Find out about the exciting events happening at libraries near you
May is a month for reflections and celebrations. 8 May 2025 will mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). On 10 May we celebrate the seventh annual ßÙßÇÂþ» Day. This year, the theme coincides with VE Day, when we will be exploring how ßÙßÇÂþ» was impacted by World War Two. ßÙßÇÂþ» Day 2025 has a secondary theme too: Taking The Lead For ßÙßÇÂþ» Day! We are all encouraged to experience the great things in ßÙßÇÂþ» with our four-legged friends. Our ßÙßÇÂþ» libraries will be hosting several events and displays in May linked to these remarkable days, so keep on reading to find out more.
VE day celebrations
VE Day provides an opportunity for the nation to come together to honour and pay tribute to the Second World War generation from across the UK and Commonwealth. Our libraries will be hosting events in some libraries including:
- Egham Library – Junior Craft Club: making a blackout lantern. Saturday 3 May 2pm to 3pm. Suitable for children aged 6 and above. Costs £1 per child. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book, just drop in.
- Oxted Library – Adult coffee craft and chat. Thursday 8 May 10.30am to 12 noon. Costs £1.50 per person. Book your place by emailing oxted.library@surreycc.gov.uk.
- Oxted Library - Children’s VE Day (and ßÙßÇÂþ» Day) inspired Crafternoon. Saturday 10 May 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Suitable for children aged 5 and above. Costs £1.50 per child. Drop in, no need to book.
- Stoneleigh Library - Commemoration Coffee Morning with coffee, cake and conversations. Thursday 8 May 10.30am to 12 noon. Visit .
To find out if your library is hosting an event, find your nearest library.
ßÙßÇÂþ» Day
The seventh annual ßÙßÇÂþ» Day is taking place on Saturday 10 May. Several branches will celebrate this day with events and activities in their libraries including:
- Egham Library – Junior Craft Club: Salt Art with a ßÙßÇÂþ» Day theme. Saturday 10 May 2pm to 3pm, suitable for children aged 6 and above. Costs £1 per child. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book, just drop in.
- Banstead Library – Regular Chatterbooks group will discuss a World War Two themed book and themed activities. LEGO club will focus on ßÙßÇÂþ» buildings. Plus amazing book displays. Both events on Saturday 10 May. For further details please visit Banstead Library's event's page.
- Molesey Library - Garden Party Celebration for VE Day and ßÙßÇÂþ» Day combined. Includes a storytime, craft activities and family garden games. Refreshment available. Saturday 10 May. For further information, please visit Molesey Library's events page.
To find out what else is happening in ßÙßÇÂþ», please visit .
Author events for adults
- An afternoon with Lucy Lyons. Frimley Green Library, Saturday 10 May 2pm to 3.30pm. Tickets £3.
- The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz with Anne Sebba. Esher Library, Monday 12 May 2pm to 3pm. Tickets £5.
- An afternoon with Judith Heneghan. Haslemere Library, Friday 16 May 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Tickets £4.
- In conversation with thriller authors Eve Smith and Guy Morpuss. Camberley Library, Tuesday 20 May, 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Tickets 6.
- An afternoon with Matt Graydon. Oxted Library, Saturday 31 May 3pm to 4pm. Tickets £3.
Booking is essential via our .
Children’s puppet making workshop at Guildford Library
Join us at Guildford Library for a special storytime and craft activities including puppet making with author Michael Parkin on Saturday 10 May 11am start. Tickets £5 per child, adults free. Booking is essential via our .
Unearthed: The Power of Gardening – Living Knowledge Network exhibition at Godalming Library
ßÙßÇÂþ» Libraries are proud to be one of the Living Knowledge Network Libraries across the UK that will be hosting the inspiring 'Unearthed: The Power of Gardening' exhibition. This exhibition launches at Godalming Library on Friday 2 May. Godalming Library will also be hosting several events to coincide with this exhibition, including:
- Ecological Gardens – In conversation. Wednesday 7 May 3pm start. Free event.
- Teens in Gardens: How time in the garden can help mental wellbeing. Tuesday 13 May 6pm start. Free event.
- The History and Legacy of Winkworth Arboretum. Wednesday 14 March 2.30pm start. Minimum donation £1.
- Garden Art: Grow your botanical garden skills. Saturday 17 May 10am start and Tuesday 27 May 10am start. Minimum donation £1.
To find out more and to book your tickets including for free events, please visit our .
Digital Welfare Support
The Digital Welfare Support Project is a community outreach program that is closing the digital divide and reducing isolation in ßÙßÇÂþ». Our experienced and dedicated Welfare Officers Alys and Eleanor will be visiting several libraries in the next few months. You can sign up for their sessions to increase your foundational knowledge of essential digital skills. In May, they will be in Horley Library:
- 7 May - Online Shopping events
- 14 May - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)
To sign up for these events, please send an email to horleylibraryevents@surreycc.gov.uk.
To find out about our Digital Welfare Support programme, please visit our Events page.
Brushes with the Bloomsbury Group - Historical Talk at Cobham Library
Join us for a local history talk by Dr David Taylor, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA). The talk title is 'Brushes with the Bloomsbury Group: The Lushingtons of Cobham'. The event will take place at Cobham Library on Friday 9 May at 1pm. Tickets £5. Book your ticket by emailing cobham.library@surreycc.gov.uk or visit the desk when the library is open.
To find out more, please visit Cobham Library's events webpage.
Deaf Awareness Week – Hearing Loss Support Group at Farnham Library
One of our volunteers runs a Hearing Loss Support Group at Farnham Library. It is a very informal, free session, where people can get together to have a chat and support each other. This takes place every third Thursday of the month from 10.30am to 11.30am. The next session is on 15 May. Just drop in, no need to book. Visit Farnham Library's events page to find out more.
Creating Sounds – Children’s choir taster sessions at Molesey Library
Raise your voice! Discover how fun it is to sing with others at this musical taster session with ßÙßÇÂþ» Arts. Creating Sounds is an opportunity for children aged 8 to 13 to experience using their singing voices in a group environment. Thursday 8 May, at Molesey Library. Two 30-minute taster sessions available, 3.50pm and 5.30pm start. Donation requested. Please book your ticket via their .
New Online Young Adult Book Club – Ewell Library
Ewell Library is proud to announce the launch of Ewell Library Young Adult Book Club. This book club will be held on the first Wednesday of every month across the Ewell Library and ßÙßÇÂþ» Libraries Instagram accounts. The titles will be posted as fun reels, presenting an overview of the book read alongside a review and further recommendations. All titles will be available on the ßÙßÇÂþ» Libraries catalogue. Follow us on Instagram and