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

Cartooning with Richard Galbraith

This school holidays kids can have cartoon fun at Rowville Library with Richard Galbraith. Please BYO Pencil.

When: Wednesday 14th January 11am
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Rd, Rowville
Cost: $3 per child
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

PINs

I hope you all had a wonderful break. If you've applied for your PIN through the online form over the Christmas break, bear with me as I sort throught the applications and send them out. I should get them all done today.

Update: I've replied to all PIN applications over the holiday break.

Cheers, Maryanne

Merry Christmas

I'd like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Hope you get a chance to read during the break. Don't forget to check our holiday opening hours.

If you know your PIN you can renew your items online via the website catalogue.

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 24th December 2008

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

On today's show

Great songs and unique singers will have a following long after their era. In the last few weeks we have heard quite a bit from Jimmy Durante, and today it's the turn of Nat King Cole. Even singing 'Making whoopee' on the soundtrack of the movie Sleepless in Seattle he was as smooth as cream. There are several CD's of Nat King Cole in our libraries, Christmas with Nat and Dean, The unforgettable Nat King Cole, and Nat. He also features on Favourites for weddings and the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack. Two DVD's are Nat King Cole : the magic of music and the movie Cat Ballou. And not to forget the extensive collection of music scores held at Belgrave Library, where you will find The unforgettable Nat King Cole and Unforgettable. Next week we will feature Dean Martin who is unforgettabley linked to the song That's Amore' which was used so successfully on the soundtrack of the movie Moonstruck.

Next week I am going to indulge myself and the listeners with Victor Borge's humourous skit Phonetic Punctuation, and introduce you to some entertaining books written about punctuation and grammer. A book that came out 2003, Eats, shoots and leaves sparked a renewal of interest in the subject, and what is more, stirred people to write in an informative and humourous way about something which has bored generations of students.

---- Lesley

Confirming the Christmas/New Year hours

Apologies if anyone was confused by the Christmas message on the 1300 number. We're experimenting with the holiday settings and accidently had it start a day early. Oops! It's a good thing I'm not Santa. The libraries are actually closing today at 3pm.

View the full list of our Christmas/New Year hours for our branches.

Cheers, Maryanne

Knox Mobile update

I've just heard that, due to Christmas parking restrictions, the Knox Mobile will not be at Upper Ferntree Gully today.

Cheers, Maryanne

2009 Knox Youth Short Film Festival

Are you a filmmaker between 10-25 years old? Knox Council Youth Services are looking for submissions to the 2009 Knox Youth Short Film Festival.

The entries can be any genre, so long as they follow these guidelines:

• The majority of the film crew lives, works, studies or hangs out within the City of Knox
• All films need to be of PG Rating
• All films need to be submitted on VHS or DVD
• All films to be no longer than 10 minutes long

Knox Youth Short Film Festival information (pdf)
Application form for Festival (pdf)

Applications and entries due
Wednesday 25th February 2009

Knox Youth Short Film Festival
When: Monday 30th March 6:30–9pm
Where: Knox Community Arts Centre, cnr Mountain Hwy& Scoresby Rd, Bayswater
Cost: Free event

Cheers, Maryanne

Holiday booksale

Mt Evelyn Library are having a special holiday booksale during January. Books are $1 each or 3 for $3. What a bargain.

When: Monday 5th - Friday 30th January
Where: Mt Evelyn Library, 50 Wray Crescent, Mt. Evelyn
Enquiries phone 97363851

Cheers, Maryanne

Knox Chinese News Group

Mandarin speaking library officer, Emma will share some local news to the group. Visitors are welcomed to bring some newspaper articles to chat with others.

When: 1st Monday of the month 1:30pm - 3pm
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 98011422

Cheers, Maryanne

Pageturners

Come along to Ringwood Library's new group, Pageturners, and talk about your favourite books and dvds. Refreshments provided.

When: 1st Monday of every month 2pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Ringwood Street Mall, Ringwood
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97363851

Cheers, Maryanne

Get your PIN

With the Christmas break coming up it's a good time to remind everyone if you are wanting to login to the library catalogue you'll need to know your PIN. If you don't know this you can get your PIN via the phone or email. Have your library card handy. You'll need to provide the library card number on the back and confirm your residential address for security purposes.

• View library hours & phone numbers
• Fill out the Get a PIN form and receive your PIN via email.

Staff will be replying to PIN requests up until 3pm Christmas Eve. The next working day isn't until Monday 29th of December. So it's best to get in early.

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 17th December 2008

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

On today's show

The world gets busier over the weeks leading up to Christmas, and a good antidote to the stress is a big laugh. A few weeks ago I mentioned some great comedy on CD, this week its DVDs. You can't beat a a good TV series; Get Smart, Steptoe and Son, Black Books, The Office, Kath and Kim, the list is enormous, all available from your local library.

Having mentioned Black Books I have to let you know that the very funny Bill Bailey (who played Manny in the show) has two live performances on DVD Bewilderness and Bill Bailey Live. If you are after the more challenging and in-your-face humour, there are half a dozen Billy Connolly DVD's, and if like me you enjoy a consumate story teller, then the self-titled Dave Allen is for you. Humourous movies are also in good supply, from Cat Balou, Tom Jones and the Doctor series with Dirk Bogarde, to more recent releases such as

Muriel's Wedding, The Castle, Robots and Robot Chicken, Star Wars.

Something which has become a theme over the last few weeks is songs from few decades ago which have been used successfully on film soundtracks, and which have stimulated renewed interest in the singer and the music of the period. One which immediately comes to mind is Louis Armstrong's version of What a Wonderful World which was used in the movie Good Morning Vietnam. Another is Jimmy Durante's Make someone happy in Sleepless in Seattle which has reminded me what a clever showman he was. If anyone reading this blog would like to suggest other great songs and singers who have been rediscovered by a younger generation through film, let me know through our contact form (address to Lesley Conway) and we will try to play them over the summer holidays.

---- Lesley

20 million loans

I saw this bit of trivia today and thought I'd pass it on. The SWIFT Consortium of which Eastern Regional Libraries is a member issued its 20 millionth loan on Saturday 6th December at 1:52 pm at Mildura Library.

That's amazing, especially for only 21 months.

Cheers, Maryanne

Mobile phone recycling

Eastern Regional Libraries is now a deposit station for mobile phone recycling. Knox, Croydon and Ringwood branches have special boxes in which members may deposit their old phones. Mobile phones dropped off at our other Eastern Regional Libraries branches will be sent to our Administration.

The mobile phones are sent to SCOPE/Aussie Recycling Program where they are recorded, sorted, tested, repaired if necessary and then exported to developing countries. All phones are accepted, even analogue phones.

