Bingley Library

19/10/2026

📚 Unleash your imagination at the library! BBC 500 Words is back! 🌟

The UK's biggest children's story-writing competition is officially open for 2026, and we want to help our young library members get involved! The BBC 500 Words contest is open to all children aged 5 to 11, and it's the perfect chance to turn a love of reading into a passion for writing.

How it works:

The Task:

Write a completely original fictional story in 500 words or less.

The Categories:

Ages 5–7 and ages 8–11.

The Rules:

It’s all about the ideas! Spelling, punctuation, and grammar are not penalised.

The Deadline:

A parent, teacher, or guardian must submit the story online before Friday, 6 November 2026 at 9:00 PM.

How your library can help:

Come visit us to find the perfect book for inspiration, grab a quiet space to write, or use our public computers to type up your final draft.

Six national winners will win an invitation to a royal tea party at Buckingham Palace and 500 books for their school library! 👑✨

🔗 Find out more and submit your entry on the official website: bbc.co.uk/500words

17/10/2026

Celebrate Your Love for Reading: Design the Next Official Bradford Libraries Card! 📚

Libraries are spaces where stories come alive, curiosity thrives, and imaginations run wild. To celebrate the vital role libraries, play in our lives, Bradford Libraries is launching an official Library Card Design Competition—and we want your visual stories to guide us.

We are calling on library lovers of all generations to channel their passion for books and quiet spaces into an original artwork. Whether your inspiration comes from a favourite book cover, the peaceful atmosphere of your local branch, or what a library card symbolizes to you, we want to see it.

📋 Entry Requirements & Guidelines

Eligibility: Open to any resident living or attending a school within the Bradford district.
Accepted Formats: Any format is welcome, including traditional pencil sketches, watercolour paintings, custom illustrations.
Dimensions: Your design must be in a horizontal (landscape) orientation to match standard library card dimensions.

Categories:

Children & Teens: Ages 5–16
Adults: Ages 17+

The Reward:

Winners in each category will receive fantastic prizes, and their designs will be adapted into the official library cards used by thousands of readers across the district!


⏳ Submission Deadline:

14 November 2026

How to Enter:

Next time you return a book or pick up your next read, request a design template form from the staff at any local Bradford branch.

📤 How to Submit Your Artwork

Bradford Libraries offers three easy ways to hand in your completed design before the deadline:

Drop It Off In Person: Deliver your completed template directly to a staff member at the counter of any Bradford Council library branch.

Submit Digitally Via Email: Scan your design or take a clear, high-resolution photo and email it to the correct department:

Youth Entries: (Ages 5–16): A parent or guardian must email the entry to [email protected].

Adult Entries: (Ages 17+): Send the final artwork to [email protected].

Send By Post: Mail your entry to Shipley Library, Well Croft, Shipley, BD18 3QH. To prevent damage, please keep your design flat without folding it, and clearly mark the envelope based on your age bracket:

For Ages 5–16: Address to DO Young People.

For Ages 17+: Address to DO Reading and Culture.

08/10/2026

Got a great community project ? Let’s help it thrive! 🚀✨

If you are running or setting up a local group, charity, or grassroots initiative, the paperwork shouldn’t stand in your way. We know you are here to make a real difference in the community.

Next week, the friendly team from Community Action Bradford & District is hosting a completely free pop-up advice session at Bingley Library. Come down for a one-on-one chat to help your group grow.

📍 Bingley Library

📅 Thursday 15th October | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Get help with:

Finding grant opportunities and building your fundraising strategy.
Getting your safeguarding policies and group governance set up correctly.
Recruiting volunteers, organizing team training, and mastering payroll.

Click the link below or scan the QR code to secure your free spot:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-sector-outreach-bingley-library-tickets-1995680988559

07/10/2026

Be part of history tomorrow, Thursday 8 October 2026, and help set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most people reading online in 12 hours.

The record attempt is part of the Take 10 to Read campaign in the National Year of Reading 2026 - and the message is simple: whatever you're into, take 10 to read into it.

