New non-fiction @ our libraries

We've been busy adding the following non-fiction titles:

Brian Nankervis (editor) ~ RocKwiz : the ultimate rock trivia challenge
Cheryl Hardacre ~ Chewing gum in holy water : Mario Valentini's childhood in the Abruzzo mountains
Courtney Love ~ Dirty blonde : the diaries of Courtney Love
Jason Roberts ~ A sense of the world : how a blind man became history's greatest traveler
John Daly & Glen Waggoner ~ My life in and out of the rough : the truth behind that bullxxxx you think you know about me
Jon Katz ~ A dog year : twelve months, four dogs, and me
Keith Moor & Geoff Wilkinson ~ Mugshots 2 : a compelling line-up of murderers, madmen and the mafia in Australia
Marc Eliot ~ Jimmy Stewart : a biography
Martin Chulov ~ Australian jihad : the battle against terrorism from within and without
Martin Crotty ~ The great mistakes of Australian history
Michael Korda ~ Journey to a revolution : a personal memoir and history of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956
Nigel Havers ~ Playing with fire
Richard Dawkins ~ The God delusion
Robin McGraw ~ Inside my heart : choosing to live with passion and purpose
Stuart Howarth ~ Please, Daddy, no : a boy betrayed
Tim Guest ~ My life in orange : growing up with the guru
Tom Lodge ~ Mandela : a critical life
Tommy Chong ~ The I Chong : meditations from the joint
Tony Horwitz ~ One for the road : an outback adventure
Tucker Max ~ I hope they serve beer in hell

Search for them in our web catalogue. Type in your search in the box next to Search library for. If you have a password on your card you can reserve books, cds & dvds to be sent to your closest branch. It costs $2.20 per item for adults, $1.10 for govt. concession card holders, free reservations for children.

Find out about reserving and more with the catalogue tutorials.

Cheers, Maryanne

Holiday reading

Well it's that time of the year and if you're stuck for something to read try the following suggestions from our library staff:

A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon

The latest book by the author of the runaway bestseller A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is another great read. The story concerns George, who thinks he may or may not be going mad, and his wife and their two adult children as they struggle with life's complexities of relationships with each other and with lovers and friends. It is amusing, despite one gruesome chapter, and the characters are really brought to life. Highly recommended.

The Secret River by Kate Grenville

Transported to Australia for smuggling goods on the river Thames, this is the story of a man's journey to regain his dignity and sense of belonging. From humble beginnings on Sydney Harbour to landowner on the Hawkesbury River we follow his struggles to raise a family and make his way in the new colony. Easy to read and a great story!

Listen by Kate Veitch

On a humid Christmas Eve in the Australian suburbs in 1967, an unhappy mother makes a decision that will change the lives of her four young children forever. Forty years later their shared pain is revealed when the family is finally reunited. This is a contemporary novel which encompasses the joys and sorrows of family life.

Having a lovely time by Jenny Eclair

Jenny Eclair is the bleached blonde with bright red lipstick from Grumpy Old Women (ABC). The language is very 'modern', as in 'lots of swearing'. So perhaps not for the faint hearted or more cultured of us!!!

This book confirms my belief that life isn't black and white, but very colourful, with bits of grey. There are no goodies or baddies, just ordinary people getting on with their mistakes.

More titles:

• Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber
• A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry
• Collectors by David Baldacci
• Cook with Jamie by Jamie Oliver
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• Lemony Snicket 13 The End by Lemony Snicket
• Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts
• Next by Michael Crichton
• Rockwiz: The Ultimate Rock Trivia Challenge by Brian Nankervis (Editor)
• Santa Cruise: a holiday mystery at sea by Mary Higgins Clark
• Skipping Christmas by John Grisham (the book on which the movie Christmas with the Kranks was based).
• The Valley by Di Morrissey
• When Santa fell from to Earth by Cornelia Funke

Cheers, Maryanne

January Holiday Activities

The January Holiday activity program has been uploaded to the website. Book in early for the fantastic activities for kids at our libraries.

