Reflections on Central Library’s 90th Birthday Celebration: Ashley Thorpe
July 29, 2024
On Wednesday 17 July, residents and visitors celebrated Manchester Central Library’s official 90th birthday in a special commemoration event at the city’s largest and the most visited library in the UK. Officials and life-long library goers gathered to remember its importance as a safe space for generations seeking community learning, access to reading, and education on their doorsteps 90 years after its grand opening.
Audience members were treated to a vibrant performance by local Chinese dancers and singers from Bowen Education followed by a traditional display of Mexican dance from Allegri Dance, and a performance from Afrocats. Young violinists and celloists also had a chance to entertain the crowds in celebration of the library’s dedicated work with diverse communities. An emotional look back through the film archives of the Manchester Central Library first being opened was contrasted with the recent fun-filled events for a new generation of library lovers, including the Blue Peter Book Club Live. A special 90th birthday cake and treats were given out to mark the historic day.
Amongst the heartfelt speeches, Manchester Libraries Trust representative and author, Ashley Thorpe (main image), talked passionately about his involvement with the charity that supports the educational, cultural and archival work of Manchester Libraries. Ashley shared these reflections on the day with us:
“It was a massive honour to represent Manchester Libraries Trust at the event, and to be able to celebrate with so many people who’d worked at Central Library through the decades. I spoke with visitors who’d worked there before I was even born! And to be among people who’d been alive for the opening in 1934 was pretty special.”
“The highlight was being able to share with them all of the great fundraising work that the Trust has done since its re-opening, the cultural offerings to our communities, and to shape the library into the welcoming and versatile space it is today. Central Library is my favourite place in the city centre, so being an Associate Trustee and contributing to make sure that the level of community focus we have now is kept up and elevated is a privilege and a priority.”
Ashley recently published his fantastic first book for children, The Boy to Beat the Gods, which is now in 10 of our libraries. Find out more about the book, where it can be borrowed from or reserved online here
You can also purchase the book via: Amazon; Bookshop; and Waterstones
If you would like to support Manchester Libraries Trust’s ongoing work with educational and cultural activities in Manchester Libraries venues, and making archives more accessible to the public, you can make a donation here.
If you would like to discuss ways that you or your company could support the Trust, please email us at manchesterlibrarytrust@gmail.com
Manchester Libraries Trust Associate Trustee, Ashley Thorpe, is a Manchester-based author who works as an editor at Storymix, where he helps other writers to create epic children’s stories. His greatest wish is to bring diverse characters to life that he would have loved to have seen, but sorely missed, as a young reader. The Boy to Beat the Gods is his first book.