Withington library is 80 years old at the end of May and a week-long series of events is being planned to celebrate.
The library -created partly from money donated by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie - was purpose built and designed by architect Henry Price, and opened its doors on May 30, 1927.
Celebrations begin on Saturday May 26, noon to 2pm, with musician Aidan Smith.
There's a children's crafts event on Tuesday, May 29, 1.30pm-2.30pm.
That evening between 7pm-9pm, there will be poems and songs of peace, protest, justice and love from popular performers Claire Mooney and Dave Puller.
On the anniversary date itself - Wednesday, May 30, 10am-noon - there's an open invitation to library users to go along for coffee and birthday cake.
That evening Barbara Lovegrove gives a talk on A Child's View of the War between 7pm-9pm.
The Bug Man will be the main feature on Thursday, May 31, 1.30pm-2.30pm and 2.45-3.45pm. There won't be bookworms but plenty of stick insects, millipedes, tarantulas, praying mantises and much more, on show. This one is ticket only, available from the library.
There's a birthday party for Withington's under-5's on Friday, June 1, 10.30am-11.30am.
Finally, on Monday, June 4, 7pm-9pm, there are Strange Tales with thriller writers Nicholas Royle and Conrad Williams as they read from their work. This event is billed for the over-16's.
All events are free.
The distinctive-looking library shares a rich architectural heritage. Henry Price also designed the gothic-style Didsbury library, Withington baths and the Victoria baths, now being fully restored after winning the BBC's restoration competition.
Andrew Carnegie donated £15,000 to build three libraries in Manchester - Chorlton, Didsbury and Withington libraries. The first two were built before the First World War. But afterwards, building materials had risen in price, forcing Manchester City Council to borrow £10,500 to cover the increase.
It was a happy result, though. Withington got a state of the art library, and in a pamphlet produced for the opening ceremony, it was said that the building was "handsome in appearance and admirably planned" with its position both "convenient and commanding."
The Executive Member for Culture and Leisure on Manchester City Council, Councillor Mark Hackett, said: "Although Withington has seen many changes, its library is still a focal point and is just as necessary now as it was in those early days when self-education was the only way forward for many. Of course today Withington library is a community resource and is information rich in a way its benefactor Andrew Carnegie could never imagine, thanks to computer technology. May the library enjoy many more birthdays."
Media contact- Margaret Blackburn, tel: 0161 234 4014