Mobile phones contain toxic chemicals and do not degrade in the environment. They should not be thrown in the rubbish.

More information on the Mobile Recycling program may be found at the SCOPE/ARP Don't dump it! Donate it! site.

Cheers, Maryanne

Congratulations Sarah Parker

Rowville Library junior bookclub member, Sarah Parker, has won a short story award in the Children's Charity Network for 2008. Sarah's story, Shimmer, has been published in Young Australian Art & Writers Awards 2008 magazine.

Congratulations Sarah!

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 10th December 2008

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

On today's show

Every Christmas we are asked in the library for some suggestions for presents of books for children and teenagers. Pia has compiled a list of some books which she found particularly enjoyable this year.

For the littlies, Ten Little fingers and ten little toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury is a delightful picture book . Very simple, lyrical and clever text with the gorgeous illustrations by Helen Oxenbury. A story that very quickly invites the reader to tickle the toes of their child and give three little kisses on the end of their nose. Another is Splat the cat by Rob Scotton, the perfect book for all those young ones heading off to school next year. Splat doesn't want to go to school. He tries every trick in the book to avoid it but in the end he must. When he gets to school he finds that it is a whole lot more fun than he ever imagined.

For older children (and in fact teenagers and adults who love puzzles) Enigma by Graeme Base is another very clever picture book by the award winning author/illustrator.The magic props belonging to the residents of the Retirement home for Elderly magicians have disappeared. The magic show will have to be cancelled. Enter Bertie Badger to save the day. He visits each resident in turn to find out what is missing and then hopefully locate it. As always there are lots of things to look for on each page and an enigma wheel at the end to help crack the secret code.

Finnikin of the rock by Melina Marchetta is a departure from Melina's previous novels for teenagers set in the contemporary world; this is a fantasy. The world of Lumatere is an exciting and dangerous one, a world that Finnikin must negotiate to locate the people of his country and to help rebuild it. Where the streets had a name by Randa Abdel Fattah is a story of today. We have heard a lot from the Israeli side of the conflict with Palestine. Now it is time to hear the opposing view. When her grandmother becomes dangerously ill, 13 year old Hayaat decides to enter the occupied territories to retrieve some of the soil from her Grandmother's homeland. Though only about 20 kilometers away, it is in the Israeli territory. It takes hours to move, with so many checkpoints. An amazing and thought provoking tale.

Picture books with a Christmas theme are especially enjoyable at this time of the year. Some new ones with an Australian theme are Russell's Christmas magic by Rob Scotton about Santa being stranded in Firefly Wood with a broken sleigh and Russell the sheep coming to his rescue. An amusing tale. An Aussie night before Christmas by Yvonne Morrison and Kilmeny Niland is a chance to see Santa in a whole new way as he delivers gifts in a rusty old ute wearing old thongs and stubbies. And Aussie jingle bells by Colin Buchanan, illustrated by Nick Bland is the tune of jingle bells with words with an Australian flavour! It even has a CD with it.

Music today was from the CD Carol of the drum, produced by the Royal Australian Navy Band.

---- Lesley

iBistro catalogue

UPDATE: The iBistro catalogue is back up. Apologies for any inconvenience.


The iBistro catalogue is currently unavailable. We are looking into the probelm and should have it up and running soon.

Cheers, Maryanne

Eastern Regional Libraries auto attendant

I've just changed the configuration of the 1300 phone auto attendant so that all of our branches are listed. Call 1300 737 277 and listen to the dulcet tones of Alan Thompson, one of our staff members as he leads you through the new options to contact our branches. Thank-you to Pia Butcher, who was our previous auto attendant star.

The branches are grouped via regions and I've put them in order of the most busiest branches who would likely have more phone calls to the least busiest branches.

Once you know the options you don't have to wait for the prompt you can press the numbers as soon as the auto attendant starts.

You can return to the main menu by pressing 9.

After 8pm if you call the 1300 number you'll get a message saying the libraries are closed and directing you to the opening hours.

I'm always happy to receive feedback so please let me know if you have any trouble with the auto attendant system. The configuration changes have come as a result of member feedback.

Cheers, Maryanne

Training Day, libraries closed - Monday 8th December

A reminder that on Monday 8th December all Eastern Regional Libraries branches and mobiles will be closed for the day so staff can participate in a regional training day, which is a first for Eastern Regional Libraries. It is a good opportunity to gather staff from a large area to discuss the challenges of introducing new technologies to provide a better service for our members. Bookchutes will be open at all branches except Croydon for returns.

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 3rd December 2008

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

On Wednesday's show

Light reading for the summer holidays is always in great demand, and something new by a favourite author is especially good. Lyn brought in the latest novel by Alexander McCall Smith, La's orchestra saves the world which is unusual for him in that it is not part of a series. You may have read his No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, set in Botswana, or 44 Scotland Street, set in Edinburgh, but this latest is about a young woman dealing with her husbands desertion just before the Second World War. It is as gentle and quirky as his other novels, and deals with La's (short for Lavender) attempts to rebuild her life by starting an orchestra on a RAF base, and her unrequited love for a Polish refugee.

Alexander McCall Smith has begun another series which is being published in weekly installments online by the Telegraph newspaper, called Corduroy Mansions, set in London. While it is already up to episode 58, it should be a good read, and there is the added charm that you can listen to it being read by Andrew Sachs.

There is always a detective novel in Lyn's review selection, and today it is the latest Phryne Fisher story from Kerry Greenwood, Murder on a midsummer night. Lyn was only two thirds of the way through, so there was no way she could tell is who dunnit. Phryne, the very model of a svelte and sophisticated young woman of the 1920's has two mysteries to deal with, one an apparent suicide which may be murder, and the other a search for the illegitimate child of a wealthy woman who has died and left her money to 'all' her children. I have no doubt that Phryne will solve the mysteries with flair and humour.

I spoke on air today to one of the authors of a new and very informative book, Anthea Wynn, who with Val Nigol has written Aged Care Homes : the complete Australian Guide. Val is a Financial Planner and Chartered Accountant who realised that there was a gap in practical resources available to people contemplating Aged Care facilities, and who contacted Thea, a freelance technical writer to assist in putting together a relevant and comprehensive guide. The book is written with admirable clarity, and Thea said she had in mind that people dealing with the issues around moving to an Aged Care facility were often overwhelmed and often upset, and that many more people whose first language is not English are looking for information about this stage of their life, and need information in plain English. The text answers the questions we all ask about how to assess when someone needs these facilities, how to be confident that the Home provides good service, how to deal with government agencies, and provides an Australia wide list of Aged Care facilities and government agencies. There are several copies of this title in our libraries, and link to it on internet is www.nursinghomebook.com.au.

