Server upgrade Sunday 31st May

The iBistro catalogue will be unavailable from approximately 7am-12noon Sunday 31st May due to a scheduled server upgrade.

Try logging on later in the day if you wish to renew or place a hold.

Cheers, Maryanne

Friday @ your library - Easy one pot meals

Cooking on a budget? Live alone? Come and join us while Jill Hess shows us how to create delicious one pot meals using seasonal vegetables.

Whether you want to feed the family or freeze meals for future dinners, this is the event for you. Don't forget, you get to have a taste!

When: Friday 19th June 12noon
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 98011422

Cheers, Maryanne

Understanding Autism

Judy White, Special Development School Principal, will talk about autism, including helpful advice on behaviour management.

When: Thursday 18th June 7pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

Spinning in the library

Join Marion who will share her passion for wool and fibres with her talk and demonstration on the art of spinning.

When: Wednesday 17th June 1:30pm
Where: Boronia Library Park Crescent Boronia
Cost: Free event
Bookings phone 97624099

Cheers, Maryanne

Freedom from Fear - Refugee Week 2009

Refugee Week 14th - 20th June - Freedom from Fear

Burmese refugees will be talking about their experiences coming to Australia and any challenges they faced. Morning tea is provided

When: Wednesday 17th June 10-11:30am
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Melbourne St Mall, Ringwood
Cost: Free event
Bookings phone 98700177

For more events being held in Victoria during Refugee Week visit the Refugee Council website

Cheers, Maryanne

The guidebook rules

Read any interesting article at Yahoo where a magazine sent three reporters to travel Moscow searching for particular things, accommodation, tourist spots etc. One was armed with a guidebook, the other two had smartphones. In 5 out of 9 tasks the guidebook ruled.

Did you know our libraries stock lots of guidebooks - Great Britain, California, Morocco, Dubai, Cambodia? If you're taking a trip it's worthwhile searching our catalogue to see if we have a guidebook for you. Just do a subject search for your city or country and guidebooks e.g. paris guidebooks. You can now do a search directly from this blog at the top of the sidebar at the right.

If you're interested in reading the full article at Yahoo, read Old Vs New: Guidebook beats smartphones.

Cheers, Maryanne

Stroke prevention healthcare - Mandarin

A Mandarin speaking doctor from the Knox GP division is coming to talk about how to recognise and prevent stroke. It is a free event supported by the Knox community network.

When: Monday 15th June 1-2:30pm
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 98011422

Cheers, Maryanne

Easy one pot meals - A Cook's Kitchen event

Learn how to make delicious, easy meals with the minimum of fuss using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Plenty of hints and tips and lots of tasty samples.

When: Thursday 11th June 1 pm
Where: Healesville Library, 231 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 59624423

Cheers, Maryanne

iBistro now available

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

Cheers, Maryanne

Supernatural romance

Just got an email from Lyn, our Collections Manager, that we now have a sticker for Supernatural Romance. It's a red heart with bats flying across it. Supernatural romance includes any titles where romance with an otherworldly creature (vampire, ghost, werewolf, zombie etc) is the main theme. So if you're a fan, look out for these stickers when you're browsing the shelves.

Cheers, Maryanne

Bag a Book event

Last night I attended a very successful Bag a Book event at Borders, Knox City Shopping Centre. Kevin Rabalais, our Library Week ambassador, was on hand to welcome people to the event and mingled with our members assisting with the difficult choices. There was a great mix of members from different libraries (approximately 200 people attended) and everyone seemed to enjoy browsing through the Borders store searching for the perfect books and/or DVDs for their favourite branch.

Lyn informs me that we selected more books than DVDs & CDs and more non-fiction than fiction. I asked her what were the most expensive and/or unusual selections for the night and she said they were:

• The complete MAD Don Martin (MAD's greatest artist series) $275
• 2 volume set of cookbooks from El Bulli, a Spanish restaurant $235
• Several copies of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle pop-up book.

Borders were kind to offer some discounts on the night for personal shopping, of which I happily took advantage. There were also refreshments available.

