How To Publish an ebook
Award winning local author, Michele McGrath, specialises in self-publishing ebooks. Michele will be visiting The Harvey Briggs Onchan Library on THURS 21st APR at 7 p.m.
to show how to publish an ebook, correct content and find out whether your book is selling.
Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. Please contact the library to reserve places.
THE LIBRARY LION
Admission is free, but places need to be reserved from The Harvey Briggs Onchan Library.
Events 2015
MEET JETMALEW AND FRIENDS!
Book signing, storytelling and children's activities with local author and illustrator Vicki Orwin at the Harvey Briggs Onchan Library on Sat 10th Oct. This is going to be a lot of fun - drop in from 10.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.
QUICHE MAKING COMPETITION!
Please give us a quiche for World Book Night! Quiche and a cuppa served after judging, and Agatha Raisin books to give. Kind
donations to GRAIH homeless charity welcome. Please contact Onchan Library for
more information.
WORLD BOOK NIGHT
Don't miss World Book Night at Onchan Library - stunning photography from The Isle of Man
Astronomy Society, Mars Missions in fact and fiction, plus copies of Andy
Weir's Martian to give away to stargazers!
Book Signing
One of our book group members, Elizabeth Adams, has written a book called 'Flowing Stream of Life' which is available from Amazon for £8.95. If you would like to obtain a copy, or have a book signed, then come along to Onchan Library on Saturday 28th March from 2 - 4 p.m. All welcome and some homemade goodies for refreshments. We look
forward to seeing you there!
Bookmark Competition
Make us a bookmark inspired by a book that has meant the world to you! Any media, but must be all your own work and measure 20 x 5 cm. Open to all ages.
Events 2014
Book Group Vintage Murder Mystery Night
Thurs 11th December at 6 p.m.
Our thanks to everyone for getting into the spirit of the occasion, and for all the lovely goodies for our Christmas feast.
Merry Christmas, and happy reading and meetings in the New Year!
70 Years of Onchan Library Celebrations 2nd - 13th December 2014
We were pleased to see some of our Book Group members at 'The Manx Jazz Quartet's free performance at the library to celebrate 70 years of great reading. It was wonderful to hear that Freda joined Onchan Library when she was 5 years old, and has been a member of the library for most of its existence!
There are more photos on Onchan Library's web site and new facebook page.
Manx Litfest Wed 24th - Sun 28th September 2014
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| Crime writer Mark Billingham will be joining Manx Litfest's Crime Night |
Once again, the event has attracted best selling authors and renowned poets to The Isle of Man from from all over Britain. Local talent is showcased as well.
Illustrator /writer Sarah McIntyre, who has created the artwork for this year's 'Mythical Maze' Summer Reading Challenge produced by The Reading Agency will also be appearing.
Keep up to date with the latest news on their website http://manxlitfest.com and their facebook page, and Twitter.
Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge 2014
The Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge produced by The Reading Agency is being supported in Onchan Library by Skandia. It's going to be a magical summer of reading, fun and things to do, whatever the weather. Take a look at the library website to find out more. Free for children to take part.
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| Manx Cats made by Onchan Guides for The Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge at Onchan Library |
World Book Night 2014
Display of Paintings by Richard Cowley
Manx born Artist & Writer
Admission free - all welcome
Making St Brigid's Crosses with John Dog Callister
St Brigid's Day - Sat 1st February @ 2 pm
At Onchan Library
Find out more about the traditional crafts on St Brigid’s Day, Saturday 1st Feb, when John Dog Callister will be showing us how to make St Brigid’s Crosses. Please contact Onchan Library to book places. If you can’t wait until then, catch one of his excellent classes in Kirk Michael – full details on the new web site www.willowman.im
The Manx Night Sky 2014 with Howard Parkin FRAS
Thurs 16th January @ 7 pm
Onchan Library
Howard Parkin said recently on the BBC News website: "The beauty of the island is that it has very little light pollution. There are no motorways or large built up areas, so as a consequence you only have to drive a little way to find a dark sky site and enjoy the splendour of the night sky."
This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about what will be visible in The Manx Night Sky this coming year. Howard Parkin of Astromanx is a leading local astronomer, and Fellow of The Royal Astronomical Society. Admission is free, but space is limited, so please contact Onchan Library to reserve places. Refreshments will be served.
Events 2013
Sat 14th December @ 2 pm
Onchan Library (Now fully booked)
We have a few places left for this fun crafting session for all ages. Admission is free, but spaces are limited, so please reserve tickets from Onchan Library. Seasonal refreshments served.
A selection of Aileen's work will be on display in the library this Christmas. You may have seen one of Aileen's hedgehogs here already - he's been quite a talking point. Here's a photo from her facebook page:
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| Aileen's Homemade Allsorts
Christmas Salt Dough with Alison Foster
More about our lovely craft session on the Onchan Library Web Site
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Christmas Paper Quilling with Doreen Gardner
A very cute Snowman made by Doreen during a very enjoyable evening of crafting. Find out more on The Onchan Library Web Site
Remembrance Day
One World Display
With beautiful art work 'Sweet Chestnut' and 'Rainforest' kindly loaned by local artist Pat Kelly. The work has been created from local fleece and natural dyes. Pat grows many of the plants herself to make the subtle colours in the dyes.
Wood, Words & Water
National Poetry Day display featuring 'The Poet-Tree' from award winning artist Karl Garrett and a display of the works of Seamus Heaney.