---- Lesley

Bookchute at Ringwood

Our apologies that the bookchute at Ringwood Library was not open last night (Tuesday 2nd Dec). Please advise staff if you attempted to return your items through the bookchute.

Cheers, Maryanne

Book a library PC

Everyone that uses our public PCs for Internet and Microsoft Office will love the new service we're offering. You can now book a library PC via our website. You'll find the Book a PC link on our Email & Search page, which is the homepage on all of our public Internet PCs.

1. Select a location and a date and then click the check available times button.
2. A list of hourly timeslots appears. Click on the one you want.
3. Fill in your name, library barcode and PIN and click book now. Every library card has a PIN. If you don't know yours you can contact library staff by phone or email to get your PIN.
   

For those that don't know, our PCs are free to use. You can print to our photocopiers using your library card.

Printing costs:
Black & white A4: 20c per page (GST Inclusive)
Black & white A3: 40c per page (GST Inclusive)
Colour A4: 60c per page (GST Inclusive)
Colour A3: $1.20 per page (GST Inclusive)

Cheers, Maryanne

Refurbishment at Ferntree Gully library

Ferntree Gully library will be undergoing a refurbishment in January and will be closing from Wednesday 31st December 2008 at 3pm, re-opening on Monday 2nd February 2009 at 10am.

The bookchute will not be open during the library closure. We have extended the loans for Ferntree Gully borrowers, however if you are wanting to return items you will need to return them to one of our other branches.

The nearest branches are:

Boronia Library
Knox Library
Rowville Library

If you have books on hold that are likely to arrive during January please contact library staff to change the pickup branch.

I will be uploading the photos of the progress of the refurbishment on Flickr as I have for Boronia and Knox.

Cheers, Maryanne

Festive Cooking

Be ready for Christmas with some delicious festive fare with Jill Hess.

When: Monday 17th December 12:30pm
Where: Mt Evelyn Library, 50 Wray Crescent, Mt. Evelyn
Cost: $7.50 including afternoon tea
Bookings essential phone 97363851

Cheers, Maryanne

Update on Christmas hours for the Knox Mobile

I've just received an update on the Christmas hours for the Knox Mobile. It will be closing at 5pm on Tuesday 23rd December 2008. Will resume the normal timetable on Tuesday 13th January 2009.

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 26th November 2008

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

On Wednesday's show

No one's child is the story of author Judith McNeil's childhood from the age of five to fourteen, in a family which followed the father's work as a railway fettler around the Queensland countryside in the 1950's. Judith spoke to us on air several weeks ago about her first book, The girl with the cardboard port, which described her flight from her violent step-father at 16, to marriage to a Singaporean student and several difficult and dangerous years living in Singapore and Malaysia at the mercy of her eratic husband, until her return to Australia at 24 years of age.

Judith came back today to talk about the earlier years, and described how some crucial friendships helped her gain strength and confidence in herself in spite of a violent father, extremes of poverty, and constant thwarting of her passion to gain an education. Judith writes with clarity, spare and eloquent description and a great ear for dialogue. She says in her epilogue
" I have been either blessed or cursed by and extraordinary memory", and this channels into a powerful story which conveys both the challenges she faced, and the joys of friendship and learning which sustained her. Judith draws a vivid picture of a time full of physical challenges and of racial and gender discrimination.

Her story reminds me in many ways of the stoical and positive A.B. Facey who wrote A fortunate life, and of the books written by Patsy Adam Smith whose family worked the railways in country Victoria in the 1940's. I recommend this as a book you will pick up and not put down until you have read the last page.

---- Lesley

Celebrate Christmas

Celebrate Christmas at Yarra Junction Library. St. Joseph's Primary School Choir will be singing carols. Kids can make a decorated gift bag with handles. Limit of 20. Aged 6+

When: Wednesday 10th December 1:30pm and Thursday 11th December 3:45pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 59671588

Cheers, Maryanne

Yummy Christmas gifts from your kitchen

Join us while Jill Hess shows us how to create simple and delicious Christmas gifts.

When: Wednesday 10th December 12noon
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 98011422

Cheers, Maryanne

The Melbournaires Harmony Chorus

The Melbournaires are Victoria's leading all-male a cappella ensemble. They are coming to the Lilydale Library to entertain you! For more info check out the Melbournaires website

When: Sunday 7th December 2:30pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson Street, Lilydale
Cost: Free event
No need to book

Cheers, Maryanne

Salvation Army @ the library

Join us to welcome in the festive season with the Salvation Army choir and musicians. Donations of food can be dropped off at the library.

When: Saturday 6th December 11am
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event
No need to book

Cheers, Maryanne

Croydon Library Monster Booksale

Grab a bargain at Croydon's Monster Booksale.

When: Saturday 6th December to Wednesday 24th December
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon

Cheers, Maryanne

Christmas & New Year opening hours

I have just added the Christmas & New Year opening hours for our branches and mobiles to the library website. Make sure you know your PIN so you can place holds and renew over the holiday break. If you don't know your PIN please ask library staff on your next visit or fill out the online Get a PIN form and get it emailed to you.

Christmas & New Year Opening hours PDF (145Kb 1 page. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or Accessible Acrobat Reader)

Christmas & New Year opening hours HTML

Cheers, Maryanne

Armchair Travellers - The climb of your life!

Our talk for December will take you on a journey to the summit of the world famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. Helen will tell you about her recent Bridge climb experience. Come and be inspired to taste for yourself one of the thrills Sydney has to offer.

Please come and join us for afternoon tea and lots of travel tales, everyone is welcome.

Be sure to watch the noticeboard for 2009 Armchair Travel Talks.

When: Thursday 4th December 2pm
Where: Mooroolbark Library, 7 Station Street, Mooroolbark
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97268200

Cheers, Maryanne

Searching the catalogue from your browser search box

I've just added an open search plugin that will allow you to add the Eastern Regional Libraries catalogue as a search provider in the search box in your browser (at present Internet Explorer and Firefox). Once the catalogue is added to the list of search sites you can type your author, title or subject in the search box, select ERL catalogue from the search list and enter. You'll be taken straight to your list of results.

The plugin comes courtesy of one of our members, Jason Peart. You'll need to visit the Browser plugins and addons page to add the search plugin. Follow the directions on the page. Let me know through our contact form if you have any problems.

Cheers, Maryanne

Around Words - The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif by Najaf Mazari

Meet Robert Hillman, the co-author and hear the background to the book, The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif. It is a story of Afghanistan, asylum seekers, Woomera Detention Centre and a new life in Australia.

