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Families and Lifelong Learning

Durham University Library and Collections offer a range of fun, engaging and accessible workshops, resources and experiences for people of all ages. Find out more below and we look forward to welcoming you to our venues. 

Families and Children 

Discover the incredible collections in our venues for families of all ages with our wide-ranging family programme suitable for multiple age groups.

Lifelong Learning

People of all ages want to learn and explore, discover our offer for learners of all ages and abilities. Learn something new, discover incredible stories in our collections and meet like-minded people in our welcoming and friendly spaces.

Learn more

Lifelong Learning Groups

We welcome lifelong learning groups such as the University of the Third Age (U3A), Women’s Institute (WI), Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) and more.
Lifelong learning group member taking part in a workshop handling museum objects.

Creative Age

Creative Age is a free, weekly art group for people living with dementia or other long-term health challenges and their carers.
A pair of older participants at Creative Age

Visiting Clubs and Groups

We welcome lifelong learning groups such as Rainbows, Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Guides or other adult or children's community groups at all our venues.

Book Club

The Library and Collections Book Club meets on the last Thursday of every month from 5pm - 6pm in the Oriental Museum café.
A group of people taking part in the Book Club

Upcoming events

Family Activities: Go Go Go

Saturday 11 October, 2025
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
A Go tournament. Image courtesy of Rebecca Robertson

On Fragments Of Yearning, I Linger

Tuesday 9 September, 2025
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Museum of Archaeology
A sketch showing two busts of Sappho

Family Activities: Super Samurai

Saturday 18 October, 2025
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
A suit of Japanese samurai armour

Diwali Festival

Saturday 18 October, 2025
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Oriental Museum
A lady dressed in a sari leads the Diwali Lakshmi Puja ceremony by holding a Puja plate in front of the shrine. The shrine is decorated in flower garlands. Other people stand around the central lady praying with traditional Indian dress.

 

 

People taking part in an accessible touch tour event and handling museum objects.

Accessibility

Support for neurodiversity, physical access and more information can be found here for our programmes and workshops.

Accessible workshops