So what did I select? A couple of fantasy books I recognised from a bookclub list (I'm so far behind) - Joe Abercrombie's Before they are hanged (First Law Book 2) and Mark J Ferrari's The Book of Joby. If I could have selected 3 titles I would have selected some Joe Haldeman short stories, I have Camouflage at home ready to read next. Maybe next time.

Here are photos from the opening speeches:


Kevin Rabalais



Listening to the opening speeches.

Did any of you come to the event? What did you think?

Cheers, Maryanne

iBistro currently unavailable

The iBistro catalogue is currently unavailable. It should be back up soon.

Cheers, Maryanne

More refurbishment news - Rowville Library

Rowville Library will be closing for refurbishment from 4pm Sunday 21st June and will re-open on Monday 20th July at 10am. Please note: these dates will be subject to Centre Management approval.

During this period the bookchute will be closed. Items may be returned to any of our branches or renewed online if you know your PIN or via the phone at 1300 737 277.

You are welcome to use any other branch of Eastern Regional Libraries.
Boronia Library Park Crescent Boronia Ph: 9762 4099
Knox Library 425 Burwood Highway Wantirna South Ph: 9801 1422
Ferntree Gully Library 1010 Burwood Highway FTG Ph: 9294 8140
Belgrave Library Reynolds Lane Belgrave Ph: 9754 7266
Croydon Library Civic Square Croydon Ph: 9294 5640 (No after hours chute)
Ringwood Library 4 Melbourne St Mall Ringwood Ph: 9870 0177

The due dates for Rowville Library's items have been extended, so if you only use Rowville Library you may wish to borrow some extra items to see you through until Rowville re-opens.

Cheers, Maryanne

Mt Evelyn closed

Just a reminder that Mt Evelyn Library is currently closed for refurbishment and will re-open on Monday 22nd June at 10am. I have created a Flickr account and we will be uploading photos throughout the refurbishment. I have added a badge to the Reading in the Ranges and What's New blogs.

Montrose/Mt Evelyn Libraries Flickr

Cheers, Maryanne

Bag a book tonight

Tonight I'm going to Bag a Book. I hope to have some photos tomorrow. I've just checked the bookings and it's totally booked out, however you can add your name to the waiting list in case there is a cancellation.

Cheers, Maryanne

Friday afternoons at Yarra Junction

Yarra Junction Library is the place to be on those cold Friday afternoons. Play chess or board games, including Scrabble, Monopoly, Boggle, Yahtzee, Rummy and many more. Staff at Yarra Junction told me that some of "the gamers" are quite happy to help out chess beginners. Sounds like fun.

When: Every Friday 2pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle St, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 59671588

Cheers, Maryanne

Cooking the books activity cancelled

The Cooking the Books activity scheduled for Healesville on Wednesday 27th May has been cancelled due to lack of numbers.

Cheers, Maryanne

Journey to Antarctica

Join John Larsen for stories and memories of his six voyages to Antarctica. See his unique film of the Nella Dan.

When: Thursday 4th June 1:30pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 59671588

Cheers, Maryanne

Armchair travellers - Amazing Africa

Corinne has recently travelled to the city of Johannesburg and further to a small village in an isolated rural area of South Africa.

She will talk about her experiences and the wonderful group she worked with helping local African communities.

All Welcome. Tea and Coffee provided

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

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 20th May 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.

On 20th May show

'Scotland the Brave' was something of a theme with us today. Our Family History specialist Kathy brought to our attention that this year is special in that it has been dubbed Homecoming Scotland 2009. It began with the idea of celebrating the 250th anniversary of Robbie Burns birth, but involves much much more. The following link will take you to the official website www.homecomingscotland.com.

Kathy also brought us the latest from the Family History newsletter, which informs us that the definitve work on Scottish surnames, The Surnames of Scotland by G. Black has been added to the Ringwood collection. This is a listing of over 8000 families, with variants of spelling (one of the bugbears of Family History researchers) and origins of the names.

