The Eastern Regional Library Show 27th July 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

 

Some lovely new books from the junior and teenage collection were reviewed by Pia today. Three new picture books are....Red bridge written and illustrated by Kylie Dunstan. Clarie has said goodbye to all of her friends and moved with her family to another country where everything smells different and looks different. How will she ever make friends or get used to the new place? A lovely story about adaptation. Long live us written by Edel Wignell illustrated by Peter Allert is a fractured fairy tale involving many of our favourite fairy tale characters in new ways. Who is 'good' and who is 'bad'? An entertaining take on values. And Black swan written and illustrated by Celia Bridle. Illustrated in monochrome, this delightful story feels like a folk tale. A black swan escapes from a cage and flies away to alight at a village by a lake. The villagers ask the swan to stay and incubate an egg they have found. When a volcano threatens, the black swan saves the villagers and the egg from destruction.

For teens, two new novels....Merrow written by Ananda Braxton-Smith is the story of Neen whose parents have disappeared, and the villagers believe that her mother is a Merrow or selkie. Neen believes them and determines to find out the truth despite her aunt's dissaproval. Anna and the french kiss by Stephanie Perkins follows Anna who was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta USA. However her parents have other ideas and ship her off to a boarding school in Paris. She is less than thrilled until she meets Etienne St. Clair, a smart and charming french student with a serious girlfriend!

---- Lesley

Book Bites – Meet author and journalist Kate Veitch

Kate’s first book Listen was a bestseller in Australia when it was published in 2006 and achieved popularity in the USA where it was published as Without a Backward Glance in 2008. The book was nominated as one of American Library Journal’s Best Books of 2008

Her second novel Trust proved equally popular when it appeared in 2010 and the publication rights have been sold to Germany where her first book was a bestseller.

Kate is a journalist and divides her time between Australia and the US.

Please join us for the opportunity to meet Kate.

When: Thursday 11th August 12:30pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: $10.00 includes lunch
Bookings essential phone 92945640 or book online - Kate Veitch

Cheers, Maryanne

Learn to do two hours study in 10 minutes with Bill Handley

Are you or your children struggling with hours of study? Join author Bill Handley who will teach us how to study effectively.

• Learn how to overcome exam nerves
• Learn more in less time,with less effort
• Improve concentration and understanding

Great for students of all ages.

When: Monday 8th August 7pm
Where: Ferntree Gully Library, 1010 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92948140 or book online - Bill Handley

Cheers, Maryanne

Step by step feltmaking - with a chance to win a lattice scarf made on the day

Felt is one of the oldest ways of making fabric, it is thought to have been around for about eight thousand years. Carolyn, who is a local artist and a member of the Yarra Valley Open Studios Group, will be demonstrating the fabulous art of feltmaking.

Carolyn from Ripples on the Pond Textile Arts Studio, has an artistic spirit and love of blending colours. She keeps an open mind to new and different textile applications and her work mainly involves layering and three dimensionality and combines different disciplines of fabric and textiles.

Carolyn will hand build a Lattice Scarf to be raffled and starter packs will also be given away on the day.

Come along and see this amazing craft!
When: Tuesday 26th July 2pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson St, Lilydale
Cost: $5
Bookings essential phone 92943120 or book online - feltmaking

Cheers, Maryanne

Mooroolbark won't be available as a pickup branch for holds due to refurbishment

From Thursday this week Mooroolbark Library will not be available as a pickup branch for holds due to the closure in August for the refurbishment.

Please select an alternate library - list of library branches. Mooroolbark members with current holds may also wish to arrange to have their holds transferred to another branch on their next visit.

Cheers, Maryanne

Get the most out of Ancestry.com - tips from a Family History expert

Join Gail White as she again presents the informative session on how to make the most of Ancestry.com for your family history searches . All library computers give free access to this program and Gail’s talk is very helpful as she explains the best way to search and use the program. Free event, all welcome.

When: Thursday 14th July 2pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92941300 or book online - Ancestry

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 29th June & 6th July 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 the last two shows

In the midst of school holidays and with many enjoyable activities on offer across our branches, we should not forget the simple pleasure of sitting down with a good book, or even better, of having one read to us.

Pia has some recommendations for great new books in our children's collection which you might want to check out over the next few weeks. In the Picture books you will find titles like Hidden alphabet by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, where the letters of the alphabet are cleverly disguised amongst pictures of the relevant objects for each letter and Peeking ducks by Krista Bell where three little ducklings investigate the busy Li River in China, peeking here and there and find surprising dangers along the way. Other picture books mentioned by Pia are A dog like that written by Janene Cooper,  Thank you for looking after our pets written and illustrated by Tim Hopgood, I spy with my little eye, written and illustrated by Edward Gibbs,  Don't worry Douglas! written and illustrated by David Melling, Big animal mix up, written by Gareth Edwards, That's not a daffodil! written and illustrated by Elizabeth Honey, and last but not least, Rollo and Ruff and the little fluffy bird.  Written and Illustrated by Mick Inkpen, this is another delightful story by the creator of Kipper and Wibbly Pig, with three new characters. There are footprints all over the Cornershop yard and something has been nibbling Rollo's mat!