Brought to you by the National Literacy Trust and the British Council as part of the 2026 National Year of Reading, this global campaign features four dedicated sessions hosted by world-famous authors and influencers tailored for ages 5–8, 8–12, 12–16, and adults.

To make your mark, simply register on the official National Literacy Trust website https://literacytrust.org.uk/events/take-10-record-attempt/

01/10/2026

Pease note that our Storytime sessions are moving from Saturdays to a brand-new weekday slot.

Starting Monday 5th October, join us every Monday morning from 11:00 am to 11:45 am for wonderful tales, laughter, and learning. It is the perfect way to dive into a brand-new week of stories! 📚✨

Bradford District Libraries

01/10/2026

Come along to the Dungeons & Dragons Kids Club this Thursday 8th October! ⚔️🎲

Bringing dynamic storytelling and dice-rolling to Bingley Library!

It is the perfect place for children ages 11-15 to team up, step into the shoes of legendary heroes, and make fantastic new friends.

No experience, rulebooks, or gear needed— Just show up and let the quest begin! ✨

Seats are limited!

For further information or to secure your spot, please email [email protected].

📍 Bingley Library
⏰ Thursday, 4:00pm – 6:00 pm

24/09/2026

Look what’s finally back on display in the Bradford District! 🏛️🚂

The famous William H. Smith model steam engine collection has officially returned.

These beautifully detailed scale models used to live at the old Bingley Library before spending a quarter of a century tucked away in the archives.

A huge thank you to everyone involved, including Bradford Museums & Galleries, for making this happen.

The display is now open to everyone for free down at Damart Mills from Saturday 26th September- Sunday 4th Ocober 10.30am-3.00pm daily.

It's a wonderful little local treasure.

Bradford District Libraries
Bradford Museums & Galleries

14/09/2026

Wow, what a summer it’s been! ☀️📚

Now that the final pages of the summer reading challenge, Read to the Beat, have been turned, we wanted to take a quiet moment to say a massive thank you to everyone who made this summer so special.

To the kids who took part: we are so incredibly proud of you. Watching you get excited about a new story, hit your targets, and light up when you talked about your favourite characters has been the absolute best part of our summer.

To the parents and carers: thank you for the extra library trips, the bedtime stories, and for being their biggest cheerleaders every step of the way. We know how much love and effort goes into that behind the scenes.

Speaking of behind the scenes, we must give a huge, heartfelt thank you to our library staff, teachers, and volunteers. You don't just check out books—your energy, smiles, and genuine care create a space where children feel welcome, inspired, and excited to learn. You genuinely change lives.

Thank you all for making these past few months so unforgettable and don’t forget to collect your well-deserved medal and certificate ! 🏅 🎓

🗺️ What’s Next? The Adventure Continues!

If your little ones are already asking, "what's next?", we’d love for them to join The Secret Book Quest (ages 5-12). It’s a completely free, year-round challenge to read 50 books. They'll get to collect stickers and unlock a secret code along the way.

Just pop in and chat with any of the staff at the desk next time you’re visiting Bingley Library. We'd love to see them keep that reading spark alive!

07/09/2026

Bingley Library - After School Club 🎒📖

With the new school term well and truly underway, it is a great time to come along to our weekly after-school club at Bingley Library,starting on Tuesday 15th September 2026.

We run every Tuesday from 3:30 pm until 4:30 pm during term time.

It is a warm, pressure-free space for children to unwind after a long day. Whether they want to get stuck into some crafts or activities, explore a new story, or simply just curl up with a good book and catch up with friends, they are more than welcome.

There is no need to reserve a spot in advance—just drop in whenever you are ready after school. We would love to see you there!✨

27/08/2026

Dolly Parton 1946-2026

The world feels a little dimmer without Dolly Parton (1946–2026), but her incredible gesture still resonates loudly through to thousands of families across the Bradford District. Inspired by her own father's struggle with literacy, Dolly made it her personal mission to ensure no child grew up without books.

Since 2012, her Imagination Library has quietly brought the joy of reading to thousands of young children across our community.

Almost half a million free books have been handed out to children across Bradford through a scheme created by legendary music star Dolly Parton who…