Other interesting additions to the collection include American Fever Australian Gold which is a CDROM which covers research into Americans and Canadians who came to Australia during the gold rush era of 1850-1870 in Victoria's northeast; the Footscray Cemetery register (1860‐1970) and Memorial Inscriptions (to 1997) and Cemeteries of South West Victoria. You can subscribe to receive the newsletter by email, or keep an eye on the Family History webpage, http://www.erl.vic.gov.au/family/newsletter.htm#family. The newsletter comes out every 4-6 weeks.

Music today was from The beauty of the Bagpipes : volume 1

Cheers, Maryanne

ERL on Twitter

Eastern Regional Libraries has joined the masses on Twitter. Why you may ask? Well sometimes we need to let our members know about an activity or about a temporary branch closure etc. While we can reach some people with the website and others with the blog, social networks are a great way to keep in touch with you. So hence starts the Twitter experiment.

You can find & follow us at http://twitter.com/EasternRegional

We're still waiting to be indexed so people can find us with the Find People search.

Cheers, Maryanne

Editing your favourites

Currently the staff who produce the library software are researching why members might receive several individuals emails about their favourites and not have them all in one. It might be a great time to view the favourites you have on your iBistro record and remove any that aren't important. If I have 500 authors listed in my favourites then I'm likely to receive a lot of email notifications.

Modifying your favourites

1. Go to the library website and login at the top with your userID (library card number) and PIN.
2. If you have asked to be notified if we add any items by a certain author they will appear under the search box.
3. Click the more favorites link underneath.
4. Click the modify link found at the top next to My Profile.
5. Click in the box next to an author or subject you wish to remove and click the Remove Selected Authors or Remove Selected Subjects button as appropriate.

Cheers, webgurl

Biggest Morning Tea

Next week many of our libraries will be participating in the Biggest Morning Tea, raising money for The Cancer Council Australia

When: Monday 25th May 12noon
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: Gold coin donation to Cancer Australia
Bookings essential phone 97547266

When: Thursday 28th May
Times:
Ferntree Gully 10am
Munch to the music of Scottish fiddler Pria Schwall-Kearney. Plant sale courtesy of the Gully Gardeners.
Cost: Donations to The Cancer Council Australia

Knox 10am
Cath Connolly plays the Celtic harp, whilst you enjoy morning tea.
Cost: Donations to The Cancer Council Australia

Boronia 10am
Enjoy a delicious morning tea and be inspired to dance it all away with belly dancer Aileen.
Cost: Donations to The Cancer Council Australia

Croydon 10am
Morning tea, new books and music from the Croydon Secondary College.
Cost: Donations to The Cancer Council Australia

Yarra Junction 10am
Sunni will serenade with women’s songs, morning tea will be provided by the CWA – Yum!

Mooroolbark 10am
Join the Bookchat group and stay on for ‘The Perfect Scone’ with Jill Hess at 11am, scones, jam and cream are a certainty!
Cost: Donations to The Cancer Council Australia

Lilydale 11am
BMT Café with Scottish singer, songwriter Alex Legg. Experience the talents of a very gifted musician whilst enjoying the delights of a late morning tea.
Cost: $5 (donated to The Cancer Council Australia)

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 13th May 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.

On 13th May show

Barry Barker was our guest today, co-author with Gavin Brown and Terry Burke of Police as Peace Keepers : the history of the Australian and New Zealand Police serving with the United Nations Force in Cyprus, 1964-1984. The book was self-published in 1984 on behalf of UNCIVPOL (United Nations Civilian Police) with Barry doing most of the leg work in finding printer, editor, funding and more. Our conversation explored both his time in Cyprus in 1966-67 and the process of writing and publishing the book.

Barry admits he didn't know much about Cyprus when he applied, and that what seemed at first a chance to see the world, became a life changing experience. The peacekeeping operation in Cyprus has been claimed as the most successful United Nations policing operation ever. Barry says credit is due to the Irish General in charge, who believed that the policing role was of prime importance, with the military as support, rather than as a military action. The friendships made with locals, and police members from other countries have lasted over time, with Barry making five trips back to Cyprus.

