Ranges and Valley Mobiles will not be available as a pickup branch for holds for a few weeks

As a result of upcoming changes to the schedule for the Ranges and Valley Mobiles we will be removing those two mobiles from the Pickup branch list on the catalogue for a few weeks.

I will be uploading the new schedule for the mobile tomorrow. The new schedule will commence Monday 27th February 2012.

Cheers, Maryanne

Feng Shui in the Year of the Water Dragon, a workshop with Sally Feishman

2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon – the year of enlightenment. Sally covers the yearly influences and basic principles of Feng shui, using the laws of Heaven and Earth to improve life.

When: Friday 10th February 6pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92941300 or book online - Feng shui

Cheers, Maryanne

Photography Focus - Ron Silvester - Spectacular photos with quirky results

Ron Silvester is a man who actively enjoys taking spectacular photographs with quirky results. He'll attempt to answer the questions "can you take a photograph that will achieve high level of interest from the viewer" and "is post processing of images necessary".

Come along and enjoy this unique session plus view some of the photographs taken on the annual Gully Gardeners' bus trip to Karen Meeuwissen's garden at Hoddles Creek last October.

Refreshments available

When: Thursday 9th February 2:30pm
Where: Ferntree Gully Library, 1010 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully
Cost: Gold coin donation
Bookings essential phone 92948140

Cheers, Maryanne

Literature Local - Meet Inge Meldgaard & discover how she got started. Free lunch!

After a varied career which included youth work, community development and information technology, Inge was able to indulge her lifelong interest in writing. Her first book Cicada (2009) a thriller set in the year 2450, has been followed by a sequel Death in the Making (2011)

Literature Local will be a feature of the National Year of Reading 2012. We hope to introduce you to authors who live in the area covered by Eastern Regional Libraries. In future there will be a charge for the lunches, but for this, the very first in the series, lunch is included.

When: Thursday 9th February 12:30 pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Melbourne St Mall, Ringwood
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 98700177 or book online - Inge Meldgaard

Cheers, Maryanne

Eastern Regional Libraries are closed for Australia Day

All Eastern Regional Libraries branches and mobiles are closed for Australia Day. Items may be returned through the bookchutes or renewed online via the web catalogue.

Have a great Australia Day folks!

Australia Day events in Melbourne

Cheers, Maryanne

Find out when Storytime resumes for 2012 in your branch

I've updated the schedule or Preschool Storytime, Toddlertime & Tiny Tots time for the year, including the dates when each branch resumes their sessions. In addition there's details of the new Saturday Storytime at Knox, Boronia and Rowville.

Check out the Storytime schedule for your branch.

Cheers, Maryanne

Update: Healesville Library is open again due to hot weather

UPDATE: Just received an update regarding Healesville library. Healesville is open again as SP-Ausnet have aborted their work on the power lines up here due to hot weather so we are now open as normal.

Apologies for any confusion however you're getting the information as it comes to hand.

Cheers, Maryanne

Healesville Library closed Tuesday 24th January - Short Notice

SPAUSNET, the power supplier to Healesville Library have just notified staff that there will be no power supply to the building until at least 5pm tonight due to major electrical upgrading work. Both Council and Library Services have closed.

We apologise for any inconvenience. Items may be returned through the bookchute and we will clearcharge for today.

Cheers, Maryanne

Mainly for Men - BYO timepieces for a talk on rare and antique clocks

Phillip Gore, Ferntree Gully's own horologist, will share his passion in his collection of rare and antique clocks, pocket watches and wrist watches.

Included in his display will be an 18th century chronometer, which revolutionised maritime navigation by enabling ships to accurately determine longitude.

Feel free to bring your own curious timepiece.

This session marks the start of Ferntree Gully Library's 2012 Mainly for Men program.

When: Wednesday 8th February 7-8pm
Where: Ferntree Gully Library, 1010 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully
Cost: Free event
Bookings requested phone 92948140

Cheers, Maryanne

Jim & Liz Reid share their Trans-Siberian railway adventures

Jim and Liz Reid have travelled extensively throughout the world. One of their favourite holidays was on the Trans-Siberian Railway. They travelled from Beijing to St Petersburg - the longest railway journey in the world.

You are invited to join us to view their fantastic photographs and hear tales from an incredible journey of a lifetime.

Refreshments provided.

When: Thursday 9th February 6pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97547266 or book online - Railway

Cheers, Maryanne

Happy 2000th blog post - what's happening with Web Services at ERL

With my 2000th blog post I wanted to share some things we're working on at the moment with the website and catalogue.


360 Search

In the next few weeks we will be offering 360 Search from SerialsSolutions. It is a federated search service, so you may search all of the online resources with the one search query.


New catalogue layout

I'm also working on the settings for a new catalogue layout. I will also be moving the web links section of the website over to the catalogue and building it up to become an information portal.

National Year of Reading

I'll be working on a National Year of Reading page to inform members about what we've got planned this year.

Newsletters

We're working on some new designs for the newsletters using MailChimp.


It's busy!


Cheers, webgurl

Gully Gardeners - Ann Creber discusses relishes, chutney, jams & sauces

Ann Creber is one of Melbourne’s most knowledgeable and passionate foodies. She is an acclaimed author, food writer, food stylist, restaurant reviewer, food consultant and radio announcer.

Ann will discuss ways to cull your plentiful food crops to create wonderful relishes, chutneys, jams and sauces.

Join us to launch Gully Gardeners for 2012. 


