Bring a graphic novel to life

We had to cancel the Rowville animation workshop due to lack of numbers, however the Saturday Boronia session is booking out fast. There's only 2 places left, so book now!

You will be working with Gregg Brown from Playanimation and you will learn skills including:

• animation principles
• character & set design
• filming.

The hands-on workshops are for young people 10 – 25 years who live, work, study or recreate within the City of Knox. There will be free food and everyone will get a DVD of the final animation.

When: Saturday 4th April 10am - 1:30pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Cr, Boronia
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97624099

Cheers, Maryanne

Bonsai for beginners

The Yarra Valley Bonsai Club is coming to Lilydale Library to introduce you to the beautiful art of Bonsai.

When: Saturday 4th April 1pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson Street, Lilydale
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92943120

Cheers, Maryanne

Easter egg guess

Are your counting skills up to scratch? Rowville Library are having a competition to guess the number of Easter eggs in the jar displayed at the library. The closest guess equal or under the actual number will win the jar of eggs. Sounds pretty cool to me.

When: The competition will be drawn on Thursday 9th April
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville

Cheers, Maryanne

Update on the Valley Mobile

LATEST UPDATE 10:49am: The Mobile has been fixed and will be back to the normal schedule tomorrow Wednesday 1st April

The Valley Mobile will be off the road all day today. Hopefully the replacement parts will arrive and it will be back on the road tomorrow but I'll have to keep you posted on that.

Cheers, Maryanne

Valley Mobile

The Valley Mobile is off the road today for mechanical repairs. I'll advise later today whether this will extend to tomorrow etc.

Cheers, Maryanne

National Youth Week

28th March - 5th April

The theme for this year's National Youth Week is Make a Move and Eastern Regional Libraries are holding some great events:

Bring a graphic novel to life!
Participate in a free hands-on Animation workshop. You will be working with Gregg Brown from Playanimation and you will learn skills including:

• animation principles
• character & set design
• filming.

The workshops are for young people 10 – 25 years who live, work, study or recreate within the City of Knox. There will be free food and everyone will get a DVD of the final animation.

When: Wednesday 1st April 4:30 - 8pm Cancelled
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Rd, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92941300

OR

When: Saturday 4th April 10am - 1:30pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Cr, Boronia
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97624099


Fretshop performance
Live at Rowville Library, check out the Fretshop youth guitar collective performance.
When: Thursday 2nd April 6pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Rd, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92941300


Edward or Jacob? Vampire or Werewolf? -- BOOKED OUT
Food, music, prizes and lots of surprises. You can even come dressed as your favourite character.

When: Thursday 2nd April 7 - 8:30pm
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 98011422


There are also some great events being held by our local council Youth Services.

Knox City Council - Knox Youth Short Film Festival
Also during Youth Week is the screening of films for the 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
Enquiries contact Kate Clark phone 9298 8550


Shire of Yarra Ranges - Elevation!
Join in a skate and BMX comp (12&U /16&U /OPEN) $5 entry

Also featuring live music from Ashley's Affair, Meliki, Triact, The Duke's, Driveby Epic and the Power Percussion Group

PLUS .... free rockclimbing wall, market stalls, mental health photo exhibition and much more!

When: Saturday 4th April 11am - 4pm
Where: Lilydale Skate Bowl, Hardy St, Lilydale

Cheers, Maryanne

Ranges Mobile not at Ferny Creek

Due to rostering difficulties the Ranges Mobile will not be at Ferny Creek today from 3pm. It will also be off the road tomorrow morning (Thursday 26th March) having it's carpet cleaned, therefore will not be at Upwey.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Cheers, Maryanne

Under the bonnet - car maintenance for beginners

We need quite a few more bookings for our free workshop on car maintenance, so if you know someone who doesn't know a lot about cars or is a new owner please forward these details.

The free workshop provides an opportunity for owners to find out what makes their car tick and how to look after it, and to leave them feeling confident and road ready.

