A better tomorrow: shaking the shelves with exciting events at Devon's libraries this winter
From an Over-60s Disco and a jazz evening, to LEGO sessions and a breakfast club, Devon libraries are the place to be for fun and friends this winter.
A new season of events has been unveiled by Libraries Unlimited, the charity commissioned to run the libraries in Devon and Torbay. The programme will run from December 2025 until March 2026 with the emphasis on creativity and community.
Under the theme of ‘A Better Tomorrow’, the events range from workshops to concerts, exhibitions to discos, all within the library buildings which are key hubs in Devon communities.
It’s the third year of a programme which had been rolled out with the help of a £720,369 grant to Libraries Unlimited from Arts Council England in 2022, given to boost music, film, workshops, and high-quality community events between 2023 and 2026.
Library Lates return to Exeter on 5th December and Barnstaple on 20th March for over-18s. Enjoy an evening of shaking the shelves with live music, a silent disco, DJs, and a bar, alongside craft workshops and Christmas decoration-making.
The Over 60s Disco is also back, this time for a special Valentines edition at Exeter Library on 13th February. There will be boogieing amongst the books on an unforgettable night of rock, pop, disco and Northern Soul from the 1960s to the present day.
13th December brings a Christmas night of jazz classics, golden age groovers and cool carols from the Exeter Jazz Orchestra. Adult LEGO fans can meet after hours on the last Wednesday of the month, get silly, socialise and play around with some little colourful bricks.
In January, Barnstaple Library hosts three workshops on Devon folk stories and the rich heritage of folklore, and a chance to create your own. And exhibitions of the work of children’s author and illustrators Claire Baker and Joseph Witchall run from 12thJanuary to the end of March. There’s a chance to weave your own mushroom out of willow on 7th February, and, for 14 to 18-year-olds, a six-week bi-weekly art therapy group running from November to February.
For those who just want a great start to the day, there’s a Breakfast Club with overnight oats and hot drinks on 20th February. You can kick off your day with a dance at the silent disco or get creative with an artist-led craft activity.
Celebrate the Spring Equinox on 20th March at 1pm with a plant seed library and decorating with greenery, hosted by The Gardeners Collective.
Two previous library events seasons – ‘Pride of Place’ and ‘Get Creating!’ have so far reached thousands of people with workshops, performances, art, and music events.
‘A Better Tomorrow’ offers an opportunity to consider the planet and our place on it, as well as encouraging local micro-actions, while enjoying creative fun and making new friendships.
The sessions run at three key libraries – Barnstaple, Exeter, and Paignton – as well as smaller libraries around Devon and Torbay.
Rae Hoole, Creative Communities Producer from Libraries Unlimited, said: “We’ve reached a fantastic number of people now across the past three years of these events. Our aim was truly to offer something that’s going to interest everyone, and this latest season is no exception. The Over 60s disco returns having been a massive hit when we last ran it, and there are many other activities that you simply can’t find anywhere else. Everything is free or low cost, and our staff are as excited about it as our communities!”
To find the full list of what’s on visit What's On - Libraries Unlimited
