Join us this weekend for the next Sunday Film Club, programmed by

Kino 10, where we delve into archival footage documenting Great British holidays (before we were calling them ‘staycations’).

Before there were package holidays and budget airlines, us Brits used to be more than happy jumping on a train and holidaying right here in good old blighty. For this special film screening, we’ll be looking back at those traditional English holidays and transporting you back to a bygone age with a selection of shorts from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. We’ll be reminiscing about summer holidays on the east coast in We Chose Skegness (1961), taking a high speed cab ride from Paddington to Snow Hill in the classic Let’s Go to Birmingham (1962), and coaching it up to the Peak District (1952). Part travelogue, part comedy, and part propaganda, these films, from both the British Film Institute and the Media Archive for Central England are a fascinating insight into how we once used to travel. They’re sure to make you smile and get you thinking about summer 2014. Expect deck chairs, tea ladies, and some tasty picnic treats.

Birmingham and Beyond is at 2pm on Sunday 20th October at Library of Birmingham Studio Theatre. Tickets are £5 and kids go free www.birmingham-box.co.uk

From Tuesday 17th til Sunday 22nd September, 2arttoyguys are in residence at the Pavilion with their incredible vintage sci fi models. Taking inspiration from HG Wells, you are invited to experiment with their full size time machine model, or create your very own model using recycled material, obsolete technology and a healthy dose of imagination. There’s a pop up library of science fiction in the Pavilion during their residency too. Come say hi!

One visitor enjoying the Time Machine

Image by Laura Kate Chapman

Following the new Children’s Library commission by Laura Kate Chapman – which draws on the stories and picture books from The Parker Collection – the Games and Play talk on Thursday 19th September at 6.30pm is an opportunity to see some of the impressive collection first hand, which dates from 1538 to the present day. Tickets can booked via www.birmingham-box.co.uk

Kicking off Kino 10’s Sunday Film Club season on 22nd September at 2pm is the terrifyingly terrific adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantastical classic The Witches. But don’t expect this to be your average trip to the flicks, theatre company Little Earthquake will be inviting the audience to infiltrate the witches’ convention in disguise and help to sabotage it when the High Witch takes to the stage to deliver her big speech. This is cinema as an immersive and interactive experience,fun and suitable for all. Best of all kids go for free – but you do need to book via www.birmingham-box.co.uk

The Discovery Trail is open throughout the season, where you can explore the library via a number of artworks that question what a library can be. You can also book advance tickets for a number of talks, live music events and screenings at the Discovery season via www.birmingham-box.co.uk

Read more about the season here www.capsule.org.uk/project/library-of-birmingham-opening-season

Rise of Birmingham