Topics include:

• under the bonnet
• changing a tyre and basic tyre care
• how to jump start a car
• understanding what service staff are talking about
• what to do if involved in a car accident
• breakdown situation
• safety tip - perfect seating position for driving

This is a joint venture with Garry and Warren Smith Mazda Service Centre, 1020 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully and Eastern Regional Libraries.

When: Tuesday 31st March 6:30pm
Where: Mazda Service Centre, 1020 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92948140

Cheers, Maryanne

Thank-you for supporting our collection for the CFA

Thanks to the generosity of our library users, ERL has raised over $3000 to go to the CFA. The ERL Board has decided that all overdue charges taken throughout ERL service points this week (23rd-29th March) will be added to that amount.

Cheers, Maryanne

Search for online magazines through our catalogue

Paul just alerted me that we could now search for magazines & journals available in the online resources (including Ebsco - ANZ Reference, Masterfile Premier, Consumer Health Complete, Gale - Health & Wellness, Science Resource Center) via the web catalogue. This is thanks to Linda at Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation and SirsiDynix.

All you have to do is:

1. Click on the Search the catalogue link from our library website or click the following link http://swft.erlc.sirsidynix.net.au/
2. Type the magazine or journal title and e-magazine in the search box and click search. e.g choice e-magazine
3. Click on the chain icon to the right of the magazine title that appears in the results. If you are at home you will be prompted for your library card number. After that you'll be taken to the title. All you need to do now is select the appropriate issue.

This is a great way to keep up-to-date with your latest favourite magazines. No need to wait, read it online.

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 25th February 2009 & 11th March 2009

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.

It's 2 for the price of 1 today, as I did not get around to putting in Pia's session from the 25th February.

On Wednesday 25th February show

For listeners from a fortnight ago who wondered what became of the titles of the picture books which Pia had on the program, I am now adding those to our blog.

Baby Dragon by Amy Ehrlich, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand : Baby Dragon waits for his mother to come back, just where she told him to. He counts his claws, he sings a song and he doesn't run off to play with Weasel or Frog. But waiting is hard-especially when Crocodile swims by and offers him a river-ride...

Mr Big by Ed Vere : A true friend comes in any shape or size. Mr Big is big and scary to others. No one stays around to discover what he is really like. Inside Mr Big feels very small and lonely. People are captivated by Mr Big's piano playing and this leads to him being invited to "jam" with some musicians. Mr Big finds he has another problem now- no time to himself but that is just the way he likes it!

Too many toys by David Shannon : Cooper has lots and lots of toys. Everyone gives him some. His Mum and Dad decide that enough is enough...some of the toys must go. Mum and Cooper carefully sift through his toys and put some into a big box for disposal...however!

Louise, the adventures of a chicken by Kate Di Camillo and Harry Bliss : Louise is a little chicken who has lots of exciting adventures... sailing with pirates, joins a circus etc. In the end , Louise discovers that home is the best place to be.

On Wednesday 11th March show

Today I spoke to Anthea Wynn, joint author with Val Nigol of Aged Care Homes : the complete Australian guide, who was on the program last year giving some background to her research into aged care. I wanted to talk to her at greater length because she has had a fascinating working life, and I thought she would have some interesting things to pass on about how her writing career developed. She had her first article published at the age of 14, in a local Melbourne newspaper, and given the response that we receive for the Eastern Regional Libraries National Story Writing Competition, there are still many writers diligently entering short works and articles to the many competitions, newspapers and journals which foster non-professional writing. Anthea encourages all writers with ambition to pursue these avenues, and particularly to become a member of the Victorian Writers' Centre, www.vwc.org.au. For a very modest joining fee, you can be kept up-to-date about competitions, work shops and informative talks given accross the state.