When: Wednesday 3rd December 11am
Where: Yarra Junction Library Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 59671588

Cheers, Maryanne

Friday @ Your Library - Waste Minimisaton & Green Purchasing Workshop

This workshop is the last in a series of sessions run by the Knox City Council Greenleaf project. This is as ongoing partnership through which individuals, businesses, schools and Council can work collectively to reduce our combined impacts upon the environment. The project seeks to engage the different segments of the community by providing simple, practical and affordable solutions to sustainability issues in a way that suits individuals.

When: Friday 28th November 12noon
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential. Book at Knox Council www.knox.vic.gov.au or phone 92988419

Cheers, Maryanne

Easy Christmas entertaining - A Cook's Kitchen event

Learn how to create simple but stunning sweet and savoury finger food and delicious Christmas gifts from your kitchen. Join Jill Hess for hints, tips and recipes that will make Christmas entertaining a breeze.

When: Thursday 27th November 1-3 pm
Where: Healesville Library, 231 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
Cost: $5
Bookings essential phone 59624423

Cheers, Maryanne

Literary Lunch - Meet Sara Hardy

Actor, playwright and biographer Sara Hardy was the inaugural winner of the Peter Blazey Fellowship in 2004. This gave her the opportunity to complete her biography of Edna Walling which was published to much acclaim in 2005. Sara has now completed her long awaited volume on the life of Dame Joan Hammond. Join us for lunch with this fascinating author and learn more about the life of the gifted and quirky Dame Joan.

When: Thursday 27th November 12:30pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: $7.50 includes lunch
Bookings essential phone 97547266

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 12th November 2008

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

On Wednesday's show

What makes you laugh? It's such a personal thing, and I don't know about you, but it's impossible to explain too. I laugh as much at the slapstick of Eric Sykes in The plank as I do at the verbal nonsense of Victor Borge and the funny stories of Bill Cosby.

Our libraries have a huge, and growing collection of CD's and DVD's of some brilliant comedy. You can find DVD's of some very early TV comedy such as The Honeymooners, The rag trade or Steptoe and Son, to M*A*S*H*, Kath and Kim and Summer Heights High.

If you have fond memories as I do of listening to some great radio programs, you should enjoy the range of humour on CD. Today we heard a skit from George Burns and Gracie Field and song from Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante on the CD Vintage Comedy Collection : vol 3. There are three volumes in our libraries, all with a treasure house of timeless comedy. If you hunger to hear Victor Borge doing his Phonetic Punctuation skit again, you will find it on The hilarious Victor Borge, or his wonderful version of Chopsticks, then Comedy : Victor Borge and Tony Hancock is the one. If you're looking for current comedians, Billy Connelly, Dawn French, Lano and Woodley, French and Saunders and Lenny Henry are all in the collection, and many more.

---- Lesley


As far as comedians go for me it's Bob Newhart. Unfortunately we don't have one of his CDs at Eastern Regional (I must rectify that), but if you get the chance to listen to one, particularly listen to the following skits The Driving Instructor and King Kong.

"Did he cover starting the car? And the "other way of stopping". What's "the other way of stopping"? Throwing it in reverse. That … would do it."
The Driving Instructor - Bob Newhart

"Yes, sir, I looked in the handbook index under 'unauthorized personnel' and 'people without passes' and 'apes,' and 'ape's toes,' but it's not in there"
King Kong - Bob Newhart

What makes you laugh?

Cheers, Maryanne

Eastern Regional Libraries training day

On Monday 8th December all Eastern Regional Libraries branches and mobiles will be closed for the day so staff can participate in a regional training day, which is a first for Eastern Regional Libraries.

It is a good opportunity to gather staff from a large area to discuss the challenges of introducing new technologies to provide a better service for our members.

Cheers, Maryanne

Have fun with Christmas activities

Book in the children now for the great Christmas activities at our libraries.

Pretty Paper Garland
Create a colourful garland to decorate your house for Christmas. They make a nice change from paper chains. For school aged children.

When: Monday 17th November 4pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: $3
Bookings essential phone 97547266


Make your own Christmas Cards
Make a beautiful Christmas card to give to Mum or Dad or you favourite aunt. For ages 5+

When: Wednesday 19th November 4pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Cr, Boronia
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 97624099


Felt decorations
These cute decorations are simple to make and look great on the Christmas tree. For school aged children.

When: Monday 24th November 4pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: $3
Bookings essential phone 97547266


Create a Christmas Decoration
Cool Christmas decorations for your tree. For kids aged 5+

When: Wednesday 26th November 4pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Cr, Boronia
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 97624099


Table Top Christmas tree
Make this pretty tree to brighten up your Christmas table (may need to return another day to finish project). For school aged children.

When: Monday 1st December 4pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: $3
Bookings essential phone 97547266


Cardmaking
Make cards for someone special.

When: Monday 1st December 4pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Ringwood Street Mall, Ringwood
Cost: $2
Bookings essential phone 9870 0177


Make Santa and a reindeer
Make a Santa and reindeer to impress Santa on Christmas night. For kids aged 5+

When: Wednesday 3rd December 4pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Cr, Boronia
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 97624099


Christmas Tree Window
Make a Christmas tree window to give to friends and family

When: Wednesday 3rd December 4pm
Where: Mooroolbark Library, 7 Station Street, Mooroolbark
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 97268200


Christmas Bedtime Storytime
Come in Pj’s and bring your favourite friend to cuddle. Listen to Christmas stories and meet Santa.

When: Thursday 4th December 6:30-7:30pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 92945640


Feathery Christmas Angel
Make your own tree decoration. Age 7yrs +

When: Thursday 4th December 4pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Ringwood Street Mall, Ringwood
Cost: $2
Bookings essential phone 9870 0177


Fire Breathers Book club Christmas
Come along and make Christmas decorations using CDs. For primary school children only.

When: Tuesday 9th December 4pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 92945640


Make your own Christmas Crackers
Make some Christmas crackers to share. For kids aged 5+

When: Wednesday 10th December 4pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Cr, Boronia
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 97624099


Christmas star chains
Make sparkling Christmas star chains and glittery hearts for your Christmas tree

When: Wednesday 10th December 4pm
Where: Mooroolbark Library, 7 Station Street, Mooroolbark
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 97268200


Feathery Christmas Angel
Make your own tree decoration. Age 7yrs +

When: Wednesday 10th December 4pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Ringwood Street Mall, Ringwood
Cost: $2
Bookings essential phone 9870 0177


Make your own decorations
Make glittering Christmas decorations to put on your tree at home.

When: Thursday 11th December 4pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 9294 1300


Christmas Fairy Storytime
Join our Christmas Fairy for a wonderful session of Christmas stories and songs. Ages 4yrs+

When: Thursday 11th December 4:30 - 5:15pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Ringwood Street Mall, Ringwood
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 9870 0177


Santa Claus door hanger
Make a Santa Claus door hanger.

