Doors Open Days is Scotland's largest free festival that celebrates places and stories, new and old.
Join us at the Mitchell Library for an engaging talk, guided tours, and drop-in sessions exploring its rich history and remarkable collections.
Come along to hear about the library’s fascinating history, explore its beautiful spaces, and discover some of the unique collections that make it so special.
This iconic Glasgow landmark offers a unique glimpse into the city's literary and architectural heritage.
Whether you're a first-time visitor or a regular, there’s always something new to learn and enjoy.
Thursday 18th September at 18:00pm. 'History of the Mitchell Illustrated Talk'
Please pre-book your free tickets for the talk via Eventbrite
Thursday 18th - Saturday 20th September. Guided tours (SOLD OUT)
13:00pm and 16:00pm on Thursday 18th September
10:00am and 14:00pm on Friday 19th September
10:00am, 11:30am, 14:00pm and 15:00pm on Saturday 20th September
Please pre-book your free tickets for our guided tours using this Eventbrite link
Saturday 20th September: Glasgow Firsts
Feast your eyes on some "Glasgow Firsts" at our Doors Open Day handling session!
Join our librarians to "turn the pages" of historic Glasgow with:
The first newspaper printed in Glasgow
The first history of Glasgow
The first directory of Glasgow
First book printed in the city.
Drop in between 11am - 12 noon & 3pm - 4pm on the ground floor.
While you're here, why not spend some time at our current exhibition, Performing 19th Century Glasgow: Nation, Celebrity, Empire, now running on the ground floor.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Glasgow, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Glasgow? Follow us on Facebook and join the What's On Scotland Group!Glasgow Mitchell Library Classics Book Group runs on the first Thursday of each month with the library kindly providing books for all members, so there is no cost involved!
READ MORECut and Paste Tuesday at The Mitchell Library is a monthly workshop for seasoned zine makers and newbies alike!
READ MOREJoin Kirsten McQuarrie and Lesley McDowell at the Mitchell Library, and hear about Madeleine Smith's extraordinary story as portrayed in McDowell's historical novel, Love and Other Poisons (Wildfire).
READ MOREThis talk at the Mitchell Library will examine two forms of popular entertainment that engaged with race in ways both controversial and subversive.
READ MOREGaelic speaker and South Uist native Coinneach Maclean sits down with travel writer and BBC radio presenter Mauren Macleod to discuss his new book as part of Aye Write 2025!
READ MOREHost Neil Mackay sits down with two authors to discuss their spooky stories, each set in Scotland during the 1800s.
READ MOREThe founders of the Glasgow Music Tours will discuss their brand new book Glasgow's Greatest Hits at the Mitchell Library as part of Aye Write 2025!
READ MOREA spoken word event where members of the Federation of Writers, the public and members of writers' groups are provided with an opportunity to perform a selection of their work in 3 minute slots.
READ MOREIn this collection, fourteen authors explore the places and spaces which define their queer history – wherever has meaning for them.
READ MOREAs part of Aye Write 2025 Tina Gaudoin introduces us to the woman behind the politician in her new book, The Incidental Feminist: Friend, Foe, Femme Fatale? The Truth About Thatcher.
READ MOREAs the world debates issues around population the spotlight is on childless women, join Helen Taylor as she discusses her book, Childless by Choice, with Lesley McDowell for Aye Write 2025.
READ MOREJournalist Vicky Allan joins writer, filmmaker, and women's health campaigner Kate Muir to discuss Kate's new book, How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis for Aye Write 2025!
READ MOREAward-winning novelist and memoir writer Catherine Simpson is joined on stage by her adult daughter, Nina Mega, for an in-depth conversation with journalist Gabriella Bennett as part of Aye Write!
READ MOREDr Alan Montgomery gives an illustrated talk about Roman Scotland based on his new book, The Road to Mons Graupius as part of Aye Write 2025.
READ MOREWith her signature blend of honesty, humour, and holistic wisdom, former WHAM! backing singer Janey Lee Grace discusses her book, Happy Healthy Sober, with host Frankie Burr for Aye Write 2025.
READ MOREIn his Aye Write Festival debut, Shaun Atwood discusses his new book, Sitdowns with Serial Killers & Murderers and what it's like talking to some of the most menacing and violent people on the planet.
READ MOREChris Bambery sits down with Kirsteen Paterson to discuss the historical events that have constructed sectarianism in Scotland for Aye Write 2025.
READ MOREAuthor Ben Collins sits down to discuss his new book, The Irish Unity Dividend, as part of Aye Write 2025.
READ MOREDon't miss a lively conversation with internationally renowned anthropologist Tim Ingold, tackling the big questions on what makes a good life with warmth and irreverence in equal measure.