Anthea became a freelance technical writer focusing on marketing communications in the mid-90's, and wrote on a broad range of subjects from advice on hysterectomy to consumer credit risk. She continues to write, and also she says, to find it both daunting and fun. Her most fundamental advice is, just do it. As with most skills, it is practice which helps us perfect our work, and she quoted popular author Joanne Harris who made three hours a week, in the midst of a busy family and working life, her writing time. The discipline payed off and Harris is now a best seller.

Anthea's next project is a small book on the fortified wine, port. There may be a larger book about fortified wines to follow. We hope to talk to Anthea in the future about these projects.

----Lesley

Vampire or Werewolf? Edward or Jacob?

Are you or do you know a teenager hooked on the Twilight series? Come along to Knox Library for an awesome event. There'll be food, music, prizes and lots of surprises. You can even come dressed as your favourite character. Spaces are limited so book today! For ages 12 and up.

Any queries contact Pia on 98011422

When: Thursday 2nd April 7 - 8:30pm
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 98011422

Cheers, Maryanne

Mooroolbark Armchair Travellers - Destination Vietnam/Cambodia

Gail will tell you about her recent travels in Vietnam and Cambodia from the Temples of Angkor Wat to her journey on the Reunification Express.

For everyone who loves to hear travel stories and gain valuable travel information from those who have been there ... come along and join us for travel tales and a cuppa. We meet bi-monthly on the first Thursday of the month.

When: Thursday 2nd April 2pm
Where: Mooroolbark Library, 7 Station Street, Mooroolbark
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97268200

Cheers, Maryanne

Photo Courtesy of Bredmaker at StockXchng

Calling all chocoholics

Peter from Hahndorf's Chocolates will talk about his family's chocolate business and explain how quality chocolates are made.

When: Thursday 2nd April 2pm
Where: Healesville Library, 231 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 59624423

Cheers, Maryanne

Valley Mobile not visiting Wonga Park

I've just been advised that the Valley Mobile will not be visiting Wonga Park today, it will finish at 1:15pm at Dixon's Creek.

Cheers, Maryanne

April holiday activities

Monday 6th April - Friday 17th April

Hot off the presses. I've just been sent the holiday activity program for April. Some of these activities will book out fast so you'll need to contact the branch sooner rather than later.

View April holiday program (pdf, 131Kb, 2 pages)

Activities include:

• Make your own marionette puppet (Healesville)
• Decorate a paper Easter egg competition (Mt Evelyn)
• Jewellery making (Lilydale)
• Plaster cast making (Boronia)

Some of the performers include:

• Jo Rothwell, author of the My Adventure books (Yarra Junction)
• Black Snake Reptile Show & The Australian Reptile Show (Lilydale & Ringwood)
• Dinosaurs with Andrew Plant, see Andrew’s fossils & plaster casts (Montrose)
• Italian cooking for kids (Mooroolbark)
• Scott Ryan & Chester the Bear, peforming healthy eating (Ferntree Gully)
• Dream puppets presents Dreamer in the deep (Knox)
• Manga workshops (Knox & Croydon)

Cheers, Maryanne

Black holes explored with Dr James Murray

What is a black hole? Are black holes real or just science fiction? Will a black hole swallow the entire galaxy one day?

Have these questions and more answered in an evening talk by Dr James Murray, professional astronomer and educator with the CSIRO Scientists in Schools program.

Discover how these strange, exotic objects have gone from being an idle curiosity of mathematicians to becoming a key focus for astronomers around the world.

If you're curious for more information on black holes, check out the following great sites:

• Black Holes FAQ
• Hubble Site Black Holes

When: Wednesday 1st April 7pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97547266

Cheers, Maryanne

Celebrate Mooroolbark Festival - Storytime

I just found out about another great weekend storytime. Hanna will do a special storytime at the Celebrate Mooroolbark Festival. The Storytime will be held at the Mooroolbark Community Centre, Brice Avenue, Mooroolbark. No need to book, come along and join in the fun!