When: Thursday 2nd February 2:30pm
Where: Ferntree Gully Library, 1010 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully
Cost: Gold coin donation appreciated
Bookings essential phone 92948140or book online - Ann Creber

Cheers, Maryanne

Bushwalking for fun and exercise - advice from an experienced trekker

Come along and meet Noel who will be talking about the adventures of the Maroondah Bushwalkers, from local walks and interstate trips, to international treks, Noel has done it all.

If you are interested in the outdoors, bushwalking, cycling, skiing and overseas travel, this is a talk not to be missed!

All welcome. Tim Tams and coffee afternoon tea

When: Thursday 2nd February 2pm
Where: Mooroolbark Library, 7 Station Street, Mooroolbark
Cost: Free event
Bookings preferred but not essential phone 97268200 or online - bushwalking

Cheers, Maryanne

Bright Star for Babies 4-6 months

Share songs, rhymes and stories with your baby in this special six week program.

Places limited.

When: Wednesday 1st February 2pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Crescent, Boronia
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential. For further information and bookings contact Bernadette on 9762 4099 or book online - Bright Star

Cheers, Maryanne

Busy during the week? Bring the kids to Saturday Storytimes at Knox, Boronia & Rowville Libraries

Come along and share storytime fun with your children on Saturday mornings at Rowville, Knox or Boronia Libraries.

Experience the delight of stories, songs and rhymes. Help your children become lifelong readers! Parents, grandparents, all welcome!

When: Every Saturday 10:30am (Starts Saturday 4th February)
Where:

Knox Library

425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South.
Melways Ref: 63 K11 Google Map Knox

Boronia Library
Park Crescent, Boronia.
Melways Ref: 64 K10 - Google Map Boronia

Rowville Library

Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville.
Melways Ref: 81 K1 - Google Map Rowville

Cost: Free event
No need to book, just come along.

Cheers, Maryanne

Knox Mobile off the road today

The Knox Mobile is off the road today for maintenance, it's expected back on the road tomorrow. We apologise for any inconvenience. Return items to any branch of Eastern Regional Libraries or login to the catalogue and renew online.

Cheers, Maryanne

Barbara Gaskell-Denvil discusses e-book publishing

Barbara Gaskell-Denvil, is the author of two historical medieval fiction published as e-books. Both available through Amazon.

Come and talk to Barbara about her experiences publishing e-books,arranging graphics and her interest in history.

Refreshments provided.

When: Tuesday 31st January 1:15pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event
Bookings appreciated phone 5967 1588 or book online - e-book

Cheers, Maryanne

Grab a bargain at Ringwood's Super Sizzling Summer Book Sale

Especially for children and teenagers - come and snag a bargain! Picture books, board books, graphic novels and more. Pick up an old favourite or find a new one.

When: Monday 23rd January 1-5pm & Tuesday 24th January 10am-3pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Melbourne Street Mall, Ringwood

Cheers, Maryanne

When great minds don't think alike: helping children with learning difficulties

Join us for a one hour information session on helping children with learning difficulties including Dyslexia, Auditory Processing Disorder, Neuro Developmental Delay, ADHD, Sensory Integration issues and language disorders. Presented by Nadine Shome from ReMinds.

All welcome.

When: Saturday 21st January 10:30am
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Melbourne Street Mall, Ringwood
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 98700177 or book online - Learning

Cheers, Maryanne

Why some websites like Wikipedia won't be accessible tomorrow

SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) is a bill going through Congress at present. For more information about the bill and its implications read the following article from CNN:

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/17/technology/sopa_explained/index.htm

Tomorrow many companies will be participating in a protest by "going dark" for a day – their website content will not be available.

Sites participating in Anti-SOPA blackouts tomorrow:

http://allthingsd.com/20120117/list-of-sites-planning-sopa-protests-continues-to-grow/

Cheers, webgurl

Teddy Bears and Gumnuts Picnic at Melba Park tomorrow

There's still time left to book for the Teddy Bears and Gumnuts Picnic tomorrow. If you go down to Melba Park behind the new museum you can be sure of a big surprise.......

Bring your blanket, picnic and teddy and join us for storytime and the chance to dress your teddy in a special Dame Nelly Melba Tiara and a 1960’s costume.

There will be after fun back at the library for gumnut making activities
When: Thursday 19th January 10am
Where: Meet at Melba Park 35-37 Castella Street (Mel Ref 38F4)
Cost: Free event.....Cordial Provided
Bookings essential phone 9294 3120 or book online - Teddy Bear

Hosted by Eastern Regional Libraries and Yarra Ranges Regional Museum

Cheers, Maryanne

Ringwood Library's phones are now working

UPDATE Jan 18: Ringwood Library's phone service has been restored.
Cheers, Maryanne

Ringwood Library phone update: still have no phone service

UPDATE Jan 17: Ringwood Library are still awaiting a technician and are therefore unavailable by phone. Service isn't expected back until at least 12noon Jan 18. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. For renewals and general enquiries you can call 1300 737 277 and select any other library.
Cheers, Maryanne

Ringwood Library have no phone service until 5pm today

Just advising that Ringwood Library currently have no phones. Their phone service isn't expected back until at least 5pm today (Jan 16). We apologise for any inconvenience caused. For renewals and general enquiries you can call 1300 737 277 and select any other library.

While I'm here may I say it's good to be back. For anyone wondering where I've been the last 10 weeks, I've been travelling around the US and Canada. I had a fantastic time, met some wonderful people and came home with a broken wrist, hence the extended leave. I missed you all and I'm excited to get back into developing and maintaining the website, blog and social networks.

Cheers, webgurl