Fun for the kids during January

Holiday activities
Check out the January school holiday program for lots of activities for children, some are free, while others have a small cost. A few highlights:

Croydon Library are having two sessions of Make a rain stick & Mexican bird rattle - Tuesday 12th Jan 11am & 2pm

Mooroolbark Library are having 3 sessions of the Yarra Valley Woodworkers on Wednesday 13th Jan 10am (fully booked), 11:30am & 1:30pm (cost is $6 and kids can make bird feeder, nest box, pencil case, trinket box, plant pot holder, dolls cradle).

Meanwhile Rowville Library is having fun with Scrapbooking. You supply the photos and we'll supply the rest. Monday 18th Jan 10:30am, cost is $2.

View January school holiday program (pdf, 169KB, 2 pages)


Summer Reading Club
Kids can also join in with the Summer Reading Club. Fill out the registration form at your library today and start reading.

Rewards include stickers, temporary tattoos & wristbands.

Return your completed reading record by Friday 15th January to enter the competition for a $100 book voucher. Entrants also go into a State draw for an ipod.

Cheers, Maryanne

Bolwell Car Club at Boronia Library

In 1962 Campbell Bolwell transformed his hobby of building special sportscars into a business. Developing hands-on skills in fibreglass moulds and moulding techniques his first commercial model, the Bolwell Mk. 4, sold over 200 units and is testimony to entrepreneurial flair and dedication to a dream.

Come along and enjoy these unique classic cars and their owners.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abwoodford/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

When: Saturday 9th January 10am-1pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Crescent, Boronia
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 9762 4099

Cheers, Maryanne

Libraries open with reduced hours between Christmas and New Year

Our libraries re-opened today and its always a busy day as staff checkin all of the books returned during the Christmas holiday break.

This week we have reduced hours as no branch is open past 5:30pm and we are closing at 3pm on New Years Eve.

View the libraries opening hours this week

Cheers, Maryanne

Eastern Regional Library Show 2nd Dec 2009 & 9th Dec 2009

Been a bit remiss uploading the radio shows of late so here are December's shows. For those that don't 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. 

On 2nd December's show 

Do you have unread books on your shelves at home? If you do, you might like to read Susan Hill's  Howards End is on the landing. This is about a resolution not to buy any new books for a whole year, which thought makes Lyn Baines hair stand on end. But apparently there is now a following for this concept, similar to the idea of 'slow food', and drawing from ideas of sustainability and recycling. Susan Hill discovered that she had many books bought over years but never read, and resolved not to buy any more until she had read what she had. She discovered many gems and old favourites. If you would like to know more, she has a very interesting website which includes her blog, http://www.susan-hill.com/

A reliable detective series has a new title, Skeleton Hill by Peter Lovesey, featuring Peter Diamond and the city of Bath. Peter Diamond is an especially English type, a bit overweight, not in good favour with the boss, and inclined to do things his own way. However much his superiors don't like it, his methods get results. When two skeletons are found, one old, one new, in the midst of an English Civil War re-enactment, Peter's boss tries to put him on a different case, but he is not to be sidetracked. Peter Lovesey also has an informative website, http://peterlovesey.com/ And as we mentioned briefly on the show, there is a new Bill Slider detective story out, Fell purpose by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles.

Lyn has purchased a lot of new Christmas music, so check our collection for Christmas songs from Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett and Andre Rieu. Music today was from Choral favourites from King's (King's College Choir).

On 9th December's Show

As promised, lots of Christmas music for you today. New CDs include Rosemary Cooney's Christmas, A Motown Christmas, A swingin' Christmas (Tony Bennett), The Christmas I love and The 100 most beautiful melodies : vol. 2 (Andre Rieu), Christmas with Boney M, Christmas memories and A Christmas album (Barbara Streisand), Classic carols for Christmas,  And winter came (Enya), So fresh : Christmas songs for 2008, The Nat King Cole Christmas album, and An Australian Christmas  from ABC for Kids.

The excitement and anticipation of children is contagious at this time, and one of the lovely things to do is to make simple presents, crafts and foods with them. All our branches have wonderful books in both adult and junior collections on these themes, and some I highly recommend are Christmas crafting with kids : 35 projects for the festive season, Cards for lads and dads by Elizabeth Moad, 20-minute crafts by Kathie Stull, Paper fantastic by Joe Rhatigan, Festive decorations by Anne Civardi (in fact anything by Anne Civardi is excellent), and Classic Christmas traditional and contemporary (Women's Weekly).

 

Home made Christmas food is lovely to share as a gift, so titles which have great recipes include Gorgeous Christmas by Annie Bell, Christmas treats : to make and give by Linda Collister, Nigella Christmas : food, family, friends, festivities by Nigella Lawson, and Margaret Fulton Christmas.

DVDs with a Christmas theme include Shek the halls, Spicks and Specks : a very specky Christmas, How about you, Christmas specials from Steptoe and son, The two Ronnies, Jonathon Creek, and for the children, Spot's magical Christmas, Postman Pat : Christmas Eve and The Muppet Christmas Carol.

 

And for some light fiction to read over the holiday period Christmas at Thrush Green by Miss Read, A Christmas blizzard by Garrison Keilor, Rumpole at Christmas by John Mortimer, Dashing through the snow by Mary Higgins Clark and Holidays on ice by David Sedaris.

 

Music today was from The Nat King Cole Christmas album.

 

---- Lesley

Hours over the Christmas period

All Eastern Regional Libraries branches will be closing at 3pm on Thursday 24th December, re-opening Tuesday 29th December. There will also be reduced hours during the Christmas/New Year period.

View/Print Christmas/New Year hours

Cheers, Maryanne

p.s. The Station House Mt Evelyn is closed all day Thursday 24th December

Have you logged into your library account lately?