The idea of writing a book grew "like Topsy" from the original concept of a page of history on the back of the menu for the 20th anniversary of the operation, to a 14 page booklet created for that night, to a 240 page book. Like many of the authors we have spoken to over the years, Barry recommends that if you want to do it, take the leap. There are many supportive people in the writing, publishing and printing world and Barry's experience meant that he was an obvious candidate to help put together another book, Away from the divvy van : 50 years of the VPMSC (Victorian Police Motor Sports Club) published in 2006. Barry's continuing interest in racing vintage cars and wonderful network of writers and UN friends will have to wait until another interview.

If you are interested in either of the books mentioned, Police as Peace Keepers is available to read at the State Library of Victoria, or can be requested for borrowing from interstate through Eastern Regional Libraries branches; and Away from the divvy van is available at the State Library of Victoria, and Barry has kindly donated a copy to add to Eastern Regional Libraries collection, so check our catalogue in a months time. The podcast of this interview should be available in a couple of weeks, so watch this space.

If you would like to sound out resources and support for writing and publishing, contact the Victorian Writers' Centre.

Cheers, Maryanne

A conversation with Kevin

Kevin Rabalais is an author, editor, reviewer, critic and a reader. It is in his capacity as a book lover that we have invited him to be our Library Week Ambassador, to talk about some of the books and writers that have influenced him in his literary career.

This lunch is an opportunity to celebrate the joy of reading and is really not to be missed.

When: Monday 25th May 12:30pm
Where: Ferntree Gully Library 1010 Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully
Cost: $7.50
Bookings essential phone 92948140

Cheers, Maryanne

Drawing Manga

ERL and Borders are running 2 fantastic workshops on drawing Manga characters. Bookings are essential, byo pencils and paper
Suitable for ages 10+ years

When: Saturday 23rd May 10am & 11:30am
Where: Borders, Knox City Shopping Centre, Burwood Hwy, Wantirna Sth
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 98011422

Cheers, Maryanne

Image courtesy of Angelface on StockXchng

Updating your email address

Earlier this week I released the favourites report so that all of our members that have been diligently adding favourites to their library record through the iBistro catalogue would receive emails to say we've added a new title by their favourite author or on a favourite subject.

Some of you will have already received an email, however I guess not everyone has kept their email address up-to-date because I got about 60 bounced emails this morning. So I guess this is a great time to remind everyone who has provided an email address for notification, to check their email address with staff next time you are visiting the library. You could also login and click change address in My Account and type in your new email address.

Cheers, Maryanne

Building women's financial independence - budgeting, planning and saving

Rowville is holding a series of workshops to educate and equip women with a basic knowledge in managing household finances and saving.

The 6 workshops are presented by SIFE Monash, a student run organisation from Monash University, and the program aims to introduce and encourage financial independence among women in an environment of contrasting traditions and backgrounds.

When: Thursday 21st May 5:30pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

Montrose Gardeners - Succulent success with Attila Kapitany

The mind tends to limit succulents to a particular style and yet imaginative garden designers have in recent years explored the possibilities like never before. Join Attila on an almost unbelievable visual treat. Discover how succulents can be made to look soft and luxuriant in the garden, mixing succulents with annuals, spring bulbs and under roses? There are a few tricks involved.

Atilla Kapitany, well-known expert and author on the subject of succulents, will also bring along plants and books for sale and display.

When: Tuesday 19th May 1pm
Where: Montrose Library, Cnr Swansea & Mt Dandenong Rds, Montrose
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97363851

Cheers, Maryanne

Winter entertaining with Kristen

Watch Kris demonstrate how to prepare his delicious winter recipes. Kris has a wealth of knowledge about food and nutrition and welcomes any questions.

Price includes light lunch and recipes to take away.

