Meet Hanifa Deen

Born in the gold mining area of Western Australia, award winning writer Hanifa Deen is of Pakistani Muslim descent. Five generations of her family have called Australia home.

Describing herself as a ‘minimalist Muslim’ she enjoys a unique position within the Australian Muslim community as an independent voice with an understanding of minority issues.

After pursuing a teaching career, both in Australia and Europe, she became increasingly active in ethnic and community affairs which led to a professional position in the public service. She has held a number of high profile positions including Deputy Commissioner of the Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission of Western Australia, Hearing Commissioner with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, and was on the board of directors of SBS for five years.

Hanifa’s first book Caravanserai: a Journey among Australian Muslims won the NSW Premier’s Literary Award in 1996. An updated edition in 2003 was released in the shadow of the September 11 tragedies.

Her latest book, The Jihad Semina which follows Australia’s first religious vilification case will be published later this year.

Hanifa is credited with having ‘clean bowled’ Geoffrey Robertson during an exchange on an ABC ‘Hypothetical’.

Join us for a most interesting evening with this distinguished author and social commentator.

When: Thursday 19th April 7pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Ringwood St Mall, Ringwood
Bookings 9870-0177

Cheers, Maryanne

Genie Exchanges

The following Genie exchanges are occurring throughout the region.

Lilydale Genie Exchange
When: Tuesday 17th April 2:30-4:30pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson St, Lilydale
Bookings Required Ph 92943120


Ringwood Genie Exchange
When: Thursday 18th April 9:30am-11:30 am
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Melbourne St Mall, Ringwood


Knox Genie Exchange
When: Tuesday 24th April 10am-12noon
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South


Belgrave Genie Exchange
When: Friday 27th April 10am -12noon
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave

Cheers, Maryanne

Rowville Library New Books

Be the first to borrow some great new books at Rowville.

When: Friday 13th April from 10am
Where: Rowville Library Stud Park Shopping Centre Stud Road Ph: 9294 1300

Cheers, Maryanne

Fretshop Live at the Library

Live music performed by Fretshop Youth Guitar Collective for Youth Week

When: Thursday 12th April 2007 6-6.30pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road Rowville Ph: 9294 1300

Cheers, Maryanne

Tea - A Simple Delight

A Cook's Kitchen event (Tea Tasting)

Come and explore the world of tea with Dioni Abraham of Tea Leaves, Yarra Glen. Taste and discuss the many varieties and their characteristics and learn about the health-giving properties and myths associated with this wonderful beverage.

Gold coin donation

When: Thursday 5th April 2 pm
Where: Healesville Library 231 Maroondah Highway Healesville Ph: 5962 4423 www.erl.vic.gov.au

Cheers, Maryanne

Keys Please

Knox Library, in conjunction with VicRoads, have organised a program about learning to drive. It's aimed for secondary students of Chinese background along with their parents, and also the migrants who are learning to drive. English with Mandarin interpretation. Door prizes available. RSVP to Emma at Knox Library before 26th March.

When: Monday 2nd April 2pm-4pm
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South Ph: 9801 1422

Cheers, Maryanne

Catalogue update

We've been experiencing a lot of slowness with the new iBistro catalogue. We are currently working to rectify the problem and hope to have this fixed by tomorrow.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

With regard to the PIN requests, we are working our way through the emails. Currently we are doing today's requests. If you have placed a request prior to Tuesday and haven't received a response, please fill out the PIN request form again making sure to fill out the email address correctly. We've had a few requests bounce back because of an incorrect email address.

Thanks for your understanding.

Cheers, Maryanne

New catalogue

Well it's been a bit busy over the last few days so I'm sure you'll forgive me for not blogging :-).

The new catalogue is up and running. Everyone wanting to log into their account and view what's on their card, renew etc will need to find out their PIN. This is replacing the passwords. Requests for PINs can be made through the online form at:

Application for a PIN

You should receive your PIN within approximately 24 hours. Thanks to the team that are busy coming in on the weekend to fulfill these requests.

I've uploaded a basic tutorial that should answer most questions. It can be found at Catalogue tutorials.