When: Saturday 28th March 1:30pm
Where: Mooroolbark Library, 7 Station Street, Mooroolbark
Cost: Free event

Cheers, Maryanne

Marvellous March at Croydon

Croydon Library are celebrating March with some fantastic activities for children.

Weekend Storytime Session
When: Saturday 21st March 11am - 12noon
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Join us at the library for stories and fun activities. A great opportunity for those that usually miss Storytime because they were working.
Ages 2+


Roald Dahl Afternoon
When: Wednesday 25th March 4 - 5pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Join in an afternoon of Roald Dahl fun and mania. Primary age only
Bookings essential Ph: 9294 5640

Cheers, Maryanne

Easter Chocolate

Join Sylvia Kliska from Sissy’s Gourmet Delights for a celebration of Easter and chocolate. Samples are a certainty!

When: Tuesday 31st March 1:30pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

Gardens for wildlife in Knox

Do you want to learn how to look after your garden better and make it suit the Knox environment?

Let an expert from the Knox Environment Society teach you some practical tips about saving water in the garden, attracting native birds and creating a garden in harmony with the local environment.

The talk is in English, with a Mandarin interpretation. Booking is essential.

When: Monday 30th March 10am - 12noon
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South (Knox library activity room)
Cost: Gold coin donation
Bookings essential phone 98011422

Cheers, Maryanne

Confident living

Do you feel safe in your home and the community? Join local Crime Prevention Officer, Robert King to learn tips for personal safety.

When: Friday 27th March 12noon
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 98011422

Cheers, Maryanne

Swan Hill joins Swift

Swan Hill Regional Library has joined the Swift consortium. You may start to see items appearing on the catalogue belonging to Swan Hill. They will be going live on Thursday 19th March so please hold off on placing holds on their items through the catalogue until then.

That will bring the number of library systems in the consortium to 16. Our members are already enjoying the access to a wider range of materials. So if you can't find a title at Eastern Regional Libraries, widen your search in the search box to include all libraries.

Cheers, Maryanne

Dinner at Eight - Dining customs and costumes

Join Ann Dixon for an interesting and entertaining historical look at customs and costumes associated with dining.

When: Thursday 26th March 1:30 pm
Where: Healesville Library, 231 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
Cost: Gold coin donation
Bookings essential phone 59624423

Cheers, Maryanne

Literary Lunch - Meet Azhar Abidi

Azhar Abidi’s life has taken him far from his birthplace in Pakistan, university in Britain, and work in Germany to Australia where he follows a career as a funds manager.

As a child he enjoyed the works of Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson and the wonderful fables of his native Urdu language. His first book Passarola Rising (2006) appeared in the US before being published in Australia, India and Canada to positive reviews.

His second book Twilight (2008) whilst not autobiographical takes experiences from his roots and combines them with aspects of Australian life. Twilight will be published in the US in April 2009 as House of the Bilqis.

When: Thursday 26th March 12:30pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: $7.50 includes lunch
Bookings essential phone 97547266

Cheers, Maryanne

Mooroolbark Growers & Weeders - Stunning Orchids

Orchids belong to the most diverse family of plants known to man. Ken West from the Yarra Valley Orchid Society will talk to us about growing and caring for Orchids.

When: Wednesday 25th March 2 pm
Where: Mooroolbark Library, 7 Station Street, Mooroolbark
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97268200

Cheers, Maryanne

Morning tea to celebrate Harmony Day

Come along and enjoy a morning tea to celebrate our multicultural community and to enjoy meeting other locals in a relaxing setting.

When: Saturday 21st March from 10:30am
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Donation appreciated
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

Unfinished David Foster Wallace novel to be published

It's been announced that the final, unfinished novel of author David Foster Wallace, set in an IRS tax return processing office, will be published in 2010. Wallace, author of Infinite Jest, commited suicide late last year after a long battle with depression.

The novel will be titled The Pale King and an excerpt has been published in the New Yorker.