View the holiday activity program.

Cheers, Maryanne

Christmas decorations for kids

Come along and make a christmas decoration for your tree.

When: Thursday 21st December 4:30pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction. Ph: 5967 1588
Cost: $2

Cheers, Maryanne

New CDs @ our libraries

Well it's been a while since I've listed the new CDs. The script I usually use to create this list and the DVD list isn't working so I'll have to create the lists by hand. Anyhoo, enjoy.

A fever you can't sweat out - Panic! at the Disco
Amore - Bocelli, Andrea
Big tunes
Black Cadillac - Cash, Rosanne
Both sides of the gun - Harper, Ben
Bup be bang bong
Comfort of strangers - Orton, Beth
Corrine Bailey Rae - Bailey Rae, Corrine
Danny Boy : the immortal Irish song
Du am
Goodbye Alice in Wonderland - Jewel
Hard NRG
Jimmy Z presents 4play : anthems
Little cloud - Whitlams
Meds - Placebo
Nang ve theo anh - Le, Quang
On an island - Gilmour, David
One love : bring it on
Pay the devil - Morrison, Van
Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
Saturday night country
Sing-a-longs and lullabies for the film Curious George - Jack Johnson and Friends (Musical group)
Songs from Black Mountain - Live
The definitive collection - Foreigner
The hard road - Hilltop Hoods
The new bush - Kernaghan, Lee
Too far gone
Whatever people say I am, that's what I'm not - Arctic Monkeys
Wild nights

Search for them in our web catalogue. Type in your search in the box next to Search library for. If you have a password on your card you can reserve books, cds & dvds to be sent to your closest branch. It costs $2.20 per item for adults, $1.10 for govt. concession card holders, free reservations for children.

Find out about reserving and more with the catalogue tutorials.

Cheers, Maryanne

Christmas Fun at Ringwood Library

Before you get started on the Christmas shopping this weekend, drop into Ringwood Library for a great Christmas activity with stories and crafts for all the family.

When: Saturday 16th December at 11am
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Melbourne Street Mall, Ringwood.
rsvp on 9870 0177

Cheers, Maryanne

Local to local: Christmas balls from recycled christmas cards

Come along and learn how to make some great decorations!

When: Saturday 16th December 10am
Where: Mooroolbark Library, 7 Station St, Mooroolbark
Ph: 9726 8200. All welcome

Cheers, Maryanne

Two weeks of The Eastern Regional Library Show

Just catching up with last two radio shows. For those that don't know library staff member Lesley Conway runs a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 99.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next week for a great show.

On today's show

Have you run out of authors in the Adult fiction area? Don't forget there are some great authors in Teen fiction. John Marsden has written a very popular adventure/thriller series which begins with Tomorrow, when the war began. Garth Nix and Philip Pullman have both written intriguing and sophisticated fantasy stories, and Catherine Jinks series called The Pagan chronicles is a gripping portrayal of Europe during the Middle Ages and of the crusades to the Holy Land.

Make the most of free reservations too, with Croydon Library providing free reservations every Sunday over summer, and free reservations for the summer reading program, 20 novels set close to home. The brochure with 20 titles set in Victoria is available at all our branches, and most branches have a display.

Music today was from Nostalgia : complete and Charmaine Solomon's Family Album.


On last week's show

Lyn Baines, flying solo today, reviewed the following books, all heartily recommended for lazy summer afternoons on the banana lounge, with the cricket on the radio in the background....

Ghost at the table by Suzanne Berne, an Australian novel

Messenger of truth by Jaquelin Winspear, a British mystery

A spot of bother by Mark Haddon, the author of the intriguing story, The curious incident of the dog in the night-time

Music was from new CDs in the collection....

Love by the Beatles

Very best of Australia

Imaginary kingdom by Tim Finn

Cheers, Maryanne