When: Monday 18th May 12:30pm
Where: Mt Evelyn Library, 50 Wray Crescent, Mt. Evelyn
Cost: $10
Bookings essential phone 97363851

Cheers, Maryanne

Mt Evelyn library closure in May/June

Mt Evelyn Library will be closed for refurbishment from Friday 22nd May 5:30pm, reopening Monday 22nd June.

During this period the bookchute will be closed. Items may be returned to any of our branches or renewed online if you know your PIN or via the phone at 1300 737 277. You'll find that the normal loan period at Mt Evelyn Library has been extended so the items are due once the library is open.

As with our other refurbishments I'll be setting up a Flickr account to display the photos on the Reading in the Ranges and What's New @ your library blogs.

Cheers, Maryanne

Notifying you about your favourites

After much troubleshooting I have finally activated the Favourites report on the iBistro catalogue. This report sends email notices when new titles by favourite authors or subjects are added to the catalogue.

To set yourself up to receive emailed favourites:

1. Login to the iBistro catalogue from the top of our library website
2. Do a search for a favourite author or subject.
3. Click details to select one of the results.
4. Click on the link to the left that says tell me when new material by this author (or topic) are available
5. Click OK when you get the confirmation it has been added.
6. Repeat this with all of your favourites.
7. To set up how often you want to be notified, click on the My Profile link at the top (in the black link bar). You can select from 1, 7, 14, 30 days. Note you can choose to have all of the authors and subjects of items you check out to be added to your favourites.
   

I'd appreciate any feedback you can give me through the contact us form on the website. There is one issue I am still having that the software people are currently researching. You might find that occasionally you may get 3 separate emails to notify you of new titles added from your favourites instead of all of them being in the one email.

Cheers, Maryanne

Membership drive at Eastland today

If you happen to be down at Eastland today, stop by the Eastern Regional Libraries membership stand just outside Footlocker on the 2nd level. Rowanne & Liz are handing out library cards and membership application forms to complete and people present both to any ERL branch where the card will be activated.

All members that join in May will go into the draw to win a Nintendo Wii, so if you know someone that isn't a member encourage them to join.

Rowanne and Liz will be visiting several shopping centres this month.

Cheers, Maryanne

Multicultural Arts Victoria are looking for volunteers

Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) are placing a call out for volunteers for the Emerge Festival, an annual event which supports and helps to develop Victoria’s newly arrived communities through presentation and promotion of their cultural activities.

The main event is a music and dance concert at the Fitzroy Town Hall which will be held on Sunday 21st June. There are other events including a Burmese art exhibition, and music concerts at the Arts Centre.

If you would like to be involved, MAV need people for meet and greet, information and brochure distribution, traffic direction, selling CDs, helping stallholders and so on.

Send your contact details to activities@multiculturalarts.com.au and they will get back to you to check how you would like to participate.

Cheers, Maryanne

Ranges Mobile

Due to driver illness, the Ranges Mobile will be off the road today. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Items may be returned at any of our branches or you may renew your items over the phone by contacting one of our branches on 1300 737 277. If you know your PIN you can renew your items online at www.erl.vic.gov.au.

Cheers, Maryanne

Dan Brown - The Lost Symbol in 12 hours

I saw an interview with Dan Brown for the opening of Angels and Demons and he said that The Lost Symbol would all take place in a 12 hour period. Interesting.

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 6th May 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.

On 6th May show

There's always something new to write about Jane Austen. One of the latest is Jane's fame by Claire Harman. This is not a conventional autobiography, but about how the novels which were considered modest and genteel, not in great demand during the nineteenth century, have been revisited and reassessed in the twentieth century and become enduringly popular. The novels were not published under her name, but by 'A Lady', and were considered "women's reading" until her nephew published A memoir of Jane Austen : and other family recollections in 1870. From that time interest has grown, critics and academics were converted, in the 1970's she was claimed by the feminist movement, and from the 1980's many television and film adaptations have been made. Many of these are on DVD in our collection, or available from other libraries. Lyn mentioned that one of the most recent fiction attempts to continue the story of some of our favourite characters is the Pride and Prejudice and the Zombies. Not my cup of tea, but there are many other options including The Jane Austen Bookclub, the series by Stephanie Barron which features Jane as a detective and Darcy and Elizabeth : nights and days at Pemberley by Linda Berdoll.