When: Tuesday 16th December 4pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 92941300


Christmas cards
Make perfect Christmas cards to give to your family and friends.

When: Wednesday 17th December 4pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

New James Patterson non-fiction

I have just learnt that the latest James Patterson non-fiction book (co-written by Hal Friedman) has two titles. The American edition is called Against Medical Advice : a true story, whilst the Australian edition is called Torn Apart. We have copies under each title however there are more copies of the Australian edition so if you are placing holds you should place them on Torn Apart.

Torn Apart is the story of Hal's son, Cory and his sudden development of Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorder and other neurological conditions and the heartbreaking journey to find a treatment. Find out more and read an excerpt at James Patterson's official website.

Cheers, Maryanne

Meet author Peter Watt

With a variety of occupations (military, police, builder's labourer, deckhand on a prawn trawler) Peter has plenty of experiences to incorporate into his exciting adventure novels which include Shadow of the Osprey, Cry of the Curlew, Flight of the Eagle, Papua, and more. Check out Peter Watt's website for more.

When: Friday 21st November 7pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event or cost
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

Christmas cooking with Ann Creber

Christmas is the time for special treats for giving, or for your own table. Join fabulous ‘foodie’ Ann Creber as she shares ideas for Christmas goodies. Only a few places left so book now!

When: Friday 21st November 2pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Crescent, Boronia
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97624099

Cheers, Maryanne

Bollywood Dancing

This event's back by popular request. Join us for some fun and learn to Bollywood. Wear comfy clothing and easily removed footwear.

When: Thursday 20th November 7pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event or cost
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

November Book Bites cancelled

The Book Bites session at Croydon Library featuring author Stefan Laszczuk has been cancelled.

Cheers, Maryanne

Local for locals - Take Home a Christmas Elf

Meet Fiona and Cathy from Catnap Quilts who will show you how to complete a Quilted Elf. It's free to come and observe, or yopu can purchase a kit on the day for $15. Afternoon tea is provided.

When: Wednesday 19th November 1:15-2:15pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free to come and observe. Kits available on the day $15
Bookings essential phone 5967 1588

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 5th November 2008

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

On Wednesday's show

There is always a lively debate when a novel is turned into a film as to whether justice has been done to the original story. At the moment the film Brideshead revisited has sparked a lot of comment, some that it was impossible to better the TV series made in the 1980's, others that it doesn't do justice to the novel. The only way to find out is to go and see it, which Lyn Baines did last week, and feels that it was an entertaining and well made film. Lyn has admitted that she can be very hard on re-makes of the Austen stories or Jane Eyre on film or TV. But then we all have a personal take on what we read and see, and what will please one, will upset another. So it's worth checking out the many versions of classic stories we hold in our library collection to see what you think. There are any number of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Bronte, Thomas Hardy which have made it onto film, and of course the Brideshead Revisted TV series, and Lyn's great favourite Cold Comfort Farm. There is not currently a copy of Cold Comfort Farm on DVD in ERL at present, but it can be ordered from a Consortia library, and Lyn has rushed off to order new copies for our library collection.

Call me old-fashioned, you can even call me a Luddite, but I do prefer a book every time, and Lyn had some new titles with her today. Susan Hill's new novel The Beacon is a departure from her detective novels. This is the story of a family challenged by the revelations of a book written by one of the siblings, accusing the father of childhood abuse. It is a study of character, of how individuals cope differently with the conflict and has a dramatic finish.

Blood in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope on the other hand is very much in the 'cosy crime' genre. The crime or crimes in question are old, a skeleton in fact, and the investigator a young woman who is house sitting in that most beautiful of English regions, the Cotswolds. Her boyfriend is a police detective, but he's laid up with a slipped disc, so our heroine decides to work out the mystery herself.

Music today was from the CD As time goes by : the best of Jimmy Durante

---- Lesley

Melbourne Cup Day holiday

Rounding the first turn in the 2005 Melbourne Cup (courtesy of VRC)

Tuesday 4th November is the Melbourne Cup Day public holiday and all libraries and mobiles are closed on that day.

You can return items though the bookchute at most of our branches and renew items through the web catalogue if you have your PIN. Be prepared and find out your PIN today by phoning your local branch or via our online form.

For those going to the Melbourne Cup check out the Melbourne Cup carnival and Metlink websites (public transport information).

Have a great day everyone.

Cheers, Maryanne

Placing holds on item at other consortium libraries

We just have to wait one more day until members themselves can place holds on items from other libraries in the consortium via the iBistro catalogue. You might like to test it out over the weekend.

Cheers, Maryanne

Greater flexibility added to the iBistro catalogue

We are happy to announce a few changes to the iBistro catalogue that will give greater flexibility and service to our members. These changes should be occurring tomorrow (Friday 31st October).

Holds on other consortium library items
Members can now place holds themselves on other consortium libraries' items via the web catalogue. To place holds you will need your userID (your library barcode starting 20023) and your PIN (you can phone one of our branches to find out your PIN).

To expand your search to include all consortium libraries just select ALL from the dropdown menu labelled library in the Quick Search box. The Swift consortium, of which we are a member, now comprises 14 library systems around Victoria, with another 2 library systems joining soon.




Renewing with overdues
Members can also renew and place holds through the web catalogue if they have overdue items or charges on their card.

Just a reminder that you are unable to borrow on your card until any outstanding charges are paid.

Cheers, Maryanne

Leanne Gillies from Fleming's Nurseries

Montrose Gardeners presents Leanne Gillies from Fleming's Nurseries, who will speak on:

• Her involvement with the Chelsea Flower Show (view the stunning gold medal entry for the 2008 show)
  
• Top ten trees - choosing the right tree
• Suggestions for some lovely Christmas gifts

In 14 years at Fleming's, Leanne has worked in a number of areas of the business, including research & development, propagation, production and sales. Her current role includes looking after Fleming's Student Design Competition, and the annual Fleming's entry for the Chelsea Flower Show.

When: Tuesday 18th November 1pm
Where: Montrose Library, Cnr Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd & Swansea Rd, Montrose
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97284224

Cheers, Maryanne

Mt Evelyn Cookery club - Christmas cooking

It's seems very scary to be advertising Christmas activities around the end of October, however I guess if you're cooking for all of those family events you need to be prepared. So on that note, be ready for Christmas with some delicious festive fare with Jill Hess.

When: Monday 17th November 12:30pm
Where: Mt Evelyn Library, 50 Wray Crescent, Mt. Evelyn
Cost: $7.50 including afternoon tea
Bookings essential phone 97363851

Cheers, Maryanne

Staying healthy: dealing with Anxiety and Depression

Psychologist Clinton Batty will provide tips on dealing with Anxiety and Depression.

