Eastern Regional Libraries launches National Year of Reading #1000thpost

Photos from the successful launch of the National Year of Reading for ERL have been uploaded to the Love2Read Facebook page.

The launch was celebrated at Croydon Library with ambassadors Ilsa Evans and Adam Wallace in attendance and signing books for fans. In addition Cr Natalie Thomas (Maroondah), Mayor Adam Gill (Knox), Cr Paul Macdonald (Maroondah) and Chief Executive Joseph Cullen were also there to celebrate.

National Year of Reading - ERL Launch

With this, we celebrate 1000 Twitter tweets!

Cheers, webgurl

Book Bites – Maggie Millar reads Elizabeth Jolley

Elizabeth Jolley (1923-2007) ranks as one of Australia’s greatest writers. Born in the UK she spent more than half her life in Australia. Her first book was not published until she was 53, but from then her works garnered three Miles Franklin Awards, two Premier’s Awards and earned her both an Order of Australia and a place on the list of 100 Greatest Living Treasures compiled in 1997.

Maggie Millar is an Honours graduate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where she won the Gertrude Lawrence Award for Best Performance. Maggie has performed with the Old Vic Theatre Company, the Elizabethan Trust and JC Williamson to name but a few. Television viewers will recognise her from her roles in Bellbird, The Sullivans, Prisoner and most recently as Rosie Hoyland in Neighbours. Maggie brings to life the writings of some of our best loved authors.

Maggie is not only an actor but an accomplished artist, advocate and public speaker.

Join us for a meeting of these two remarkable women.

When: Thursday 10th November 12:30pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97363851 or book online - Jolley

Cheers, Maryanne

Learn the tricks to using Find My Past in your research

Frustrated with not getting the most out of FindMyPast.uk and FindMyPast.au? Join us at Croydon Library for this informative talk presented by Gail White.


When: Saturday 8th October 1pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92945640

Cheers, Maryanne

Croydon bookchute is currently unavailable

The Croydon after hours bookchute is temporarily unavailable due to vandalism. We apologise for any inconvenience. The nearest bookchute is at Ringwood Library.

Cheers, Maryanne

Do two hours study in ten minutes! Discover how with William Handley

Homework hard to organise? Need to prepare for an exam? Join study skills expert William Handley for some insight on how to make study easy and effective. All ages welcome.

When: Tuesday 30th August 6:30pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon (Glen Frost Room)
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92945640 or book online - study

Cheers, Maryanne

Join us for an afternoon of poetry with Patricia Sykes

The Poets’ Corner Group and the staff of Croydon Library invite you to join them for an afternoon to share in the love of poetry. The guest will be Australia poet Patricia Sykes who will be reading extracts of her poetry and talking about her work and inspirations.

Winner of the Newcastle Poetry Prize in 2009, Patricia has been a guest of the Melbourne Writers’ Festival and was the judge of ERL’s first National Poetry Competition. She has published two volumes of poetry and her libretto for Liza Lim’s opera The Navigator has been performed both in Australia and overseas.

Please join us for an afternoon to celebrate Australian poetry. Afternoon tea will be served.

When: Friday 26th August 1:30pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92945640 or book online - Poetry

Cheers, Maryanne

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

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

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

As from Monday 4th July Croydon and Ringwood libraries will open at 9am

As from Monday 4th July 2011 both Croydon and Ringwood libraries will be opening at 9am Monday to Friday. Weekend hours will not be changing. The early bird catches the worm, as they say.

Cheers, Maryanne

Acoustic battle of the Bands Final on tomorrow at EV's Youth Centre

Come along to watch the finalists battle it out in the Acoustic Battle of the Bands. Final will be judged by a representative from Hans Music Spot, Croydon Library and Maroondah Youth Services.

When: Thursday 7th April 4-5:30pm
Where: EV's Youth Centre, 212 Mt Dandenong Rd, Croydon
Cost: Free event

Cheers, Maryanne

Croydon Library won't appear as an option when placing holds due to upcoming closure

Croydon Library will be closed for maintenance from Friday 22nd April, re-opening Monday 4th July and because of this you will not see Croydon Library listed when placing holds. Please select another convenient pickup branch.

List of library branches
More information about the branch closure

Cheers, Maryanne

Apologies to anyone that received a blank email notice. Please contact Croydon library 92945640

Due to an error it appears that Croydon members may have received blank email notices today. Please contact Croydon library on 92945640 and staff will let you know what the notice was about (with an exception of Favourites notices).

Cheers, Maryanne

Teens - write a song about your local library in the acoustic battle of the bands!

When: Heat 1 - Thursday 24th March 4-5:30pm
Heat 2 - Friday 25th March 4-5:30pm
Heat 3 - Thursday 31st March 4-5:30pm
Grand Final 7th April 4-5:30pm

Where: EV's Youth Centre, 212 Mt Dandenong Rd, Croydon
Cost: Free event

Get your music out there and win awesome prizes for writing a song about your local library (acoustic set)!

• Registration open to ages 12-18 year olds
• Download registration form and check out all the details at Maroondah Youth Services
• Limited spaces for bands to registers, so claim your place for EPIC fame and glory! Special prizes for old school retro librarian get up (aka dress up!)

 Cheers, Maryanne

Get treated to a visit from Santa at Croydon's Christmas toddler storytime

This is the last toddler storytime of the year and it includes a visit from Santa himself bringing treats for the children. There will also be bubbles, Christmas songs and stories. It's good fun all round.

No need to book, all welcome.

When: Friday 10th December 11am
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92945640

Cheers, Maryanne

Croydon Library have now re-opened after the recent flooding

I've just been advised that Croydon Library have now re-opened. Apologies for any inconvenience caused as a result of the flooding.

Cheers, Maryanne

Croydon Library will be re-opening by 11am on Monday 6th December

Croydon Library will be re-opening to the public on Monday 6th December 2010 as close to 10am as possible - by 11am at the latest. The closure was to dry out carpet after a recent flooding.

Cheers, Maryanne

Croydon Library closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday due to flooding

As Croydon Library has extensive carpet damage due to flooding they will not be open to the public Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Depending on the progress of "drying out" the decision to re-open will be on a day-to-day basis.

Items may be returned to one of our other branches, the nearest is Ringwood Library. Alternatively, you may renew online via the web catalogue. phone or in person at one of our other library branches. If you have any difficulty please contact us via the website.

Cheers, Maryanne

Update: Croydon closed, Yarra Junction open but with no public PCs

After yesterday's deluge and flooding, Croydon Library is closed today. There is flooding to 2/3 of the library. The only dry areas are the front desk and by the window near the pond. They hope to have a restricted opening tomorrow for returns only.

Yarra Junction Library is open today but there will be no public PCs and that area will be off limits.

All other libraries are open as usual.

Cheers, Maryanne

Croydon Library closed for the rest of the day

Because of the rain we have had to close the Croydon Library for the rest of the day. We'll keep you posted as to the state of play tomorrow.

Paul.