Celebrating a century: Library unveils events programme to mark 100th year
Next year, Gateshead Central Library hits a huge milestone as it turns 100. To mark the much-loved landmark's centenary on Tuesday 31 March 2026, Gateshead Libraries will be hosting a festival of celebrations over the next 12 months across their venues.
Launching the vibrant programme on Monday 20 October, Gateshead Libraries welcomed classes from Brighton Avenue and Carr Hill primary schools to the Central Library for a workshop with a difference. With talented illustrator Liz Million, pupils created eye-popping drawings depicting the characters who might've visited the library when it first opened a century ago.
Following this and made possible with funding from North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, residents can become part of the library's history by getting involved in a huge range of centenary-themed activities from author events to crafts, history talks and more.
A particular highlight of the year-long events series will be the show-stopping Centenary Celebration Day on Saturday 7 March hosted in partnership with the Queens' Reading Room and with bestselling author Peter James on the bill.
March will also see the installation of a new exhibition bringing together 100 items from across the landmark's 100-year history. Thanks to a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, residents will be able to browse historic images, films, posters, news cuttings and more from milestones in the library's past.
Championing the centenary celebrations, Councillor Angela Douglas, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism, said:
"In the last century, many things about Gateshead Central Library have changed. It now offers an almost unrecognisable range of services in contrast to its early days as a place solely to borrow books. But throughout its days, there is one thing that has always been the same - it's a home away from home for many of our residents.
"We want to use the library's 100th birthday to share the magic of libraries with even more people. There has never been a better time to discover more at your local library, and we hope residents will get to experience that for themselves through these celebrations."
To learn more about the centenary and events programme, visit our centenary celebration webpages.
Next year, Gateshead Central Library hits a huge milestone as it turns 100. To mark the much-loved landmark's centenary on Tuesday 31 March 2026, Gateshead Libraries will be hosting a festival of celebrations over the next 12 months across their venues.
Launching the vibrant programme on Monday 20 October, Gateshead Libraries welcomed classes from Brighton Avenue and Carr Hill primary schools to the Central Library for a workshop with a difference. With talented illustrator Liz Million, pupils created eye-popping drawings depicting the characters who might've visited the library when it first opened a century ago.
Following this and made possible with funding from North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, residents can become part of the library's history by getting involved in a huge range of centenary-themed activities from author events to crafts, history talks and more.
A particular highlight of the year-long events series will be the show-stopping Centenary Celebration Day on Saturday 7 March hosted in partnership with the Queens' Reading Room and with bestselling author Peter James on the bill.
March will also see the installation of a new exhibition bringing together 100 items from across the landmark's 100-year history. Thanks to a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, residents will be able to browse historic images, films, posters, news cuttings and more from milestones in the library's past.
Championing the centenary celebrations, Councillor Angela Douglas, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism, said:
"In the last century, many things about Gateshead Central Library have changed. It now offers an almost unrecognisable range of services in contrast to its early days as a place solely to borrow books. But throughout its days, there is one thing that has always been the same - it's a home away from home for many of our residents.
"We want to use the library's 100th birthday to share the magic of libraries with even more people. There has never been a better time to discover more at your local library, and we hope residents will get to experience that for themselves through these celebrations."
To learn more about the centenary and events programme, visit our centenary celebration webpages.