We will be adding more features to the catalogue over the coming months. We will be having book covers, summaries, reviews etc.

Thanks for your patience over this time as this is an enormous change.

Cheers, Maryanne

Holiday activity program

The activity program for the April holidays is now available on the website. Contact the branches for bookings.

Cheers, Maryanne

Harmony Day

Harmony Day provides an opportunity for us to celebrate our successes as a culturally diverse society and re-commit ourselves to harmony and mutual respect.

The following libraries are having morning tea to celebrate Harmony Day.

When: Wednesday 21st March 10:30am
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Ph: 9294 1300


When: Wednesday 21st March 10:30 a.m.
Where: Healesville Library, 231 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
Ph: 5962 4423

Come to the library and celebrate our cultural diversity. Meet new friends over coffee and cake while you browse and borrow from our specially selected books on world travel and food.

Cheers, Maryanne

Locals for Locals Easter Cooking

Join Helen Homewood, our local food writer and cook, for a demonstration and tasting of Easter cooking delights.

When: Saturday 17th March 11am
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Phone 5967 1588

Cheers, Maryanne

News on the catalogue

Well it's been a quiet week on the blog as I've been travelling around the region helping to set up the library computers for the new system.

The catalogue is currently unavailable until the new library computer system starts on Friday 16th March. For renewals please contact staff at your local branch.

Staff also do not have access to a catalogue at present however we're a fairly resourceful bunch so you can still ask us questions. We'll try to locate the book for you.

Thanks for your patience.

Cheers, Maryanne

Dinky-di cooking

Jill Hess will demonstrate cooking & preparing recipes with an Aussie flavour.

When: Tuesday 20th March 7pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson Street, Lilydale
Bookings essential Ph: 9294 3120
Cost: $5 a head
Tea & coffee provided

Cheers, Maryanne

Reading Café – Meet Joy Dettman

Joy Dettman is a born writer, who wrote her first short stories at 11 years of age. After raising a family, a stay at her childhood home prompted her to write what would become her first novel Mallawindy. Joy took a writing and editing course at TAFE and before long was the winner of the Judah Waten and Henry Lawson awards for her short stories. Dusting off her manuscript she submitted it to the publishers and was rewarded with a contract with Pan Macmillan.

Joy is now the author of seven books, her latest book Diamonds in the Mud and other Stories was published in 2006.

When: Monday 19th March 12:30pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson Street, Lilydale
Cost: $7.50 Lunch included
Bookings 9294-3120

Cheer, Maryanne

Ageing Well Chinese workshop at Knox Library

The Cancer Council Victoria provides another free workshop to the Knox Read and Chat Group. If you know anyone that would be interested please let them know.

When: Friday 16th March 10:30 am - 11:30am
Where: Knox Library 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Ph: 98011422

Cheers, Maryanne

Music in March – Pip Joyce

Pip Joyce has been a member of many bands over the years and has worked with some Australia’s best known performers including Glenn Shorrock and Wilbur Wilde. From the sixties to the nineties his repertoire is vast and his music a delight. Join us for a delicious afternoon indulgence.

When: Sunday 18th March 3:30pm
Where: Mount Evelyn Library, 50 Wray Crescent, Mount Evelyn
Cost $7.50 includes Devonshire tea
Bookings 9736-3851

Cheers, Maryanne

Living at One with the Environment

Lee Morris lives in harmony with the environment making the most of all the opportunities her urban surrounds offer. Her garden has been featured in Australia’s Open Garden Scheme and is a model of sustainability. Lee joins us to share her tips on saving money and the environment.

When: Friday 16th March 1:30pm
Where: Mount Evelyn Library, 50 Wray Crescent, Mount Evelyn
Bookings 9736-3851

Cheers, Maryanne

Sustainable Living – Making a Difference

Do you want to help save the environment but are not sure how you can help?

Colin Gillam from Alternative Fuels and Energy has advice on how your every day choices can make a big impact on the environment. Door prizes of environmentally friendly products.

When: Thursday 15th March 7pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Melbourne Street Mall, Ringwood
Bookings 98700177

Cheers, Maryanne