eye lights

With every year it rumbles on, the Turner Prize seems less about art and more about a good barney. One of its roles is to promote public discussion about modern art and that in itself promotes debates, like tonight's at the Cornerhouse, about whether or not the prize manages (you've guessed it) to promote debate. Mulling over this, and the prospect of a female winner (for only the second time in the prize's history), at this afternoon's Turner Prize Debate will be an art-celeb panel, including 1996 Turner judge Mel Gooding, writer Michael Bracewell and female artist Sonya Boyce. 2pm-4pm, Cornerhouse, 70 Oxford Street, Manchester MI (0161 236 9299)

Today is the first chance to catch a glimpse of the newly completed British Library. Until the library opens to the public next spring, the humanities section opening today will be available for readers only. Visitors, however, won't be discouraged should they wish to pop into the lobby and see whether the near-ruination of architect Colin St John Wilson's career and the 35-year delay were worth it. 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB (0171- 412 7168)

Having spent the entire decade serving a sweet-toothed record-buying public sugar-spun pop confections and refusing to take off his chunky black shades, Ian Broudie is shaping up nicely as the Nineties' Roy Orbison. Live, the immobile Liverpudlian and his fellow anonymous Lightning Seeds are lucky to have a strong enough back catalogue to do the talking for them - a fact that his record company haven't been slow to realise, releasing "Like You Do ... The Best of The Lightning Seeds" today. Assembly Rooms, Derby, pounds 12.50 (01332 255 800)

Her recent novel, Ghost Children, may have had a mixed reception, but the creator of the peerless Adrian Mole will always have a place in the hearts of teenagers and parents. This evening, Sue Townsend talks about her life as a writer, reads from her work and hopes no one asks her about Adrian's Norwegian fish exports. 6pm Cottesloe Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 pounds 3.50 (0171-928 2252)