Illustrated Talk by Author R W Kay
Henry Bloom Noble Library, Douglas
Mon 20th May @ 7.30 pm
Onchan born author Bob Kermeen, writes under the name of R W Kay. He taught at Ramsey Grammar School for two years before joining the RAF where he successfully built a computerised war game for training officers, which was subsequently sold to the Iraq Air force in 1978. This forms the basis for his first novel
’A Nastia Game’ featuring a Manxman as Squadron Leader James Douglas. 
Both of Bob's books are available from Onchan Library. Please contact The Henry Bloom Noble Library to book places for Bob Kermeen's Illustrated talk
Manx Litfest 2013
Thurs 26th - Sunday 29th September 2013
Keep the dates free for this year's Manx Litfest, and don't miss the chance to get together with top writers and book lovers - right here on the Isle of Man. Litfest got off to a cracking start in 2012, and with Andrew Taylor already announced for this year's line-up, there will be an exciting programme of events to look forward to. Keep up to date with all the news at Manx Litfest and sign up for their newsletter.
Manx Litfest Reading Club
Join the Manx Litfest Reading Club and explore some of the books and writers that will be featured in September, and share your views with other readers. The first writer is Andrew Taylor - find out more from the Manx Litfest Blog
Events 2012
Chris Caine as 'Gandalf' reads from The Hobbit
It's a big year for The Hobbit, which was published 75 years ago. We're all reading (or re-reading) this enduring classic ahead of the film release in December.
We're all looking forward to Chris Caine joining us at our next meeting (in the guise of Gandalf) to perform a reading from The Hobbit.
This has become something of a tradition, and Chris has appeared in roles as varied as Roald Dahl, Charles Dickens and Hagrid at past events.The library's Christmas decorations this year are going to be Hobbit themed to add to the atmosphere.
This has become something of a tradition, and Chris has appeared in roles as varied as Roald Dahl, Charles Dickens and Hagrid at past events.The library's Christmas decorations this year are going to be Hobbit themed to add to the atmosphere.
We'll hold our usual meeting first, with the reading from The Hobbit starting at 6.30 pm. There will be seasonal refreshments and all are welcome, but as space is limited, please contact Onchan Library to reserve places.
The Torchlight Procession will be passing the library after the reading, so please feel free to join in, or why not go along to Onchan Community Centre later for the festivities?
Manx Litfest Tickets
The first tickets are now on sale for Manx Litfest with four fabulous days of events planned. Ulla Corkill is talking about Sir Hall Caine at Greeba Castle on Thursday 27th Sept, followed by a Book Fanatics
Quiz Night with Jasper Fforde at the Villa @ 8.15 pm. There's An Evening With Martin Bell at the Villa on Friday 28th Sept, and The Hobbit: 75 Years Young with Colin Duriez at The Manx Museum. Anne Cleeves, Chris Ewan, and R J Ellory will all be at the Villa on Sat 29th Sept, and Ben Haggarty will be performing at the Erin Arts Centre. Ben Haggarty will be at the Villa for a children's event on the final day Sunday 30th Sept, with Poetry for Adults scheduled in the evening.
Find out more and keep up to with what's happening here: Manx Litfest
Thurs 5th April
Manx Litfest Reading Club
John Quirk, Festival Director of Manx Litfest
is visiting Onchan Book Group to tell us more about this exciting event. We're joining in The Manx Litfest Reading Club starting in April with a book of your own choice by Jasper Fforde. Jasper Fforde is one of a brilliant line up of LitFest authors for September.
Thurs 23 April
7 - 8 p.m.
23 April
World Book Night
Onchan Library have been chosen to be Book Givers for World Book Night! The book we're giving away is a favourite with everyone here - Bill Bryson 'Notes from a Small Island'. We're featuring travel themed books as part of our plans for World Book Night, more news next week.
Events 2011
Thurs 23 April
7 - 8 p.m.
William Kennish - Manninagh Dooie
Bob Stimpson will be visiting Onchan Library on World Book Night to tell us more about the unassuming Manxman, William Kennish. William Kennish joined the Navy and trained to be a ship's carpenter, which was more along the lines of Engineer in those days. He came up with inventive ideas ahead of his time, and the principles are still relevant today. After emigrating to New York, his explorations lead to establishing the route of the Panama Canal, and his son supervised the building of the plinth for The Statue of Liberty. Bob will be bringing letters, plans and articles never seen in public on the Island before, and it promises to be a fascinating evening. Please contact Onchan Library Tel 621228 to book places.23 April
World Book Night Onchan Library have been chosen to be Book Givers for World Book Night! The book we're giving away is a favourite with everyone here - Bill Bryson 'Notes from a Small Island'. We're featuring travel themed books as part of our plans for World Book Night, more news next week.
Events 2011
Tues 18th Jan @ 7 p.m.
Cookies with Chris
Crime writer, Chris Ewan, visiting Onchan Library to talk about the highly acclaimed 'Good Thief Guides'. (Fully Booked)Thurs 3rd Mar @ 4 p.m.
World Book Day
Storyteller, Avril Dixon, performs Tales from the Jungle Book at Onchan Library. (Fully Booked)
Tues 26th April @ 7 p.m.
Tea with Trevor
The 'dangerously interesting' Trevor Norton talks about his latest book - 'Smoking Ears and Screaming Teeth' Onchan Library @ 7 p.m. Admission free, but ticket only. Please contact Onchan Library to book places.
Thurs 13th October @ 6 p.m.
Button Jewellery with Liz Hundleby
Onchan Library Craft & Chat. Bring your own buttons, or sit back and enjoy the demonstration. Display of craft books to browse through and borrow. Admission free, but places must be reserved. Please contact Onchan Library