Gateshead Libraries

Our MCST group had a visit from @gatesheadlibraries 📚✨ They brought along photos from the good old days and it turned into a brilliant trip down memory lane 😄👀 Lots of laughs, “remember that shop?!” moments, and some really good outfits (and a few questionable ones!) hiding in amongst it all 💭💜 Let’s just say there were a few questionable hairstyles and fashion choices we’re all politely pretending we didn’t take part in… and plenty of “we genuinely thought that looked good at the time!” 😄 Thanks again to Karen and Michael for coming along 😊

As we celebrate Gateshead Central Library's big birthday, we've been delighted to welcome some new members through our doors 👋 Those who've signed up in 2026 have been the first to get their hands on the limited edition library cards we've had designed to celebrate Central Library's 100th year. There's multiple designs to choose from, including one for younger members designed by local illustrator @gemmakoomen 😍 These will be available for new members who sign up at any of our council-run libraries throughout the rest of 2026. If you've been thinking about becoming a member recently, this is your sign ✨

‘Time well Spent’ preview day! Thanks to @gatesheadlibraries team @karolynnehart and everyone for coming to support me and my practice. Lovely to see @hackstonr who travelled from London and @lindascottrobinson from Northumberland. Special thanks to @lostletterfound @cloth.dollycrafts Faye for the beautiful flowers.

Delivered prints and began laying out yesterday in preparation for hanging today @gatesheadlibraries ‘Time Well Spent’ I’m going solo! Difficult to assess the space until you see your work in it . Fabulous space and there is another room upstairs!!! More framing to do this morning ! I ask myself why I choose to work so large? Difficult to frame and transport ! I have no answer ! I do what I do instinctively!!!

As we celebrate 100 years of Gateshead Central Library, we’ve been asking you about your favourite memories of it 🫶 Here’s our latest round up 🥰

Three weeks to go until @printfestulverston printing like crazy here’s ‘Front Room Salon’ multi plate linocut with one more later to go!!! ‘Ursula’s Salon’ etching / aquatint complete and framed! ‘Belgian Chips ‘ well under with, who knows how many more layers to go!!!! Framing dublicates too of these 3 traditional prints for my solo exhibition ‘Time Well Spent’ @gatesheadlibraries The Gallery, Prince Consort Road . Preview 25th April 10.30-12 pop in and say hi! If you are nearby. All welcome. The exhibition runs until 27th June

Meet Tom 👋 Tom is our latest Centenary Champion and one of Gateshead Central Library's newer members. He's been coming to the library regularly for around 3 years now 💪 Tom's introduction to the library started when there wasn't suitable club to explore his passion for coding at school. So, he and his family were on the lookout for something else. They found what they were looking for at the Central Library in Coderdojo and Tom has been a regular ever since. In fact, he's now also become a member of the library's Code Club and Dungeons and Dragons meet ups too 😎 Being part of these clubs has led to lots of new experiences for him. Amongst Tom's favourite memories was winning a prize at the Key Awards in 2025. Alongside his team from Gateshead Central Library 'the Inn-Key-Pers', Tom pitched to a panel of judges in a Dragon's Den-Esque event to get funding for Dungeons and Dragons. The team impressed with a well-structured, detailed pitch, complete with a smart budget and themed presentation. It's no surprise they took first place! 🏆 Summing up his experience, we asked Tom how he'd describe Gateshead Central Library in three words. His answer? Very kind people ❤️

Are you a Local Library Lover? If you are then take a look at this. The collection I co-designed with local people and staff at Gateshead Library has been flying off the shelves. So I wanted to have a throwback Thursday moment to remember the launch day in March where we saw almost 2000 people enjoy all of the activities that the library team planned. At the launch Rachel Ridley from Gateshead Library showed the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Lt. General Robin Brims the collection. He was very impressed to see a collection that celebrated Gateshead Libraries 100th birthday. And as you can see we had customers buying multiple products from the collection which was wonderful to see. Feedback from Gateshead Council is that the stock is flying off the shelves which is very exciting. As a designer this is the aim and co-design and public consultation really help with this. Such a wonderful project with wonderful in one of the best public libraries that will hopefully serve the community for another 100 years!!

Happy birthday Gateshead Central Library 🥳 Yesterday, we marked 100 years of our much-loved space by burying a time capsule with a little help from Caedmon Primary School’s Year 5s. They spent the morning with @christhestoryteller listening to his retelling of a folk tale taken from a 100-year-old book, before sharing their ideas of how stories might be in the future. The class then created a time capsule complete with old photos, maps of the library, and mementos to capture the library as it is today, and messages to their future selves. The box was sealed and will be kept under lock and key in our archive, to be reopened on the library's next big anniversary in 25 years’ time 🕰️ We'd like to say a big thanks to the class and Chris for helping us mark 100 years of Gateshead Central Library in such a special way 🫶

Then vs now ➡ Today, we're officially celebrating 100 years of Gateshead Central Library 🥳 Lots has changed over the past century, but our library has always remained at the heart of the community. We'd like to thank everyone, colleagues and customers, who've made it such a special place to be 💞

Today’s the day - Gateshead Central Library officially turns 100! 🥳 It’s a huge milestone and so we’re taking a look back at some of the big moments it’s been a part of 🫶 👏 When it first welcomed customers in 1926, it was the first time readers could select books for themselves rather than having to request items from a librarian. 👏 The library also introduced the first dedicated children’s section to Gateshead in 1948, and was the first in the North East to have its very own Gramophone Lending Library in 1965. 👏 It later went on to add Caedmon Hall which opened in 1976, which was billed as one of the most progressive cultural centres in the area at the time. 👏 The library has also been at the front of several technological advancements. It facilitated the world’s first online shop in 1984, introduced a wave of public computers in 2000 opening up online access to residents, and in 2020 the MakerPlace - a space for digital craft and design like 3D printing and laser-cutting - opened. The latter even played a role in our pandemic response, with the team producing 7,500 visors for local care homes at the start of the pandemic. One thing is certainly clear - the world may have changed a lot over the past century, but our library has remained a pillar of the community. It’s a true testament to all the people, both colleagues and customers, who’ve made it more than just a building 💞

🌟 Meet Dani - our next Centenary Champion! For over a decade, Dani has been the driving force behind CoderDojo at Gateshead Central Library, inspiring hundreds of young people to dive into the world of coding and tech 💻✨ What started as a simple idea between friends has grown into a thriving club, now welcoming around 25 young people each month. Some have even gone on to build careers in tech or return as mentors! 🚀 In fact, its been such a success that one parent was even inspired to change careers and is now a web developer themselves 🙌 Dani has been central to growing the club, embracing the library’s digital evolution. One of her standout memories? A collaboration with the Newcastle Puppet Festival, where young participants built puppets and showcased them in the city centre! 🎭 When asked to describe Gateshead Central Library in three words, Dani chose: “Modern, community‑led, digital‑era.” As we mark 100 years of Gateshead Central Library, we're delighted to be sharing stories of those like Dani who've made it more than just a building 💙