What Manchester reads today...

How do we access information? Print press, radio, television, or on the net?Often we use a combination of information sources, to find out what's going on in the world, what's worth seeing and where it might be worth going.

In days gone by, there were fewer trusted sources of information. The arrival of the Internet and the subsequent decline in newspaper circulation has made it harder for people to figure out what's kosher and what's not...

Manchester played an important role in the development of the British newspaper. For it was the city that was the birthplace of the left-leaning Manchester Guardian in 1821. The newspaper was established by the city's Unitarian community, who felt excluded from the political process - which was dominated by Anglicans at the time. At one time the paper was commonly called "Britain's non-conformist conscience". The Manchester Guardian became a daily in 1855.

The paper became known simply as The Guardian in 1959 and has retained the title ever since. The editor of the newspaper moved to London five years later.

The launch of Guardian Unlimited network of websites first went live ten years ago and the sites have helped the newspaper make the transition more smoothly and successfully than some of their competitors.

Mancunians regard their city with pride and rightly so. "What Manchester says today, the rest of England says tomorrow" was a popular phrase used to describe the city in late nineteenth century and it could, some might argue, still be applied today. Visitors and locals alike can hear more about some of the firsts pioneered in the city with the Manchester: Then & Now, Walk Talk Tour.

Manchester Libraries run a whole range of activities designed to engage people of all ages in the pursuit of knowledge (and have some fun).

The Central Library (pictured above from the Albert Square side) is one of the city's most striking buildings. Hear more about its architect and some of the famous and lesser known people to have studied there with the Walk Talk Tour Manchester travel guide. To hear an audio sample from the tour please click here.

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The Manchester International Festival runs until July 19 at various locations in the city. For more information please click here.

Visitors can hire the Walk Talk Tour Manchester city guide from the Visitor Information Centre in the Town Hall Extension on Lloyd Street, just off St Peter's Square. Headphones and tour plan provided.

The lower picture shows the arhces which run beneath the Town Hall Extension, on the Mount Street/Albert Square side of the building.