Library open call exhibition

Our library open call received submissions from artists of a wide range of ages and backgrounds, who have a connection, either past or present, to Lancaster University Library. The exhibition contributes to our celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Lancaster University and explores the theme 'How does the library inspire you?'.

Jukebox: The teenage revolution

Three creative installations reveal how the distinctive British jukebox was created on the seaside coast of Lytham, Blackpool and Morecambe and how this led to the boom in youth culture during the 1950s. This community project with partners Mirador Arts has been funded by the Heritage lottery fund and Arts Council.

Refugee, asylum and migration stories

Global Link Development Education Centre will be exhibiting audio-visual material (films, displays, information and artwork) relating to the three aspects of their work: global education and sustainability; community heritage and their support for refugees and asylum seekers in the Lancaster District.

Archives Research Centre

Visit the Archives Research Centre to view materials from our Special Collections and discover more about the history of the library. If you are a past or current member of the University we would love to capture your library memories.

Kortext stand

Meet a member of the team from Kortext, our festival sponsors, and find out how Kortext are combining university and library content in AI-powered learning experiences for students.

Do you think you and your team have what it takes to be the fastest library explorers? Grab three friends or colleagues and race against the clock to conquer eight challenging checkpoints scattered throughout the library! Be the fastest to cross the finish line at Alexander Square and claim the champion title. Your team of four will need quick thinking and teamwork to complete timed tasks at each checkpoint. With a map and passport in hand, choose your own route through the library, but remember, time is ticking! Who will be crowned the ultimate library champions?

Davy notebooks (14:00-14:30)

Tim Leonard shares details of library involvement in the Davy notebooks project, an AHRC funded project led by Professor Sharon Ruston. The Davy Notebooks Project (2019-24), with the help of over 3,800 volunteer transcribers, transcribed Sir Humphry Davy's (1778-1829) entire notebook collection on Zooniverse, the world's largest and most popular platform for people-powered research.

Earth Blox: A Window on the World from Space (14:30-15:00)

Duncan Whyatt, Professor of Geographical Information Science in Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) has been using Earth Blox, a resource provided by the library. His presentation will demonstrate how Earth Blox can be used to gain insights from historic and contemporary satellite imagery for a range of application areas around the world, from the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay in Lancashire to the rapid urbanisation of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and the ongoing deforestation in Cambodia.

Jukebox: a teenage revolution (15:00-15:30)

George Harris from arts and heritage charity Mirador Arts, and Phil Cheeseman from the Library share the story of the British Jukebox and a partnership project that has uncovered the history of its origins in the North-West of England.

Stories by the tree with the Pre-school

We start the library festival, joined by children from the Pre-school, for some stories next to our library tree, Norma. Bring a cuppa and listen to a story before you join the Race across the Library, participate in an activity or explore our exhibitions and installations.

Chair yoga

Take a deep breath and relax! Join Dr Ola Grude for a 20 minute chair yoga session. The yoga sessions are suitable for all and will run in the Supported Learning space on B floor, at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00 on Friday. No booking required, just turn up at your preferred time. Sessions are limited to 12 people.

Colouring wall and wellbeing showcase

Visit our Feel Good Hub, take a few minutes to contribute to our colouring wall, and learn about the range of wellbeing activities that take place in the library.

AL-Majles coffee and date tasting experience

As part of the migrating Bedouin heritage, an AL-Majles (Majlis, Majlees) is a reception room used by guests in traditional Arab households. AL-Majles is a public area where people congregate to talk about local issues, exchange information and build social ties, according to UNESCO.

Join Afrah Babkair, who will lead you through a participative art activity, where you taste Saudi coffee and dates, and then represent the experience of tasting through colour on fabric, contributing to a collbaborative piece that will form part of the Library Open Call exhibition.

The AL-Majles coffee and date tasting experience is suitable for all and will run in the Supported Learning space on B floor, at 11:30, 12:30 and 13:30 on Friday and Saturday. Sessions will last around 30 minutes. No booking required, just turn up at your preferred time. Sessions are limited to 10 people.

Innovation Hub, the Art of the Possible!

Explore the art of the possible, through virtual reality and augmented reality, with members of the IT Partnering and Innovation team.

Lancs Voices display

Malarking about? Feeling maithered? What are snigs and clod-hoppers? Find out more about the wonderful world of Lancashire dialect and the work being carried out as part of the @LancsVoices PhD project.

The Lancs Voices PhD project explores the impact of large social changes on local dialect and speech. The research is drawing on archival and contemporary sources to study, promote, and curate the rich intangible heritage of Lancaster. (Saturday only)

Open call exhibition launch and preview event

You are warmly invited to the launch and preview for our Library Open Call exhibition, on Friday 13th September 6-8pm. Speeches and prize giving will take place at 6.30pm

AisoNic

AisoNic plays the guitar and writes his songs inspired by his personal strife and growth. He also enjoys playing covers occasionally. Aison Clark is a recent Social Work graduate and works in the university Sports Centre. He has regularly performed in events organised by university societies and has also acted in films by the film students of the university.

Ruth Eliza and Hugh Tuffen

Ruth Eliza is a Lancaster-based clawhammer banjo singer-songwriter who draws on old time American Appalachian music and contemporary old time/bluegrass/Americana. She plays with the Blue Lass bluegrass band and her new album One Night Stringband Vol. 1 with Old Spot and Jeri Foreman is out now. Hugh Tuffen is a Lancaster-based folk cellist who plays with bands including The Balkanics and works at the uni as a volcanologist in his spare time.

Lydia Pearson

Lydia is an English Literature and Creative Writing student at Lancaster University with a background in poetry. Their work has appeared in numerous publications, including Masque and Spectacle, Literary Yard, CafeLit, Scarlet Dragonfly Journal, Quail Bell Magazine, Ardent Lies, which is a student-run journal by Lancaster University’s Writer’s Society, SCAN, ‘Unfiltered Thoughts’ section of ‘Why Not’, in Because Mental Health’s Magazine and Queer Yoga North's 'Freedom' Booklet. In addition to their writing, Lydia is an active member of the literary community. They are editor for Ardent Lies and President of the LU Living Poet's Society. Lydia is also involved in social media advocacy for mental health, writing posts for Mental Health Notebook and Because Mental Health and contribute regularly to Words with Weight.

Ines Garcia

We are Cavalinho, a silly little Bossa Nova group made up of Adam and Inês. We started playing together because we saw the call-out for performers, and thought it would be fun. We are also friends. Hope you enjoy!