Did you know that you could view your library account through our website? Once logged in you can not only double check what is on your card, but renew the items as well.

1. Go to http://www.erl.vic.gov.au
2. Login at the top right of the website with your userID (starting 20023) and PIN
3. Click on My Account and select from the menu

If you don't know your PIN you can get it over the phone by calling you nearest branch (via 1300737277) or emailed to you by filling out the online Get a PIN form. Be quick before we go on leave for the Christmas break.

Please note that the Catalogue will be unavailable Christmas & Boxing days due to maintenance.

Cheers, Maryanne

Christmas hours

Eastern Regional Libraries has reduced its hours over the Christmas period.

View the Christmas/New Year hours at all of our branches and mobiles.

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for your support through 2009, to those that have subscribed to this blog, followed us on Twitter and constantly provided feedback on the service we provide.

I'm currently working on a new website and I'm looking at expanding the training we offer in our libraries, including Twitter, blogging, from Camera to Computer , how to get the most out of your library & my homage to Apple's "genius bar" (but for general technology).

Wishing you all a Merry and safe Christmas and New Year

Cheers, webgurl

Ranges & Valley Mobile off the road today

Sorry about the late notice, I've only just caught up with the news that the Ranges and Valley Mobiles are off the road today because of the total fire ban.

The Knox Mobile will not be at The Basin but will be at Wantirna Mall and Berrabri Drive as timetabled.

Cheers, Maryanne

ChiliFresh reviews added to the catalogue

We've just added a new feature to our catalogue - ChiliFresh reviews from around the world. You can even register to provide reviews of your own favourite books you've read, or perhaps a few turkeys too. :-D

You need to be logged into the e-library catalogue.

1. Go to www.erl.vic.gov.au
2. Login with your userID & PIN
3. Type in your search
4. In the list of brief results a link to the reviews will appear if there are any for that title.

5.  If there are reviews for that title, click on the link to the number of reviews.

6. Scroll to read all of the reviews. If you want to add a review yourself click on the link Add a review for this.
7. You can either login with your chilifresh account, or if iyou haven't set one up you can register with ChiliFresh for free. Alternatively you can post an anonymous review.

All reviews are moderated by the Web Administrator before they are uploaded. I also fix up any typos or mispellings before accepting the reviews.

Cheers, Maryanne

Christmas at Yarra Junction Library

We've got a couple of fun Christmas activities this week at Yarra Junction Library

Christmas at Yarra Junction Library

Be entertained with christmas carols from Yarra Junction Primary School.

When: Wednesday 9th December 10:30am
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Enquiries phone 59671588



Christmas Storytime
Listen to carols from St. Josephs' Primary School followed by a special Christmas Storytime and end of year celebration.

When: Thursday 10th December 1:30pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Enquiries phone 59671588

Make Christmas cards

Come and make Christmas Cards at Yarra Junction Library.

When: Saturday 12th December 11am
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential 59671588.


Cheers, Maryanne

Ranges Mobile

The Ranges Mobile will not be at the Macclesfield stop today due to rostering issues. We apologise for any inconvenience. Items may be returned to any of our libraries or renewed via the phone on 1300737277 or via the web catalogue.

Cheers, Maryanne

Reminder - libraries closing early today

Libraries closing at 2pm Monday 7th December

Just a reminder that all Eastern Regional Libraries branches and mobiles will close at 2pm today so that all staff are able to participate in a region-wide training day. Items may be returned via the book chute or renewed online if you know your PIN.

Cheers, Maryanne

Additional PCs in our Knox branches & WiFi

So far we've added the following computers to our Knox branches: 7 public PCs to Ferntree Gully, 7 public & 2 kids PCs to Boronia as well as 7 public PCs to Knox. Rowville Library will be receiving their new PCs in the next few weeks. These PCs come courtesy of a grant obtained by Knox City Council.

We have also added free WiFi access points at all of our branches. What do you need to access WiFi? Firstly you'll need a device with a wireless network adapter like a laptop, PDA or phone. Secondly you'll need your library card number starting 20023 and PIN (library staff will be able to look this up if you don't know). If you aren't a library member yet, you can join up as a special Internet member to access these services.

We have added a few more powerpoints around the tables and lounge areas  however its worth pointing out that some of our branches also have activity rooms that are available when there are no activities, in particular Knox and Rowville libraries. Check with staff at the desk.

Cheers, Maryanne

Libraries closing early on Monday 7th December

All Eastern Regional Libraries branches and mobiles will close at 2pm on Monday 7th of December so that all staff are able to participate in a region-wide training day. Items may be returned via the book chute or renewed online if you know your PIN.
Cheers, Maryanne

Poetry competition results

Congratulations to all of our winners and commended poets in this year's National Poetry Competition.

Open First Prize $1,000 – Tass Holmes – for Eve Langley – nerves exhausted and husband unhappy

Local First Prize $500 – Lia Hills – Zivil Lager

Teenage First Prize (Joint) $200 – Benjamin, Ringwood East – Underneath Burning Light
Teenage First Prize (Joint) $200 – Camilla, Mount Dandenong – The Dancer

Junior First Prize $200 – Michaela, Bayswater – North Fire

View full Poetry Competition results

The Presentation Evening
When: Friday 4th December 6:30pm for 7pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: Free event
Bookings phone 97547266

The winning entries will be read by New Zealand poet and author Alison Wong, winner of the 2009 Janet Frame Award. Patricia Sykes will present her Judge's Report.

Cheers, Maryanne

January holiday program

Not going away in January? Book the kids into some of our school holiday activities. Events include bedtime storytime, Black Snake Productions, cartooning workshopand Yarra Valley Woodworkers.

View January holiday program (pdf, 169KB, 2 pages)

Cheers, Maryanne