Hertfordshire Libraries is 100

Hertfordshire Libraries Service is 100!

We're excited to celebrate 100 years of Hertfordshire Libraries this year and everyone in Hertfordshire is invited to join us!

28 February 2025 marks 100 years since a countywide library service opened.

Whether you're a regular library visitor, a user of our many online resources, or someone who hasn’t thought about a library in a long time, join in the celebrations and discover more about what our modern library service has to offer.

Celebrations launch on Friday 28 February!

The evening event, at Welwyn Garden City Library, will include speeches, video screenings, live music, an interactive session with a Hertfordshire artist, and the unveiling of an exhibition exploring the history of Hertfordshire libraries.

Get tickets to the launch event

Browse all Libraries Centenary events

Welwyn Garden City Library

Author events

An evening with Robin Ince

Thurs 6 March 2025, 7 – 8.30pm

Hitchin Library

Join us for an evening with award-winning comedian, author, broadcaster and populariser of scientific ideas, Robin Ince.

Robin Ince – read more and book

In conversation with AK Blakemore

Thurs 20 March 2025, 7 – 8.30pm

Bishop’s Stortford Library

Join award-winning poet and author, AK Blakemore, whose novels, The Manningtree Witches and The Glutton, have met with high praise and countless plaudits.

AK Blakemore – read more and book

In Conversation with John Connolly

Thurs 8 May 2025, 7 – 8.30pm

St Albans Library

John Connolly’s Charlie Parker novels have been thrilling readers since 1999 and we are honoured to be welcoming John on publication day of the latest title in his series, Children of Eve.

John Connolly – read more and book

See all Centenary events

100 day poetry festival

13 March – 21 June 2025

The festival celebrates libraries, creativity and reading for pleasure.

Participate in the ‘100 word poem challenge’ or join an interactive poetry workshop in a local library.

Acclaimed poets, Simon Mole, Arji Manuelpillai and Desree will launch the festival to participating schools with 2 ‘Giant Online Poetry Lessons’ on Thursday 13 March 2025.

Open mic night

Join our first open mic night at Letchworth Library, Tues 4 March, 7–9pm.

Open mic night – see more and book

Events for children

There are lots of different centenary events specially for children to celebrate, including:

See all children's events

Herts Big Read

Celebrating books and reading for pleasure will be a highlight of our centenary year. Each month our libraries will be sharing 10 titles from which you can choose your favourite and cast your vote.

The first set of 10 will be launching in libraries and on this page on 28 February.

Reminisce with us

We know how much people value looking back at the past and sharing memories. So we're excited to share a 'Through the Decades' video and an exciting exhibition charting the changes to our library service over 100 years, as well as the threads that have remained the same.

We'll share the video from 1 March. The exhibition will tour from March to the end of the year, with host locations for March to July now available.

Have your say…

We always want to hear what library users and Hertfordshire residents have to say about their library service, and especially so during our centenary year.

We'll be filming and interviewing library visitors at different libraries throughout the year. Our first date will be Saturday 1 February 2025, 10am – 1pm at Letchworth Library, Broadway, SG6 3PF. More filming dates to follow.

Alternatively, please do share your thoughts:

Our thanks to Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grant funding for enabling us to host a yearlong Centenary celebration of reading and creativity in Hertfordshire.