Monday, 2 November, 4 pm to 7 pm
Freifunk drop-in session – discussion
Venue: TIETZ, Central Library, Library Lab, Gaming Arena
Admission: free
Freifunk Chemnitz e. V. is meeting in the heart of one of its largest installations to demonstrate, in a relaxed setting, just what’s possible with Wi-Fi today.
From a simple router you can place by the window to complex event planning, you’re welcome to drop by with any questions you may have or join us in setting up your very first Freifunk router.
Monday, 2 November, 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm
Language Café – Conversation
Venue: TIETZ, Central Library, Library Lab, Maker Space
Admission: free
For anyone who enjoys chatting and learning from one another.
Tuesday, 3 November, 10.00 am to 4.30 pm
Introduction to the Media Lab – Introduction
Venue: TIETZ, Central Library, Library Lab
Registration: www.stadtbibliothek-chemnitz.de/buchen
Admission: free
Do you have vinyl records and audio/VHS cassettes at home that you’d finally like to add to your digital playlist? Then make use of the technology in the BibLab! Today we’ll show you how it’s done; by tomorrow, you’ll be digitising your own collections.
Tuesday, 3 November, 10.00 am to 4.30 pm
Introduction to AudioStudio – Introduction
Venue: TIETZ, Central Library, Library Lab
Registration: www.stadtbibliothek-chemnitz.de/buchen
Admission: free
Have you always wanted to produce a podcast or a radio play? Are you looking for a space to record and edit your audio files digitally? Then make use of the equipment in the BibLab! Today we’ll show you how it’s done; by tomorrow you’ll be getting started yourself.
Wednesday, 4 November, 3 pm
Reading Club – reading together means you’re less alone – reading and discussion
Venue: Neighbourhood Library at the Vita-Center
Admission: free
We’ll be discussing books that have recently impressed and inspired us.
Thursday, 5 November, 3 pm to 6 pm
Let’s play – Gaming at the library – Gaming
Venue: Central Library, GamingArena
Admission: free
We’ll be playing new games together on our consoles. Recommended for ages 12 and over
Thursday, 5 November, 6 pm
On the Early History of Chemnitz – Lecture and book launch for ‘On the Early History of Chemnitz and the Western Ore Mountains from 800 to 1200 AD – Part 2’ by Prof. Karlheinz Hengst
Venue: TIETZ, event hall
Admission: free
The focus is on the Ore Mountains and their foothills as the last major territory to be settled between the two branches of the Mulde River. Archaeological findings and evidence from the history of language are used to show that this area – previously regarded as completely inhospitable and uninhabited, stretching from the north and south of Chemnitz to the mountain ridge – was in fact already a ‘frequented travel destination’ in the Early Middle Ages. The topics covered include the resilience of the first inhabitants in the face of the hardships in the forest and mountain regions of that time, as well as sustainability, structural change and transformation in the 12th century.
An event organised in cooperation with the Chemnitz Historical Society and the publisher Heimatland Sachsen
Friday, 6 November, 6.00 pm
Polishing phrases and stones
20 years of Eichenspinner Verlag – with a glass of wine by the grinding machine
Venue: TIETZ, Chemnitz Museum of Natural History
Admission: free
To mark this milestone anniversary, the City Library and publisher Lutz Graner have organised a very special evening. Instead of simply sitting still and listening, guests will be polishing pebbles at the Museum of Natural History. There will, of course, still be readings from literary works, and anecdotes from the publishing world will also feature; visitors will also learn about the oak moth.
Saturday, 7 November, 10 am to 12 noon
‘Code it!’ taster course
Venue: Central Library, Children’s Library
Admission: free
Today we’re introducing you to our online programming course, Code it! Here, children aged 9 to 12 can create simple games, apps, Minecraft mods and much more.
Tuesday, 10 November, 10 am to 1 pm
Smartphone drop-in session for senior citizens
Venue: Central Library, Learning Room
Admission: free
Do you have questions about settings, apps and services relating to your smartphone? Then sign up for our consultation session.
