Epsom Library welcomes community with week of activities to celebrate refurbishment

Surrey Libraires is holding a Taster Week at Epsom Library to celebrate the completion of its extensive refurbishment. Running from Monday 16 – Saturday 21 June, the week will offer a variety of activities for the whole community to enjoy. Residents are invited to explore the newly transformed library, now a vibrant and modern Library Hub in the heart of Epsom town centre.

The week will feature a diverse programme of activities designed for all ages and interests, offering a fantastic opportunity for the community to discover the enhanced facilities and services.

The events at Epsom Library will feature face painting, yoga, and author talks alongside the library’s regular weekly activities such as Rhymetime, Storytime, digital support volunteers sessions and craft groups. 

Councillor Denise Turner Stewart, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Customer and Communities, said: “We know that our Library Hubs are in the heart of our thriving and bustling communities and every effort has been made to ensure that this investment delivers the essential services, facilities and event, work, study and socialising spaces that our local residents need and want, creating a lasting legacy to serve our communities, now and for years to come”.

During the Taster Week, Epsom Library will host two inspiring exhibitions: ‘In the Margins’, which aims to empower marginalized disabled artists by sharing their life stories, passions, and places of belonging to foster understanding and inclusion, and the Conquest Art Exhibition, showcasing works from individuals with disabilities or long-term health issues, highlighting how art helps them discover creative energy and build self-confidence.

Activities throughout the week include:

Monday 16 June

• 10:00-4:00pm Digital Skills Support- NHS App advice, drop in.
• 10:30am – 11am: Rhymetime. A fun, interactive and noisy event aimed at babies and toddlers, aged under five, along with their mums, dads and carers. Sessions are free, no booking required.
• 3pm – 4pm: Knit and Natter group. A great way to make new friends, share tips and enjoy some great company. Simply turn up with your knitting, crochet or stitching. Sessions are free, no booking required.
• 3.45-4.15: Craft session – Medieval Flags. Suitable for children aged 4 and above. Suggested donation £1, no booking required.

Tuesday 17 June

• 10:15am – 10.45 am: Storytime. For children aged 4 to 8 years. Sessions are free, no booking required.
• 3.45pm – 4.15 pm: Craft session – Helicopters. Suitable for children aged 4 and above. Suggested donation £1, no booking required.
• 4pm – 5pm: Author Talk. S.J. Bennett will be talking about her international bestselling Her Majesty The Queen Investigates crime series. £6 per ticket. Book via Eventbrite.

Wednesday 18 June

• 10am-12pm Bourne Hall Museum
• 12pm – 2pm: Digital Buddy session. Meet with one of Surrey Libraries Digital Buddies for help using a computer, the internet, your iPad, tablet, iPhone or Android device. Sessions are free, booking required in person at the library helpdesk.
• 2pm – 3pm: Surrey History Centre talk. Join Julian Pooley, Archivist and Manager of Surrey History Centre to hear about how the historic records of the five large hospitals that made up the ‘Epsom Cluster’ were rescued and preserved for future research. Session is free, however booking required. Book via Eventbrite.

• 3pm – 4pm: Exercise Class. Join the team from Rainbow Centre for an invigorating exercise class, suitable for all abilities. Sessions are free, booking required in person at the library helpdesk.
• 3.45pm – 4.15pm: Craft session – Pirate Flags. Suitable for children aged 4 and above. Suggested donation £1, no booking required.

Thursday 19 June

• 10:30am – 11am: Rhymetime. A fun, interactive and noisy event aimed at babies and toddlers, aged under five, along with their mums, dads and carers. Sessions are free, no booking required.
• 3.45pm – 4.15pm: Craft session – Dinosaurs. Suitable for children aged 4 and above. Suggested donation £1, no booking required.
• 6pm – 6.30pm: Performance from the Refugee Network Choir. Sessions are free, booking required in person at the library helpdesk.

Friday 20 June

• 10:00-4:00pm Smoothie Bike, get some exercise whilst powering up the smoothie machine to gain a fruit reward for your efforts.
• 2:00pm – 3:00pm:Yoga. A class for all abilities. Sessions are free, booking required in person at the library helpdesk.
• 4pm – 5pm: Craft session – Butterflies.  Suitable for children aged 4 and above. Suggested donation £1, no booking required.

Saturday 21 June – Family fun day

• 9.30am – 11am: Face painting. Suitable for children aged 4 and above. Suggested donation £1, no booking required.
• 12.30pm – 2pm: Balloon modelling. Suitable for children aged 4 and above. Suggested donation £1, no booking required.
• 2pm – 3pm Author Talk. Fantasy Workshop with Children’s Author Sam Stewart. How a book gets written & how to write your own! Suitable for children aged 8 to 14 years old. Tickets £4 per child. Book via Eventbrite.
• 3.45 – 4.15pm: Craft session – create your own bookmarks to take home. Suitable for children aged 4 and above. Suggested donation £1, no booking required.

Epsom Library now boasts a fully flexible layout with space for events and performances, improved furniture, increased study space, and two flexible use meeting rooms. Additionally, the library will introduce new Super Access technology which enables library members to access the library during extended opening hours which are in addition to the existing staff hours. Book an introduction at Epsom Library.

This refurbishment is part of the first phase of the Surrey Libraries transformation and modernisation programme facilitated by Surrey County Council’s Land and Property, Capital Projects teams. It aims to improve library facilities across the county. The programme focuses on enhancing accessibility, increasing community engagement, and providing state-of-the-art resources to meet the changing needs of residents across Surrey.

For more information on events and activities please visit the Epsom Library web page.

Joining your local library is free. Visit the Surrey Libraries website to sign up.