Join in the National Simultaneous Storytime Wednesday 23rd May 11am

Join 170,000 children at over 1,100 locations across Australia and share a
heartwarming tale about friendship, sacrifice and learning that appearances
aren’t important.

Story: The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland

When: Wednesday 23rd May 11am
Where:
Belgrave Library - Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Boronia Library - Park Crescent, Boronia
Healesville Library - 110 River St, Healesville
Knox Library - 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
Yarra Junction Library - Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction

Ferntree Gully Library will be having their storytime on Wednesday 23rd May 2pm 

Cost: Free event
No need to book! Come along.

Cheers, webgurl

Join us for the National Simultaneous Storytime

The National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual event to promote literacy and reading. On Wednesday 25th May at 11am (my birthday) libraries from around Australia will read Feathers for Phoebe by Rod Clement to thousands of children.

Eastern Regional Libraries is participating with storytimes at the following branches:

• Boronia
• Knox
• Mooroolbark
• Healesville
• Yarra Junction

When: Wednesday 25th May 11am
Where: At the libraries above
Cost: Free event
No need to book. All welcome.

Cheers, Maryanne

National Simultaneous Storytime

On Wednesday 27th May 11am the libraries below will be participating in National Simultaneous Storytime. Our staff will join thousands of other children's librarians in reading Pete the Sheep by Jackie French (illustrated by Bruce Whatley) to children.

The simultaneous storytime started in 2001 and aims to promote reading and the value of books. It highlights our wonderful Australian authors and promotes the regular children's programs run in public libraries.

When: Wednesday 27th May 11am
Where: Healesville Library, 231 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
Knox Library, Knox City Shopping Centre
Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event

When: Friday 29th May 11am
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson St, Lilydale
Cost: Free event

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 28th January 2009

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 Wednesday's show

The movie Twilight has sent a lot of people into the library to read the book on which the film is based. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is the first of four about teenager Bella Swan who falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen. Talking with Pia on air today about the controversy which often can be aroused by popular novels which deal with occult themes, we remembered some of the criticism aroused by the Harry Potter series. Interestingly, authors like Harry Potter's J.K.Rowlings, and Stephenie Meyer never claim to actually believe in the occult or have any interest in propomoting it, they use it in the same way writers of fairy tales use magical concepts as allegory and to heighten the drama of the story. Meyer on her website is quoted as saying that being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a huge influence on who she is and her perspective on the world, and that she has been asked more than once, "What's a nice Mormon girl like you doing writing about vampires". If you are interested in visiting her website, follow this link http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/index.html. It may be relevant to some readers that she does not believe in sex before marriage, and that the relationship between the teenagers is as much about being different and being persecuted as it is about a love affair. There are many other writers of fantasy for teenagers whose works have attracted a wider audience in the last few years, including Phillip Pullman, Garth Nix, Lian Hearn and Anthony Horowitz to name a few.

Pia also reminded us that the regular activiites for pre-schoolers through to teenagers will be commencing again next week, so for details about Storytimes and after-school activities and bookclubs, go to http://www.erl.vic.gov.au/kidteen/kidteen.htm.

Cheers, Maryanne

National Simultaneous Storytime

The National Simultaneous Storytime is on next week. Staff at libraries around Australia will read the same book at same time to participants in their storytime. This year's book is

The Magic Hat Written by Mem Fox

When: Thursday 6 September 2007 at 11am
Where: every branch of Eastern Regional Libraries

The simultaneous storytime aims to promote reading, Australian authors and storytimes in public libraries so come and join in the fun.

Cheers, Maryanne