New Year's Day

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and thanks for reading our blogs. Our libraries are closing at 3pm today and are closed New Year's Day. With the exception of Croydon library, the bookchutes will be open so you may return items while we are closed.

If you know your PIN you can renew and place holds via the web catalogue.

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 31st December 2008

Many of us were put off the rules of grammar and puntuation for life, by dreary teaching. There are however, some passionate people who believe not only that "English is a beautiful and subtle language and should be encouraged to stay that way", but also that "grammar is the rules for paradise, writing is the paradise". The first quote is from authors Caroline Taggart and J.A.Wines who wrote My Grammar and I (Or Should that Be "Me"?): Old School Ways to Sharpen Your English, and the second is from Mark Tredinnick, an Australian poet and essayist who describes his book The Little Green Grammar Book as more of a lover's guide than a textbook. The first title is available through Consortia libraries and the second is in the ERL collection.

As I have mentioned previously in this blog, the author who several years ago successfully stimulated interest in these neglected subjects was Lynne Truss, with her book Eats, shoots and leaves : the zero tolerance approach to puctuation. It was so concise and so humourous that she has since produced two books for younger readers, Eats shoots and leaves : why, commas really do make a difference and The girl's like spaghetti : why, you can't manage without apostrophes. To emphasise the point that punctuation can be funny, we heard Victor Borge's skit Phonetic Punctuation from the CD The hilarious Victor Borge.

We continued our nostalgic music tracks theme with Dean Martin singing That's Amore from Dino : the essential Dean Martin. This song was used with great effect as the theme to the movie Moonstruck. More next week.

---- Lesley

I'm reminded of the following blogs:

The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks
Apostrophe Abuse

Cheers, Maryanne

Childrens Book Sale

Heaps of pre-loved library books. Stock up for Holiday Reading.

When: Tuesday 13th - Saturday17th January
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Ringwood Street Mall, Ringwood

Cheers, Maryanne

Top Summer Reads 2009

It's time to take a break from the usual Top 10 Reads of the month. I sent the word out to the library staff and got them to come up with the Top Summer Reads 2009. They did a great job! You'll find the list at the top of the page (the new home for the Top 10 Reads). Enjoy!

While we're talking of Summer Reads, don't forget the State Library's The Summer Read 2008. Vote for your favourite Summer Read from the shortlist and win fantastic prizes.

Cheers, Maryanne

Blog makeover

If you think you've surfed onto the wrong blog, well no you haven't. I thought I'd give the blog a makeover for the new year. Apart from some of the cosmetic changes I've moved the Top 10 Reads so that it always appears at the top of the blog. I've also added a Share button, free from AddThis.com. You can click the button to share the post with people via email, or through social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and del.icio.us.

Let me know what you think.

Cheers, Maryanne

Ferntree Gully refurbishment on Flickr

Follow along with the refurbishment of Ferntree Gully library through our Flickr site. We'll be uploading photos throughout the refurbishment. All you need to do is click on the images under Ferntree Gully refurbishment in the sidebar to the right.

This has been extremely popular during the refurbishments of Boronia and Knox libraries.

Ferntree Gully library will be closed from 3pm Wednesday 31st December 2008, re-opening Monday 2nd February 2009 at 10am.

Cheers, webgurl

Do you think you can dance?

Kids, learn a funky choreographed dance routine with the popular local dance school, Stage Presence Dance and Performing Arts Studio. Get dancing!

For kids aged 8+ years.

When: Thursday 15th January 2pm
Where: Mooroolbark Library, 7 Station Street, Mooroolbark
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97268200

Cheers, Maryanne

Richard Cutler - Magician

Magician Richard Cutler will be entertaining the crowd at Croydon Library this school holidays. There are still some places left, don't miss out.

When: Wednesday 14th January 11am
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: $3 per child (children under 3 years are free)
Bookings essential phone 92945640

Cheers, Maryanne