Excerpt from The Pale King (titled Wiggle Room)

According to the press release found at The Howling Fantods:

"The partial novel runs several hundred thousand words and will include notes, outlines, and other material to help readers understand this great unfinished work."

Maryanne

Labour Day - libraries closed

All branches and mobiles of Eastern Regional Libraries will be closed on Monday 9th March for Labour Day. Normal branch and mobile hours will resume on Tuesday.

You will be able to return items through the bookchute on Monday. Note: Croydon bookchute is closed.

• List of public holidays that the library is closed.

If you know the PIN attached to your card, you can renew via the library catalogue - find out how to do this with the Catalogue Tutorials.

We also offer access to online resources such as encylopedias and newspaper/magazine articles 24/7 free to library members. Visit our Online Resources page, select the resource by clicking the search from home link and login with your library card when prompted.

I've also just found out that the State Library will be open on Monday 9th March from 10am - 6pm (exhibitions will close at 5pm).

Have a enjoyable weekend.

Cheers, Maryanne

Top 10 reads now linked to the catalogue

I've been tossing around the idea of posting the Top 10 reads each month with links to the records in the catalogue. So I thought I'd test it out today to see how long it took. Not as long as I thought. You'll see the fruits of my labour above. If you see a title you're interested in, just click on the link and you'll be taken to its record on our web catalogue. From there, if you know your PIN you can place a hold.

Cheers, Maryanne

Library update Wednesday 4th March 2009

Unless otherwise notified, all libraries and mobiles will resume their normal timetable as from Wednesday 4th March.

Cheers, Maryanne

Library update Tuesday 3rd March 2009

I've just received a list of library closures for Tuesday 3rd March. As information comes to hand this information may change.

The following libraries and mobiles are closed for the day:

• Belgrave Library
• Healesville Library
• Yarra Junction Library
• Montrose Library
• Mt Evelyn Library
• Ranges Mobile (no services provided to Wamsley, Kirkbrae, Macclesfield)
• Valley Mobile (no services provided to Poweltown, Milgrove, East Warburton and Warburton)

The Knox Mobile will be visiting Bayswater and Knoxfield, however there will be no visit to Upper Ferntree Gully.

All other libraries are open as per their usual timetables. View branch opening hours.

If you can't visit any of our other branches, items may be renewed via the web catalogue if you know your PIN or call us on 1300 737 277 and select a branch that is open - Boronia, Croydon, Ferntree Gully, Knox, Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Ringwood or Rowville.

A list of school and child care centre closures can be found on the Dept of Education & Early Childhood Development website.

Cheers, Maryanne

Janet Evanovich - Finger Lickin Fifteen & Favourites

I usually get caught unaware when the latest Janet Evanovich novel hits the catalogue. By the time I think to look, I end up 120th in the queue. Do you have the same luck?

I'm currently ironing out any kinks in the Favourites system in our catalogue. Once this is working I'll launch the Favourites through the blog. Basically, you save your favourite authors and subjects in the iBistro catalogue and you'll be notified by email once a new title is added to the collection.

For those following Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, you can place your holds now via our iBistro catalogue. The release date is in June. For a synopsis and excerpt go to www.evanovich.com.

Cheers, Maryanne

Library updates Monday 2nd March

Ranges Mobile - Not operational due to Total Fire Ban. No services provided to Mt Dandenong.

The Fire Alert Library Information for Tuesday 3rd March will be announced after 2pm today. ERL will be guided by the Shire of Yarra Ranges, CFA and the Education Department recommendations.

Cheers, Maryanne

Stretch your dollar

Thirteen years ago Cath Armstrong found herself looking into a financial black hole. By making a few changes she established security and a good lifestyle on less money. Her Cheapskates Club has helped thousands of people save money and build a secure future. Cath will share her money saving tips.

When: Thursday 19th March 7pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Crescent, Boronia
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97624099

Cheers, Maryanne