Ringwood Family History room is unavailable until Monday 4th July

Due to some Family History microfiche and CD records being relocated to Croydon Library, the Ringwood Family History room will be unavailable from Friday 24th June to Monday 4th July.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Cheers, Maryanne

Lost searching Military History databases? Get the results you want

Discover some of the Military History databases available on the Eastern Regional Libraries website. Find out where to search for World War One Australian service records, WW2 Nominal Rolls, details of soldiers killed in WW1 & WW2....plus much more.

When: Thursday 23rd June 6:30pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle St, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 59671588or book online - military history

Cheers, Maryanne

Book into the fantastic July holiday activities at our libraries

I've just uploaded the July holiday activity program and there's a huge amount of cool activities for kids including performances from

• Paul Jameson - The Music Man
• Carp Productions
• Bopping with Bethany
• Wind in the Willows retelling
• Garden fairies

In addition some of the craft activities include:

• Wooden spoon puppets
• Beaded jewellery with Heidi
• Dream catchers
• Wood workshops

Book in quickly to avoid disappointment!

Cheers, Maryanne

Download some ebooks and audiobooks today

Eastern Regional Libraries now offers downloadable ebooks and audiobooks via the library website.

1. Go to www.erl.vic.gov.au
2. Click on the eBooks eLibrary button. 

Need help getting started? Try the following:

Overdrive guide - My Help
Guided tour
Compatible devices

Cheers, Maryanne

Knox Mobile will not be at the Upper Ferntree Gully site (Maxi Foods) today

The Knox Mobile will not be attending the Upper Ferntree Gully site at Maxi Foods today as the site is blocked out.  Normal services will resume at Knoxfield at 2:30pm. Apologies fdor any inconvenience.

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 8th June 2011

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 week for a great show.

On Wednesday's show 
 
What was it like to be and agricultural labourer in and English village in the 1880's? Or a teenage girl at boarding school in 1880's Melbourne?
The first is described in Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson, and the second in The getting of wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson. Next Wednesday, the 15th of June the Lilydale Book Chat group is looking at novels and biographies which might give some insight into the lives of our ancestors, an interest which is often stimulated when we begin looking into our family history. Most of our branches host Book Chats, and these are a chance to broaden your reading, and enjoy some lively discussion.

Music today was from Ella Fitzgerald, and there are many great CD's of her music in the collection, of which the A tisket, a tasket 3 CD set is the most comprehensive.

-- Lesley

Always wanted to travel to Africa? Come along to the African Wildlife Safari Show

Join Paul and Maureen Lucas for a wonderful slideshow on the wildlife of Africa.

When: Friday 10th June 2pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Crescent, Boronia
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97624099 or book online - Africa

Cheers, Maryanne

Monday 13th June our libraries will be closed for the Queen's Birthday holiday

All Eastern Regional Libraries branches and mobiles will be closed on Monday 13th June for the Queen's Birthday holiday. Books may be returned through the bookchute, except for Croydon which is currently closed.

Items may be renewed via the web catalogue. If you don't know your PIN, apply for it now via the web Get a PIN form.

Cheers, Maryanne

Is there another Earth out there? Dr James Murray discusses the possibilities and more

Astronomy is entering a golden age. We have found hundreds of planets orbiting other stars, and are finding more each day. What are these new worlds like? Is there another Earth out there? Have these and more questions answered by former professional astronomer Dr James Murray.

When: Thursday 9th June 6:30pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: $4
Bookings essential phone 97547266 or book online - Planets

Cheers, Maryanne

Reader's Cafe - Author Colin Campbell discusses his experience commanding 6 Troop in the Vietnam War

More Bang for No Bucks records the unique experience of 6 Troop, A Squadron, and 3rd Cavalry Regiment. The troop consisted of armoured, artillery and infantry soldiers drawn together from the units of the 1st Australian Task Force in Vietnam.

This book provides more information on the troop, its vehicles and activities, based on original documents, interviews with former personnel supplemented with personal memoirs and photographs.

Colin Campbell commanded 6 Troop in Vietnam in 1967 – 1968. A graduate of both Duntroon and the United States War College, he spent over 30 years in the Australian Army retiring as a Colonel in 1991.