READ MOREScots Whay Hae! podcast host Alistair Braidwood welcomes legendary Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre to the Aye Write stage to discuss Martin’s autobiography, A Trick of Memory.
READ MOREBest-selling author Philip Paris joins Ann Landmann from the Edinburgh-based publisher, Birlinn Books, to discuss Philip's latest novel, A Fire in Their Hearts.
READ MOREWriter Alison Irvine, photographer and filmmaker Chris Leslie, and illustrator Mitch Miller combine their considerable talents in Concrete Dreams: The Rise and Fall of Cumbernauld Town Centre.
READ MOREMusic lovers rejoice as Aye Write welcomes two writers to the festival, each with their own love letter to the Glasgow music scene!
READ MOREKavan Stafford chats with two modern fiction writers about their respective dark and chilling tales.
READ MOREWith a mix of stand-up comedy and readings from his book, award-winning comedian, best-selling author, and NHS psychiatrist Benji Waterhouse considers some of life's big questions.
READ MOREMark Forsyth makes his Aye Write debut to talk about his latest book, Rhyme & Reason, a funny, charming guide to poetry (and people) for people who don't usually read poetry!
READ MOREIn Art Deco Scotland: Design and Architecture in the Jazz Age, Professor Bruce Peter (Glasgow School of Art) explores the remarkable range of Art Deco objects and images created here in Scotland.
READ MOREWhaleback City Press is Dundee's new and vibrant small publisher, specialising in big ideas in small packages and this event showcases work from its first two projects!
READ MOREEdward Tudor Pole takes to the Aye Write stage to discuss his autobiography, The Pen is Mightier.
READ MOREEdinburgh-based author Caroline Young joins podcaster and writer Zoe Venditozzi to discuss Young's latest book, Single and Psycho: How pop culture created the unstable single woman.
READ MOREJoin journalist Jane Hamilton and co-author Gina McGavin as they take you behind the headlines of one of Scotland's most haunting cold cases: The 1984 murder of Gina’s mother, Mary McLaughlin.
READ MOREAuthor and journalist Peter Ross welcomes Daniel Gray to a Sunday evening in the Mitchell Library to chat about Daniel’s new book, Sunday Best: Travels Through the Day of Rest.
READ MOREEditor Esa Aldegheri sits down with contributors Linda Cracknell and Claire Askew to discuss their new book, There She Goes.
READ MOREOne-time teen popstar Anthony Kavanagh takes to the Aye Write stage to discuss his searingly honest memoir, Pop Scars.
READ MOREDundee-based author Gary Robertson joins journalist Gabriella Bennett for a lively discussion about Gary's new book, Wild Mountain Times as part of Aye Write 2025!
READ MOREAward-winning Scots writer, academic, and occasional stand-up comedian A L Kennedy returns to Aye Write to discuss her latest acclaimed novel.
READ MOREA talk with a festive flair as Glasgow Life Principal Librarian Dawn Vallance joins two authors in conversation about their respective Christmas-themed books for Aye Write 2025!
READ MOREIn this special Aye Write event, crime writer Douglas Skelton welcomes two contemporaries to the stage to discuss their new books — each with a grizzled Scottish detective and a murder to solve.
READ MOREJon Attenborough discusses Following Sam, his memoir chronicling his experience of visiting all 42 Scottish Professional Football League stadiums with his guide dog, Sam.
READ MOREIn this special sit-down examining the potential future of Scotland and Scottish politics, Kirsteen Paterson is a journalist with 20 years experience of covering politics and policy in Scotland.
READ MOREThe Friends of Glasgow Necropolis run regular friendly and informal walking tours of the Glasgow Necropolis!
READ MOREJoin a historic walking tour of the University of Glasgow the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world!
READ MOREGlasgow Museums Resource Centre is home to over a million treasures, come and see for yourself on one of their regular Behind the Scenes Tours!
READ MOREJoin the volunteer tour guides for a free 45 minute tour of Kelvin Hall and take a peek behind the scenes in Glasgow Museums' store!
READ MOREJoin a Scottish Rogue whisky pub crawl through the city of Glasgow and delve into the history of the city, exploring its deep connections with the Scotch whisky industry!
READ MOREExplore the past, present and future of Glasgow's whisky with a Scottish Rogue Distillery Experience!
READ MOREJoin Gothic Glasgow's sinister host Vincent (The Man in the Hat), for a unique evening walking tour uncovering Glasgow's ghostly, strange, supernatural, creepy history!
READ MOREExplore the fascinating history of The Glasgow School of Art with an exclusive tour of their Archives and Collections at The Whisky Bond on the first Thursday of each month!
READ MORETo celebrate Glasgow's 850th Anniversary The Glasgow Food and Drink Tour have launched The Merchant City Stroll... it's a culinary journey you won't want to miss!
READ MORE