For primary school age readers we have Hanging out by Catherine Bateson, illustrated by Adam Carruthers. When cousin Weston from Sydney comes to stay, Ben is really worried. He has told a lot of fibs about his life in Melbourne and Weston is about to find out! A short chapter book with lots of illustration for younger readers. Also Captain Congo and the Klondike Gold written by Ruth Starke and illustrated by Greg Holfeld. A graphic novel for children sees Captain Congo and his faithful friend Pug  off on another adventure, this time to the Yukon to investigate lights and ghosts that are scaring the miners on the gold fields.

Then for young teens, Thai-riffic by Oliver Phommavanh is about Lengy who is off to High School with a whole set of new problems for him,  not to mention his embarrassing parents who run a Thai restaurant and an annoying younger brother, and Just a girl by Jane Caro who writes about the thoughts and feelings of  Elizabeth I as she awaits her coronation day.

We are also giving plenty of forewarning of National Family History Week which runs from the 29th of July to the 8th of August. Activities will be run across Eastern Regional Libraries branch which Kathy Smalley will be telling us about in two weeks time, but also both the Genealogical Society of Victoria (GSV) http://www.gsv.org.au/  and Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies (AIGS) http://www.aigs.org.au/ have talks and open days which could be very informative.

---- Lesley

Some Croydon stock is still in storage at Ringwood Library

We wish to advise members that Croydon stock is still being returned after being in storage at Ringwood during the refurbishment. Some items will show on shelf but actually might not be at Croydon. Members will not be able to access these items until they are returned to Croydon Library.

The return of items to Croydon will take about a month due to the large number of items in storage.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Cheers, Maryanne

Mooroolbark Library will be closed for refurbishment in August

Monday 1st August 2011 - reopening Monday 22nd August 2011

Mooroolbark Library will be closed for refurbishment from Monday 1st August for three weeks reopening Monday 22nd August.

Work to be undertaken includes reshelving of the library, installation of RFID security gates and the construction of a new circulation desk area.

Cheers, Maryanne

This week at Gully Gardeners there's a seeds, seedlings and produce swap

Have you packets of vegetable and flower seeds hidden in a dark cupboard? Have you surplus seedlings that you would like to share? Why not come to our fun gardening day and share your surplus seeds and seedlings with other people. Also why not share your surplus winter vegetables.

Refreshments provided.

When: Thursday 7th July 2:30pm
Where: Ferntree Gully Library, 1010 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully
Cost: Gold coin donation please
Bookings essential phone 92948140 or book online - Gully Gardeners

Cheers, Maryanne

Family History resources move from Ringwood to Croydon Library

Setting up the Family History room

All Family History resources that were housed at Ringwood Library have now be relocated to the Croydon branch as from Monday 4th July.

This includes all books, magazines, fiche and the CDROMs that were on the Genealogy PC, as well as the microfiche scanner and printer, and readers.

There are still two readers, fiche and a genie PC with CDROM records at Ringwood, including BDM for Victoria. However these records are limited.

Kathy Smalley, the Family History Librarian, will now be working at the Croydon branch - her 2 days there are Wednesday 12noon - 8pm and Thursday all day.

Cheers, Maryanne

DVD fans will love the new Boronia DVD club

Do you like watching DVDs? Boronia Library are starting a club - borrow the latest library DVDs, have a cuppa and a chat about any DVDs you have watched or would like to recommend. Free reservations.

Dates for 2011: 27th July, 31st August, 28th September, 26th October and 28th November (Christmas breakup)

When: Last Wednesday of the month 6:30-7:30pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Crescent, Boronia
Enquiries phone 9762 4099

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 29th 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

 

The libraries are buzzing over the next two weeks, with school holiday activities at all our branches, even the newly refurbished Croydon library which re-opens on 4th July.

 

At the same time, there are still a lot of adult activities, including monthly book chat at Rowville, and two gardening groups meeting, at Rowville on 1st July 1 and Ferntree Gully on 7th July.

 

Further ahead, it is worth noting that the first week in August is National Family History Week. There will be activities in our branches, and in many organisations which support family history research. The Genealogical Society of Victoria is hosting four free talks and an Open Day over the week, covering 'Using Digger software for Australian Births, Deaths and Marriages', 'Starting your family history', 'Using Archive Digital Books Australia' and 'Introduction to Irish family history'. The link to thier web page is www.gsv.org.au.

 

The novel reviewed today was Natural flights of the human mind by Claire Morrall. It is only her second novel, and her first, Astonishing splashes of colour, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. I admire the way she takes two quite unprepossessing characters. The first we meet is reclusive Peter Straker who lives in an abandoned lighthouse and refuses to speak to anyone. The other is Imogen Doody, a dissapointment to her mother, abandoned by her young husband, and dealing with the world through anger and pugnacity. The story gradually reveals details which allow us to feel sympathy, and even liking for these two unlikely aquaintances, and the drama which occurred twenty five years before which has shaped both their lives. Morrall's writing reminds me of the gentle, but perceptive writing of Ann Tyler and Nick Hornsby.

Music today was from Get happy : the best of Judy Garland

---- Lesley

Library web catalogue is back up and running again

The library catalogue is back up after a slight pause. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Cheers, Maryanne