Tuesday, 10 November, 7 pm
‘So that disengagement doesn’t become the norm here …’ – An annotated reading
Venue: TIETZ, Stefan-Heym-Forum
Admission: €3, concessions €1.50
16 November marks the 50th anniversary of the singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann’s expatriation from the GDR. It marked the beginning of an exodus of GDR artists. This is an opportunity to reflect on that day and the days that followed, and above all to commemorate the protest by writers such as Stephan Hermlin and Stefan Heym, Christa Wolf and Franz Fühmann, Heiner Müller and Jurek Becker. The list of signatories to the protest note reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of GDR art. Many paid for their moral courage with sidelining; not everyone persevered, whilst others left …
An event organised by the International Stefan Heym Society e. V.
Wednesday, 11 November, 6.00 pm
Literature Forum at the Library: The Odyssey of the St. Louis – Presentation of the graphic novel based on the true story of a courageous captain and his Jewish passengers.
Venue: Central Library, GamingArena
Admission: free
Graphic novel by Sara Dellabella (text) and Alessio Lo Manto (illustrations). Presentation and discussion with the translator Anja Kootz.
May 1939. An almost forgotten chapter in German history. 937 Jewish passengers set sail from the port of Hamburg on the St. Louis – in the hope of finding refuge in Cuba. But the country turns them away. So do the USA and Canada. Captain Gustav Schröder does everything in his power to find a safe harbour. But where to go when no one is willing to take them in? This powerful graphic novel tells the true story of flight, courage and humanity: atmospheric, historically accurate and moving.
Thursday, 12 November, 5.30 pm to 7 pm
Digital barriers and how we can overcome them
Venue: Central Library, Learning Room
Admission: free
An information session organised by the Nachrichtenwerkstatt; topics covered include digital legacies and electronic patient records.
Thursday, 12 November, 6.00 pm
The Trial by Fire – The November Pogrom of 1938 – Documentary film, West Germany 1988
Venue: TIETZ, Event Hall
Admission: free
Erwin Leiser, who experienced the November pogroms in Berlin as a 15-year-old and managed to flee to Sweden in early 1939, does not limit himself in his film to the few sparse documentary recordings from that time. Through extremely thorough research, he has succeeded in finding and interviewing a number of interesting eyewitnesses. By combining historical footage and texts with the eyewitnesses’ accounts of their personal experiences, the tragedy loses its anonymity and thus becomes particularly poignant for the viewer.
Directed by: Erwin Leiser / Vera Leiser – 80 minutes
A joint event organised by Buntmacher*innen e.V. and Chemnitz City Library as part of the themed year ‘Tacheles – Year of Jewish Culture in Saxony’. Funded by the Local Action Plan for Democracy, Tolerance and a Cosmopolitan Chemnitz, as part of the federal programme ‘Demokratie leben!’, through the State Prevention Council of the Free State of Saxony.
Saturday, 14 November, 10 am to 2 pm
Big book sale
Venue: TIETZ, ground-floor foyer
Sale of discarded library materials: books, CDs, DVDs and console games
Saturday, 14 November, 11 am to 2 pm
Open writing workshop organised by the Free German Authors’ Association – Workshop
Venue: TIETZ, Central Library, Library Lab
Admission: free
Editing your own texts. First-time visitors are welcome to simply listen in.
Sunday, 15 November, 11 am
Library Literature Forum: The Book Salon Matinee
Three critics discuss three recent books from Saxony,
followed by a reading by Heike Geißler from her new novel ‘Michaela Kohlhaas’.
Venue: TIETZ, event hall
Admission: free
• On the panel: Eileen Mägel, a Dresden-based author and poet, discusses “Die zweitgrößte Liebe” by Ruth Maria Thomas
• Angela Malz, a long-standing member of the Chemnitz Literary Quintet, discusses *Stolz und Zweifel* by Marlen Hobrack.
