A reminder about the literary festival taking place at the Royal William Yard. The event closes with a book fair (where the PPL will have a stall) in the Melville Building on Sunday 27th September: 10am - 3pm.

Yesterday we welcomed Karl Parsons (Chair of the Royal Cinema Community Benefit Society) who spoke on the history of the Royal Cinema and introduced the campaign Save The Royal: www.savetheroyal.com

The next cinema club showing is on Friday 16th October at 2pm where we will be showing 'Pot o' Gold' (1941) and 'The Plank' (1964). For more details and to book places, go to: www.tickettailor.com/events/plymo...

The Royal William Yard is standing for something new: Read Write Yap – a brand-new literary festival celebrating books, stories and the words that shape us. The event closes with a book fair where the PPL will have a stall in the Melville Building, RWY on Sun 27th Sep: 10am - 3pm.

Talk on Wed (23rd) at 2pm: Plymouth's Last Super-Cinema: Saving the Royal. £5/£8 members /non-members. This will look at the history of The Royal Cinema, and introduce the campaign: savetheroyal.com To guarantee seat, contact library at least 24 hrs before event. Otherwise, simply turn up on day.

Thanks to everyone who supported the Heritage Open Days events at the PPL yesterday. All money from refreshments went to Macmillan Cancer Support and we made £140! Thank you!

Everything ready for the two Heritage Open Days events tomorrow (Saturday) with donations for refreshments going to Macmillan Cancer Support. Find details, including times, on our website: www.theppl.org.uk/events/talks...

Talk - Plymouth's Last Super-Cinema: Saving the Royal Wed 23rd Sep: 2pm £5/£8: members/non-members Talk will look at the time-worn glamour of this picture palace & introduce campaign: savetheroyal.com To guarantee seat, contact library at least 24 hrs before event. Otherwise, simply turn up on day

Pictured is just part of a donation of local history books we are receiving thanks to a PPL supporter. They will be added to our collection over the coming weeks.

A mixture of old and new for Heritage Open Days on Sat. There will be a display of our rare books in the morning & a book launch/talk in the afternoon. Both are free & any money from refreshments will go to Macmillan Cancer Support. More details, including times, at www.theppl.org.uk/events/talks...

Devon Life Magazine Devon Life has a piece about Heritage Open Days including our rare book display on Saturday morning: www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/de...

Heritage Open Days highlights in Devon for 2026

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest community festival of history and culture that takes place every September.

greatbritishlife.co.uk

Well done to PPL volunteers Janet (pictured) and Jean who plant, water and tend the PPL garden. They received the commmunity space award (and £10 voucher) at the Stoke in Bloom event on Friday. Congratulations!

Coffee morning TODAY (Sat 12th) between 10.30am and 12.30pm. £4 for hot drinks and cakes. Homemade cakes include vegan chocolate sponge and cheese scones / fruit scones.

A big thank you to Hazel Jones for her talk on Georgian Bath yesterday, that referenced Jane Austen's time in the city and subsequent references in her novels. Hazel has kindly donated two more of her books to the library.

Hot drinks and homemade cakes for £4. See you there.

Another week at the PPL - Latin group starting soon. Find out about our other regular events at: www.theppl.org.uk/events/regul...

The next talk is "The Pleasures of Georgian Bath" (by author Hazel Jones) on Wed (9th Sep) at 2pm. Members / Non-members: £5/£8. To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hrs before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

A quick reminder that the PPL Annual General Meeting will take place at 11am on Saturday (5th September). We are open from 10am.

The next computer course at the PPL is on Thursday 3rd September at 2pm. All sessions are stand-alone. For more details and to book a place, go to: www.tickettailor.com/events/plymo...

Talk: The Pleasures of Georgian Bath Wed 9th Sep at 2pm. Members: £5. Non-members: £8. How visitors to Bath in Jane Austen's time occupied themselves will be explored in this illustrated talk. To guarantee a seat, contact library at least 24 hrs before event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

The library will be CLOSED next Monday (31st August - Bank Holiday) but otherwise open as normal, including Saturday 29th August.

Lots going on for Heritage Open Days in Sep with a display of rare items from the collection plus a talk on the sisters in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Both events are free with donations for refreshments going to @macmillancancer.bsky.social More details at: www.theppl.org.uk/events/talks...

A quick reminder that the PPL Annual General Meeting will take place at 11am on Saturday 5th September.

The watercolour group was busy yesterday but there is always space for new members. Do ask at the library or check out our website for more details: www.theppl.org.uk/events/regul...

Cinema Club at the PPL this Friday (21st August) at 2pm. "His Girl Friday" (1953) starring Cary Grant (colourised version) Followed by "One Week" (1920) starring Buster Keaton (B&W HD) More details and booking form at: www.tickettailor.com/events/plymo...

The film 'The Odyssey' has received critical acclaim recently, and the PPL currently has a display of related books for members to browse and borrow.

Talk - "Where No Shadow Awaits": the Evolution of a Historical Novel Wed 26th Aug at 2pm. £5/£8 for members/non-members. A talk on the new novel by Prof. Angela K. Smith. To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hrs before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

A lot is happening here at the PPL over the coming weeks. Check out our website for more details: www.theppl.org.uk/events/talks...

Spiced sultana and date traybake and lemon squares made for the coffee morning on Saturday (10.30am-12.30pm). More homemade cakes available on the day. £4 for hot drinks and cakes. See you there.

A note for your diary: the PPL Annual General Meeting will take place at 11am on Saturday 5th September. More details to come soon.