When: Friday 14th November 12noon
Where: Knox Library, Knox City Shopping Centre, 425 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna Sth
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 98011422

Cheers, Maryanne

A tour through the Solar System - The Planets

Journey to the frontiers of scientific knowledge with professional astronomer and science educator, Dr James Murray. Learn about new planets and solar systems, planet formation and the early universe.

When: Thursday 13th November 7pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97547266

Cheers, Maryanne

Book Bites - Meet Stefan Laszczuk

Writer and musician Stefan Laszczuk first came to public notice with the unpublished manuscript of his book The Goddamn Bus of Happiness (2004) which won a South Australian Festival of Literature Award. He gained further publicity and praise when his next unpublished manuscript won the 2007 Vogel Award. The result is I Dream of Magda, published by Allen and Unwin in August 2008. Discover the secrets of Stefan's success.

When: Thursday 13th November 12:30pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: $7.50 (includes lunch)
Bookings essential phone 92945640

Cheers, Maryanne

Reminder about Boronia Library closure

Just reminding everyone that Boronia Library will be closed this week from Monday 27th - Wednesday 29th October inclusive.

We have been advised that technicians will be replacing the power supply which covers the library, basketball stadium and childcare centre. We regret the inconvenience however we have only just found out about this ourselves.

The bookchute will be open so that you can return items but staff will only be visiting to clear the bookchute, so please call Knox (98011422) or Ferntree Gully (92948140) libraries if you need assistance.

Cheers, Maryanne

Reading Cafe - Meet Kevin Rabalais

Born in New Orleans and now resident in Melbourne, Kevin Rabalais first attracted attention in his home country with Novel Voices published in 2003. Having read the story of the Burke and Wills expedition Kevin decided to relocate to Australia and write a work of fiction based on the story. After four years Landscape of Desire is the result, a wonderful lyrical novel. An excellent speaker with a superb knowledge of literature this will be a talk not to be missed. Cost includes lunch.

When: Monday 10th November 12:30pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson St, Lilydale
Cost: $7.50
Bookings essential phone 92943120

Cheers, Maryanne

Weekly English conversation group

Every Wednesday at Knox Library a volunteer tutor from the Outer Eastern Literacy Program comes to help English as second language migrants practise their oral English.

When: Every Wednesday 1 - 2:30pm
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Cost: Free event
Enquiries phone Emma 98011422

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 22nd October 2008

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

On Wednesday's show

Pia brought in a lovely pile of new books for children and young adults today. The first is in the teenage collection, which has hosts of great reads by exciting writers such as Garth Nix, Phillip Pullman, Tamora Pierce and John Marsden. Knife of never letting go by Patrick Ness is described as speculative fiction. In a world which has reverted to simpler times, Prentisstown is a town inhabited only by men. There is no privacy as everyone can hear each others thoughts, even animal thoughts can be heard. Todd is the only child left. It is only days till he will become a man at the age of fourteen. No big celebration though as he finds himself, his dog and a stranger, the first girl he has ever seen, on the run from the males of Prentisstown.

For younger readers, from around ten to fourteen years, Diary of a Wimpy kid by Jeff Kinney is a novel in cartoons. Funny and sad at the same time, our hero Greg writes and draws himself into this diary (sorry journal!!) about the every day trials, troubles and fun of young teenager.

And for the very young, a delightful picture book Russell the sheep by Rob Scotten. Poor Russell cannot get to sleep and he tries everything, including a walk, sleeping in a cave and on a branch before finally finding the foolproof method.

Two picture books that Pia didn't have time to talk about, but recommends are Edwina, the dinosaur who didn't know she was extinct by Mo Willems, a fantastic newish author/illustrator. Edwina is happy with her life. All the townsfolk love her except for Reginald who insists she shouldn't be here as she is extinct. At first Edwina is depressed about this peice of news but then she decides to go on with life regardless. And

Roland Wright Brand new page by Tony Davis, illustrated by Gregory Rogers. A sequel to Roland Wright Future Knight. Roland has been invited by the King to become a page at his castle. Unfortunatley not everyone is pleased to see him. Hector, another of the pages, doesn't believe lowly born people should be allowed to become pages. He picks on Roland. Should Roland retaliate in the same way as Hector...?

---- Lesley

Using Ancestry in your research

Frustrated with not getting the most out of Ancestry.com? Then attend this free talk presented by our Family History guru Gail White. Ancestry.com is available free for library members through the Family History section of our library website. It has U.K. and U.S. census records, military records, passenger lists and more.

When: Saturday 8th November 2-4pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92945640

Cheers, Maryanne

Researching & understanding World War I records

Learn how to research World War I records of past soldiers and understand more fully what they mean.

When: Thursday 6th November 2pm
Where: Mooroolbark Library, 7 Station Street, Mooroolbark
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97268200

Cheers, Maryanne

Boronia Library closed 27-29th October

Boronia Library will be closed next week from Monday 27th - Wednesday 29th October inclusive.

We have been advised that technicians will be replacing the power supply which covers the library, basketball stadium and childcare centre. We regret the inconvenience however we have only just found out about this ourselves.

The bookchute will be open so that you can return items but staff will only be visiting to clear the bookchute, so please call Knox (98011422) or Ferntree Gully (92948140) libraries if you need assistance.

Cheers, Maryanne

iBistro catalogue temporarily down

The iBistro catalogue is currently down. We'll advise when it is back up and running. This will affect access to member login for renewals as well as 10-minute PC access at the branches that have this service.

UPDATE 4pm: Library system and the iBistro catalogue have both gone down temporarily. We hope to have it back up and running soon.

Cheers, Maryanne

iBistro library catalogue down

The iBistro library catalogue is temporarily unavailable. Technicians are investigating and we hope to have it back up very soon. This issue also affects access to the 10 minute PCs that some of the branches have.

Cheers, Maryanne

UPDATE: The iBistro catalogue is now back up

Yuletide food for the table

Jill Hess is back! Come along and sample Jill's Xmas goodies and take away ideas and recipes.

When: Wednesday 5th November 7pm update - fully booked
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson St, Lilydale
Cost: $5
Bookings essential phone 92943120

Cheers, Maryanne

Man Booker Prize winner

The Man Booker Prize for the best fiction title for 2008 is Aravind Adiga for his novel The White Tiger.

Collins Booksellers review

Have you read this novel? Send us a comment and let us know what you think. What do you think is the best fictional book this year?

Cheers, Maryanne

Knox Library

As Knox Library has just re-opened they are still working through the boxes of books that were returned while they were closed and need to be re-shelved. If you urgently need a book you found on the catalogue (many are saying returned today) and wish to pick it up, perhaps give Knox Library a call on 98011422 to confirm it's there, otherwise place your hold on the catalogue and we'll get it sent to your local branch.