The second book Lyn reviewed today was A winter's tale by Trisha Ashley, which is one of my favourite types of relaxing reading. An English woman in her mid 40's inherits an old haunted house deep in the country, and discovers a new purpose to her life, lots of quirky local characters, and several suitors, including Seth the brooding gardener. The author has a lot of fun with references to other novels, like Cold Comfort Farm, which makes this an ideal read for a chilly winter afternoon, by the fire or the heater.

Music today was from the soundtrack of the movie The songcatcher, which is available on CD, DVD and as a novel.

---- Lesley

Discover the Living Library

Eastern Regional Libraries and Yarrunga Community Centre are offering an exciting Living Library program throughout May. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from some amazing speakers. There are still a few spaces left, so book now.

Where: Living Library at Yarrunga Community Centre
76-86 Croydon Hills Drive
Croydon Hills VIC 3136
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97228942

Week 1 Thursday 7th May
Kathy Smalley ‘Tracing Your Family Tree’
Discover the how, what, when and why of family history research with family historian Kathy Smalley.

Week 2 Thursday 14th May
Stephen Powell Wildlife Painter
Artist Stephen Powell recently returned from a painting safari to Africa. Stephen will be showing some of his superb photographs and paintings from the trip.

Week 3 Thursday 21st May
Coffee
Learn how to savour the taste, aroma and complexities of this amazing beverage with an expert barista and coffee importer.

Week 4 Wednesday 27th May
Let’s Talk about Books
Celebrate Library Week with the staff of Eastern Regional Libraries. Take a look at some of the latest books. Bring along your Library card, or join up and borrow.

Week 5 Thursday 4th June
Joy Serwylo - Mosaics in the Garden
Want some ideas to brighten up your garden? Join artist Joy Serwylo and get some great ideas for garden mosaics.

Week 6 Wednesday 10th June
Grace Molluso - Winter Warmers
Grace Molluso shares some traditional Italian recipes. Session followed by a delicious tasting.

Cheers, Maryanne

Literature Lakeside - Meet Dr Kate Burridge

What a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning. Join us at the Lakeside Cafe for brunch with Dr Kate Burridge. Kate will be familiar to viewers of ABC TV's Can We Help and regular radio appearances. Professor of Linguistics at Monash University, she is the author of a number of books including Blooming English and Weeds in the Garden of Words. A must for all of those who enjoy the sheer fun of words and their origins.

Only 20 places left, this is booking out fast! You can book at any of our branches or phone 98006409.

When: Sunday 17th May 10:30am
Where: Lakeside Cafe, Shop 2 293 - 305 Maroondah Highway Ringwood (opposite the Ringwood Lake)
Cost: $20
Bookings essential phone 98006409

Cheers, Maryanne

16th Yarra Junction Library Bird Walk

Here's an event for the early-risers. Join Ken Simpson for a walk around Yarra Junction. Everyone will be meeting in the eastern carpark of the library. There will be morning tea back at the library around 10:30am.

Bring binoculars and warm clothes. Ken walks in the rain!

When: Saturday May 16th 8:30am
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Bookings appreciated phone 5967 1588

Cheers, Maryanne

National Simultaneous Storytime

On Wednesday 27th May 11am the libraries below will be participating in National Simultaneous Storytime. Our staff will join thousands of other children's librarians in reading Pete the Sheep by Jackie French (illustrated by Bruce Whatley) to children.

The simultaneous storytime started in 2001 and aims to promote reading and the value of books. It highlights our wonderful Australian authors and promotes the regular children's programs run in public libraries.

When: Wednesday 27th May 11am
Where: Healesville Library, 231 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
Knox Library, Knox City Shopping Centre
Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event

When: Friday 29th May 11am
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson St, Lilydale
Cost: Free event

Cheers, Maryanne