When: Thursday 9th June 12:30pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Melbourne St Mall, Ringwood
Cost: $10 includes lunch
Bookings essential phone 9870 0177 or book online - Colin Campbell

Cheers, Maryanne

On Wednesday at Yarra Junction, unleash your creative potential with Gail Goodwin from Body Soul Spirit

Meet Gail from Body Soul Spirit, author of A Dialogue with the Soul and be inspired to unleash your creative potential. Understand who you are and why you are here, drawing on your personality archetypes.

When: Wednesday 8th June 11am
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle St, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Bookings phone 59671588 or book online - Gail Goodwin

Cheers, Maryanne

Convert your temporary memberships for WiFi & online resources into a full membership

Visitors to our libraries wishing to use the free public WiFi or access the online resources can apply online through our library catalogue for a 3 month temporary membership.

These temporary memberships will need to be converted to full memberships in order to continue to use WiFi and the online resources. In addition, with a full membership you can borrow from our extensive collection of books, magazines, CDs and DVDs.

Cheers, Maryanne

Urgently need some aptitude or psychometric test practice? Try our Virtual Reference Library

We have added another 137 books to our Virtual Reference Library - available to library members (with your library card number) at all times.

Browsing through the business references you'll find a substantial number of
books on IQ, aptitude and psychometric tests including How to Master Psychometric Tests: Expert Advice on Test Preparation with Practice Questions from Leading Test Providers, IQ and Aptitude Tests, The Ultimate IQ Test Book.  

Amongst the gems that have been added are a whole range of travel guides from the Rough Guide publishers - useful for anyone planning a trip overseas. They include the guides to Thailand's Beaches, Tuscany and Umbria, USA, World's Best Festivals etc.

We have also added several of the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides which are also very popular. They include such titles as Madrid, Vietnam and Angkor Wat, Brazil and Cuba.

For children you can find the Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Guides including such perennially popular titles as Pirate, Viking, Titanic, Castle and Explorer.

You'll find a link to the Virtual Reference Library (VRL) listed on our Online Resources page of the website under Encyclopedias and dictionaries. Click on search from home link if you are outside the library and you will be prompted to enter your library card number. Once you are in the VRL you may browse the publications.

Cheers, Maryanne

Home Brewers Master Class by Colin Penrose

From your first kit to mini-mash and beyond. Learn how beer is made, how you can make it better and even "how" to drink beer.
When: Monday 6th June 6pm
Where: Knox Library, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Cost: Free event

Bookings essential phone 98011422 or book online - Home Brewers

Cheers, Maryanne

Lantern-making workshops to be held at Belgrave and Ferntree Gully libraries in June

In preparation for the annual Lantern Parade, Belgrave and Ferntree Gully libraries will play host to several lantern-making workshops.

The Lantern Parade is a community participation event with the parade going down Main Street.

Lantern Parade is on Saturday 18th June 5:30pm. Belgrave Library will be open and there will be a storyteller entertaining children at 7pm.

Workshops

Belgrave Library
When: Saturday 4th June 10am-1pm, Sunday 12th June 1-4pm, Saturday 18th June 10am-1pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: Free event
Enquiries phone 97547266

Ferntree Gully Library

When: Friday 10th June 10am
Where: Ferntree Gully Library, 1010 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully
Cost: Free event
Enquiries phone 92948140

Cheers, Maryanne

Art exhibition with Yarra Junction Mixed Media group - meet the artists for tips

Local artists Garry Bell, Sandy Carroll, Pam Kroese and Jennifer Knight from the Yarra Junction Mixed Media group are exhibiting their work.

Includes:

• Oil
• Watercolour
• Pastel
• Acrylic
• Charcoal
• Colour and graphite pencil

Meet the Artists for discussion and tips. Free viewing. All welcome

When: Saturday 4th June 10am-1pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free
Enquiries phone 59671588

Cheers, Maryanne

Wow! Almost 300 holds on our 60 copies of The King's Speech DVD

Our 60 copies of the DVD The King's Speech are in hot demand. There are currently 297 people in the waiting queue. We haven't seen that kind of demand since Harry Potter.

To facilitate a quick turnover between members, could those with holds pick up the DVDs as early as they can and return promptly once they have finished.

Thanks so much for your assistance.

Cheers, Maryanne