Cheers, Maryanne

Make your own Christmas cards

Suzanne will show you how to make your own beautiful unique Christmas cards. You'll find that your cards will be the ones that everyone wants to receive.

When: Wednesday 5th November 1pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson St, Lilydale
Cost: $6 (2 cards)
Bookings essential phone 92943120

Cheers, Maryanne

Build a butterfly garden

Daniel from Candlebark Nursery in Mooroolbark will talk about how to attract butterfies and birds to your garden.

When: Saturday 1st November 1pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson Street, Lilydale
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92943120

Cheers, Maryanne

Halloween Hullabaloo

Boronia Library is having it's annual Halloween Hullabaloo. Come and see Carp Production's Spooky Monster Show, dress in your finest costumes and eat freaky food. I've been to a few of these events and they are always spectacular.

Be there or be scared!

When: Friday 31st October 6:30pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Cr, Boronia
Cost: $3 per child, pay on the night
Bookings essential phone 97624099

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 17th Sept - 8th Oct 2008

Well it's my first day back at work for three weeks and one of the first things I need to do is catch everyone up on what's been happening on the radio show. So here's four weeks worth of show summaries. For those not in the know, library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.


17th Sept 2008

Can you imagine not having the right to vote? One hundred years ago, in Victoria, women over the age of 21 gained the right to vote in State elections, the last State in Australia to legislate for this. It was the culmination of many womens' struggle for acknowledgment, and a slow and grudging response from those in power. Along with the suffrage struggle went the demands for equal wages, property rights, equality in education and rights of children. We can sometimes forget, while contemplating what we would like to change for the better, the social changes which have improved life for us.

One of the focal points of the celebration is a petition of 30,000 signatures collected in 1891, of women across Victoria who supported the call for the vote, nicknamed 'The Monster Petition'. It was pasted onto a huge roll of calico and apparently took four men to lift. Kathy Smalley and staff at Croydon and Ringwood libraries have organised an event to commemorate this petition. Signature Stories of Ringwood & Croydon Suffragettes, is an opportunity to sign a new petition which will become part of the history of womens' suffrage in the future, a performance by Wilma Farrow as Vida Goldstein, a prominent suffragette, and a look at the stories of local women who signed the original petition. It will take place on Friday 17th of October from 7.15pm, and you can book at any ERL branch or by ringing Ringwood Library on 9870 0177. Kathy is also interested in tracing the histories of several women from the local area who signed the original 1891 petition. If your family has links back to that period, or you know of others who do, Kathy would like to hear from you on the Ringwood phone number.


24th Sept 2008

As parents and grandparents we are often keen to introduce our young family members to classic stories we have loved. Pia and I agreed that often we find that the younger folk are less than enthusiastic about our beloved favourites. For every generation, it is important to read books in contemporary language, about people and situations that they recognise. This is important for their literacy and for their emotional development. So well written books aimed at teenagers are especially welcome. Lili Wilkinson is a Melbourne writer who knows what will interest teenage girls, and her latest, The not quite perfect boyfriend is a great read. It tells the story of 16 year old Midge who has never had a boyfriend, whose friends talk about boyfriends so much, she makes one up; only to find a boy just like the one she described turning up at her school at the start of the year. The story becomes very tangled before Midge sorts out her priorites.

A book which has been around for a while, but has sparked some new borrowing because it was made into a film in the last year is Nim's island by Wendy Orr. This is a lovely story to read to children between the ages of 6 and 10, about a young girl who lives on a Pacific island with her dad. One day her dad disappears at sea, Nim writes to tell her favourite adventure writer Alex Rover of the mystery. Will Alex come to the rescue?

Pia also had some lovely picture books with her today, including Donkeys Adelheid Dahimene-Heide Stollinger which tells of a couple of donkey friends who quarrel, but discover that no other creature fits in quite so well with them as the other donkey. Sunday Chutney is by Aaron Blabey who won the Early Childhood category of the Children's Book of the Year awards this year with Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley. His latest book is equally quirky and warmly affectionate, about a little girl who is different, but full of charm.

Finally, Molly and her Dad by Jan Ormerod describes the challenge to a little girl whose mum and dad live a plane flight apart, and whose dad comes to look after her while her mum has to go away. Molly discovers that while her dad may not be like the other kids' dads, he has many endearing qualities which she comes to love.


1st Oct 2008

P.D. James began her detective writing career in 1962, and has written fourteen novels featuring the very English Inspector Adam Dalgliesh. According to Lyn Baines, Adam should be about 80 by now, but in the parallel universe of detective fiction, our favourites never age dramatically. There is a good chance this will be the last of James' very popular character as she is 88 years old, and has earnt the right to put her feet up on the couch and do some reading herself. Adam Dalgliesh has resolved his love life and become engaged in this novel, and offered promotion, so many of the loose ends of previous novels have been tied. In this latest novel The Private Patient, you have to wait a hundred pages for the crime (Lyn's dad would have given up after page fifty), and a lot of character building and scene setting prepares you for a puzzling murder in an isolated old house in Devon, with an ancient stone cirle somehow involved. If you are interested in knowing more about P.D. James, you can check out the official P.D. James website.

Lyn's second book review today was on her other passion, history. The fears of Henry IV : the life of England's self made king by Ian Mortimer introduces us to an English king who is comparatively unknown, his short reign of fifteen years troubled by insurrection and assassination attempts. He is primarily known as the king who ousted his cousin Richard II from the throne, and as the father of Henry V, the successful soldier whose victory at Agincourt led to his success in combining the crowns of England and France. Mortimer has written a compelling story of the power struggles and conflicts, with a rich background of what medieval life in England was like.


8th Oct 2008

The girl with the cardboard port by Judith McNeil is a harrowing true story of a young girl's life from the age of fourteen to twenty four; her search for love and belonging, and the failings and outright rejection of her birth family and the family she married into. There is a resolute honesty and freshness of recall that means this story leaps off the page.

It was a privilege to talk to Judith on the radio program today about the experiences of that period of her life, and of what it meant to write it down. The cardboard port of the title accompanied Judith from the small north Queensland town which her mother and five syblings had to leave when her father, a railway fettler, was killed. It accompanied her to Brisbane and frightening period with a homicidal step father; to Sydney to which she escaped at sixteen and met a student from Singapore to whom she became pregnant, then married; to Singapore to live with her husband's family which she had believed to be wealthy, but discovered living in poverty; to Kuala Lumpur where she lived a fractured life between high society parties and poor rural kampong; and finally back to Australia, when she knew she would have to leave or go mad.