• Burkhard Müller, long-standing reviewer for the Buchsalon and literary critic, will discuss *Nach der Sonne schauen* by Martina Hefter.
The ‘Literaturforum Bibliothek’ series of events is funded by the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism and organised by the Saxony Library Association.
Thursday, 19 November, 3 pm to 6 pm
Let’s play – Gaming at the Library – Gaming
Venue: Central Library, GamingArena
Admission: free
We’ll be playing new games together on our consoles. Recommended for ages 12 and over
Friday, 20 November, 5 pm
Soft Toy Sleepover for National Reading Aloud Day
Venue: Central Library, Children’s Library
Admission: free, for children aged 5 to 8, one soft toy per child
Let your soft toys spend an exciting night full of stories and new friends at the city library!
After a bedtime story together with the soft toy mums and dads, it’s time to say “Bye, see you tomorrow!” and the adventure begins. You’ll find out what your soft toys got up to during their sleepover the next day when you collect your cuddly friends from the main counter (10 am to 6 pm).
Saturday, 21 November, 3.30 pm
A family affair: The Moomins – a lovely present-giving tradition
Venue: Central Library, Event Hall
Admission: 5 euros, concessions 3 euros
A cheeky and poetic puppet show with Marie Bretschneider for children and adults, based on a winter Christmas story by Tove Jansson.
Christmas is just round the corner and, of course, the whole of Moominvalley is in a right state. Only the Moomin family are hibernating, as they do every year, and would almost have slept right through the festivities had it not been for Hemul, who woke the little trolls with his loud grumbling: “Christmas is the worst thing ever!” he curses whilst shovelling snow. “Alarm! The worst thing ever is just around the corner!” cries Moominpappa.
Tuesday, 24 November, 3.30 pm
Star of Christmas – Children’s musical theatre by Ellen Heimrath
Venue: Yorck-Center District Library
Admission: free
Recommended for ages 6 and over
Winni, Santa’s apprentice, is in despair! Together with the Christmas angel Angie, he has learnt all sorts of interesting facts about Christmas during his apprenticeship, but
no one could help them solve the special task: how do you make the Christmas Star shine? And now Winni’s apprenticeship is coming to an end and his final exam is just around the corner! Angie makes one last attempt to uncover the secret and flies off into the storm and snow...
Tuesday, 24 November, 6 pm
Fantastic Conversations with Agricola – Reading with Almut Fehrmann and Harald Linke
Venue: TIETZ, Stefan-Heym-Forum
Admission: free
Did you know that Doctor Georgius Agricola pops up in our city from time to time to find out about his former place of work? This is also the case in the Capital of Culture year 2025. Almut Fehrmann met him, spoke to him and wrote down their conversations. In a dramatised reading, she’ll share these stories with you, with Harald Linke as Agricola by her side.
An event in collaboration with the 1st Chemnitz Authors’ Association
Wednesday, 25 November, 3 pm
Reading Time – Reading together means reading less alone – Storytelling for adults
Venue: Yorck-Center District Library
Admission: free
Put an end to reading alone within your own four walls! A reading mentor has once again selected some interesting books for adults and will be reading from them.
Thursday, 26 November, 5 pm to 9 pm
Pen & Paper Role-Playing Games – Meet-ups and Introduction (DE/EN)
Central Library, GamingArena
Admission: free
Minimum age: 10 years
We play pen-and-paper role-playing games (one-shots and shorter narrative games) in German and, optionally, in English.
Contact for game masters / English-speaking players:
biblab-c(at)stadtbibliothek-chemnitz.de
Thursday, 26 November, 3 pm to 5 pm
Introduction to 3D printing – Introduction
Central Library, Library Lab
Registration: www.stadtbibliothek-chemnitz.de/buchen
Admission: free
How does a 3D printer work? Where can I find ready-made models? What settings do I need to adjust?
