs of North East Scotland
Wednesday 22 January, 6pm at Central Library
Many of the traditional songs featured in Mike Gibb's new book may be familiar to readers but perhaps not the stories that inspired them.
Join the local author for a talk about his book that reveals the history of well-loved songs from the region, including The Bonnie Lass of Fyvie, A Gordon of Me and The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen.
Hamish Henderson, Robert Burns, and Music by Prof. Fred Freeman
Wednesday 29 January, 6pm at Central Library
An exploration of two great sangsters - Hamish Henderson and Robert Burns, both of whom redefined Scottish culture through their song-writing – through a multimedia talk by Professor Fred Freeman of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
‘Writing for children’ workshop with award-winning author Maisie Chan
Saturday 1 February, 2pm at Airyhall Library
This two-hour workshop, presented by award-winning author Maisie Chan, will give you a great grounding in the basics of writing for children.
The session will cover everything from choosing your readership and concept to developing plot and characterisation, with time for questions.
Participants will also get the chance to join a writing group after the workshop, offering further support and an all-important writing community.
This workshop, organised by All Stories, has been created to provide opportunities to talented writers from underrepresented backgrounds. This is defined as those who identify as a person of colour, LGBTQ+, disabled, neurodiverse, working class or socio-economically disadvantaged.
A Man of Resolve: Richard Henry Brunton, Civil Engineer
Wednesday 5 February, 6pm at Central Library
Join Dr Geoff Goolnik to hear about his new biography of Muchalls-born 19th century civil engineer, Richard Henry Brunton. This illustrated talk will detail Brunton’s early involvement in railway construction, his time as chief engineer to the Japanese government, including the building of 26 lighthouses along the nation’s rugged coast, plus his involvement in town planning, theatre architecture and working-class education. Brunton was a talented civil engineer and proud representative of his profession in a rapidly changing world.
Memories Scotland Sessions
Reminiscence sessions open to older people and those of all ages affected by dementia, loneliness, social isolation, mental health or other conditions.
Sessions supported by Memories Scotland and the Scottish Library and Information Council.
Intellectual Property Advice Clinic Service: Protect Your Ideas - Virtual 1:1 Advice Clinic
Wednesday 15 January, Appointments available 2.50pm - 6.40pm.
Facilitated by Aberdeen Patlib Centre @ Aberdeen City Libraries. each confidential 1:1 virtual video or telephone consultation with a CIPA (Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys) registered attorney is completely free of charge & lasts approximately 30 minutes.
To book a Virtual Intellectual Property Advice consultation, please click on the button below to complete your request. Bookings can also be made by telephoning 01224 070707. Following your booking, a member of the Aberdeen Patlib team will be in touch via email with a request for further information. Please note that your advice clinic booking is not confirmed until we receive this information from you.
Lend and Mend Hub Activities
As part of a project with The Scottish Library & Information Council, Central Library has recently launched its ‘Lend and Mend Hub’, located in the Media Centre.
The hub features six sewing machines and an overlocker that will help the local community to repair, reuse, and upcycle everyday items, with free access for everyone to keep items in use for longer, rather than them being thrown away.
The team from Repair What You Wear Aberdeen are hosting a series of events within the Hub. For more information on these sessions, visit the Lend and Mend webpage.