Through ordeals of sexual violence, extreme poverty, fear for her children's and her own life, she managed to maintain a curiosity about the worlds she found herself in, and recalls scenes, dialogue and customs which make this a compellingly sensual book in many ways. As simple as her determination to find a Christmas tree in the jungle, and as complex as the exploration of new towns and cities, their sights, smells and complex relationships of class and culture, all is fascinating. This is a story which will resonate for some time after you have finished it.

---- Lesley

Food for fines is back

Do you know someone that avoids the library like the plague because of a few fines? We've missed them, so please tell them about our Food for Fines Amnesty from 13th-31st October 2008.

Bring in some non-perishable food items during this period and we'll waive your fines. The food will be donated to local charities so it's win-win-win.

If you've got really overdue books at home bring them back during the amnesty along with some non-perishable food and we'll waive those fines as well.

Cheers, Maryanne

Spooktacular Halloween Party

Come along to Lilydale Library's Spooktacular Halloween Party!

• Listen to spine-tingling stories with Matteo the storyteller
• Dress up in your scariest costume
• Join in the ghoulish fun
• Gobble up ghostly treats

Don't miss out on the frightful fun! All ages welcome.

When: Friday 31st October 6-8pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson Street, Lilydale
Cost: $3 per child
Bookings essential phone 92943120

Cheers, Maryanne

Home Grown veggies - the 'Sazan' way

Sazan Halit, the 'Veggie Man' will enthuse and inspire you to start growing your own vegetables. Save money and improve your health with vegetables straight from your garden.

Sazan, whose father was a market gardener, will also tell his secrets of 'down-to-earth' vegetable growing.

When: Friday 24th October 2pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Crescent, Boronia
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97624099

Cheers, Maryanne

National Storywriting Competition Winners

The winners of the National Storywriting competition have been announced. Congratulations to all of the winners.

Presentation of ERL Storywriting Competition
When: Sunday 5th October 2:30-4pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Melbourne Street Mall Ringwood

Join this year’s judge; author Robert Hillman for the presentation of the winning entries in the 21st Eastern Regional Libraries Storywriting Competition. Winner of the National Biography Award in 2005 for his book Boy in a Green Suit, Robert is the author of a number of books including My Life as a Traitor (2007) which he co-authored with Zia Ghahramani detailing her life and subsequent imprisonment in Iran.

Cheers, Maryanne

Congratulations to Rowville Library!

Now we don't go out of our way to provide a great service just to win an award. It's nice when someone says thank-you. But last night at the Leader Business Achiever Awards, held for Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges, Rowville Library won their category - Community service/not-for-profit. It's a fantastic reward for the Rowville Library staff.

We'd also like to congratulate the staff at Knox Library who were nominated - well done!

Cheers, Maryanne

Vision Australia's Dickinson Literary Award

I recently stumbled upon an advertisement for the Vision Australia Dickinson Literary Award and had to share.

From the Vision Australia website:

These awards have a long and proud history dating back to 1921, and Vision Australia is honored to continue this prestigious tradition. Find out more about the history of this prestigious award.

The competition is open to all Australian writers who are blind or have low vision.

Categories

Adult - 25 years and older
Fiction (no more than 1000 words)
Non-fiction (no more than 1000 words)

Young Adult - 16 to 24 years
Fiction (no more than 1000 words)
Non-fiction (no more than 1000 words)

Youth - those under 16 years
Fiction (no more than 500 words)
Non-fiction (no more than 500 words)

Open - All ages
Best autobiographical piece on living with blindness and low vision


Entry Criteria

To enter the Vision Australia Dickinson Literary Award, you must:

• be an Australian citizen


• be legally blind

Submitting your Entry

Entries open on 1st October and close on 31st December. View the application form.

Cheers, Maryanne

Little Yarra Steiner School Year 5 orchestra

Enjoy a cuppa at the library and listen to the talented children from the local Steiner School.
When: Thursday 23rd October 2pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 59671588

Cheers, Maryanne

Lunch with Jill Hess

Montrose Gardeners invites you to 'Lunch with Jill Hess'. Jill will cook up a treat using seasonal produce, taking you through each recipe, step-by-step. Lunch will include nibbles, main meal & a sweet. Recipe sheets will be provided.

When: Tuesday 21st October 12:30pm
Where: Montrose Public Hall, 1B Leith Rd, Montrose
Cost: $7.50 - payable at Japara House, Montrose or Mt Evelyn Libraries only, no later than Saturday 18th October please
Bookings essential phone Japara House 97283587 or Montrose Library 97284224

Cheers, Maryanne

Website unavailable Sunday

On Sunday 28th September 9am-12noon Eastern Regional Libraries Administration will be without power, due to maintenance work. This means you will not be able to access the library website during this time.

To access the library catalogue (to search or renew) you can visit the catalogue directly rather than go through the library site.

Access the ERL catalogue.

Cheers, Maryanne

Signature Stories of Ringwood & Croydon Suffragettes

Join us to celebrate Victorian Women Vote 1908-2008

• Learn the histories of our local suffragettes
• Sign the new petition and become a part of history
• Performance by Wilma Farrow as Vida Goldstein

Enquiries:
Eastern Regional Libraries - Kathy Smalley 98700177
Ringwood & District Historical Society - Russ Haines 98764367
Croydon Historical Society - Les Hutchison 9294 5648

When: Friday 17th October 7:15pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Ringwood Street Mall, Ringwood
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 9870 0177

Cheers, Maryanne

No more Yo Yo dieting

Rowville Library are offering a free seminar on the psychology of weight loss. The seminar will show you how to get control over compulsive eating and you'll learn techniques to resolve food cravings.

When: Thursday 16th October 7pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

Morning tea

Rowville Library will be hosting a morning tea to thank everyone who nominated them for the Leader Newspaper Business Awards and to celebrate being a finalist again this year. Come along and join in the celebration. The Business Achiever Awards night for Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges is on Wednesday 1st October. Good luck!

When: Wednesday 15th October from 10:30am
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

Military History Day

Croydon library will be hosting a Military History Day in October. The program of events includes:

10:30am - Australian WW1 submarine AE2
by AE2 Commemorative Foundation Ltd

11:30am - Vietnam War
by Vietnam Veterans Education Team

1:30pm - D-Day Remembered
by D-Day Veteran Mr R.Robinson

2:30pm - History of the Royal Australian Engineers
by Mr D. Coppen

When: Saturday 11th October 10am-4pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92945640

Cheers, Maryanne

Seniors, do mobile phones bamboozle you?

Want to know how to use your phone more effectively? Come along to the Lilydale Library to learn how to use your phone.

When: Wednesday 8th October 4:30-5pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson Street, Lilydale
Cost: Free event or cost
Bookings essential, limited places, phone 92943120

Cheers, Maryanne