Are you looking for a way to print small, useful items? Then make use of the technology in the Library Lab! Today we’ll show you how it works; by tomorrow you’ll be bringing your own projects to life.
Monday, 30 November, 2.30 pm
Reading Time – Reading together means reading less alone – Storytelling for adults
Venue: TIETZ, Central Library, Culture & Countries section
Admission: free
Put an end to reading alone within your own four walls! Our reading mentor, Regine Klinger, has once again selected some interesting books for adults and will be reading from them.
19th Chemnitz Reading Advent – Readings, discussions and music
Thursdays, 26 November, 3, 10 and 17 December, 5 pm each day
Venue: TIETZ, Central Library, Culture & Countries section
Admission: free
The Reading Advent series offers people a moment to pause and reflect during the often hectic run-up to Christmas. Prominent figures from Chemnitz read texts on the theme of ‘arrival’ or ‘Advent’ and are interviewed about themselves and their current projects. Pupils from the Municipal Music School provide musical accompaniment for the events.
Dates:
26 November: Carsten Knödler, Director of Acting at the Chemnitz Theatres
3 December: Hilfebus Chemnitz e. V., providing support for people without homes or accommodation
10 December: Christoph Magirius, retired superintendent, co-organiser of the ‘Round Table’ in Karl-Marx-Stadt during the reunification period and honorary citizen of the city of Chemnitz
17 December: Massumeh Banbertina, Iranian Home Chemnitz e. V.
The Chemnitz Advent Reading Series is a project organised by the Evangelical Forum and the City Library in cooperation with Radio T e. V. and the Municipal Music School.
Recurring events
Thursdays, 3 pm to 6 pm
E-book consultation hour – consultation hour
Venue: TIETZ, Central Library, Science & Technology section
Please register: www.stadtbibliothek-chemnitz.de/buchen or by telephone on 0371 488-4222
Admission: free
Would you like to know how the Onleihe works, or do you have a new device on which you’d like to use the Onleihe? We’ll help you set it up and make your first loan. Are you already using the Onleihe but having problems with your e-book reader, reading on your tablet, or unsure why you’re unable to borrow e-media? We’re happy to help.
Tuesdays, 1 pm to 3 pm
Refugees welcome in the library! – Support
Venue: TIETZ, Central Library, Culture/Countries section
Admission: free
Learning mentors help with learning German and with homework for DaZ and DaF courses (German as a Second Language / German as a Foreign Language).
Tuesdays, 3 pm to 6 pm
Project consultation hour Project work/complex assignment? Don’t panic! – Consultation hour
Venue: TIETZ, Central Library, Science & Technology section
Please register in advance: www.stadtbibliothek-chemnitz.de/buchen or by telephone on 0371 488-4222
Admission: free of charge; a library membership is required.
We can help with literature research: we’ll introduce you to library catalogues and online databases and show you how to find suitable sources for your topic.
Storytelling
On tiptoe … Stories to listen to, read aloud for everyone with pricked ears.
Our story readers read the latest children’s books, classics, ‘bestsellers’ from their own childhoods, or even texts they’ve written themselves.
Admission: free
Dates:
Tuesdays, 3, 10, 17 and 24 November, at 4.30 pm each day
Venue: TIETZ Central Library, Children’s World
Tuesdays, 3, 10, 17 and 24 November, at 4.00 pm each day
Venue: Einsiedel District Library, Einsiedler Hauptstraße 79b
Tuesdays, 3, 10, 17 and 24 November, at 4.30 pm each day
Venue: Yorck-Center District Library, Scharnhorststraße 11
Saturdays, 7, 14, 21 and 28 November, 11.00 am
Venue: TIETZ Central Library, Kinderwelt
Saturdays, 7, 14, 21 and 28 November, 10.30 am each day
Venue: Neighbourhood Library at the Vita-Center, Wladimir-Sagorski-Straße 22
Subject to change.