Welcome to Central West Libraries
Our Libraries at Blayney, Canowindra, Cowra, Forbes, Manildra, Molong and Orange are welcoming spaces for everyone. Come and see us for all your reading, watching and listening enjoyment as well as access to research, databases, newspapers, free WiFi, family literacy programs, school holiday activities, author events and more…
Please enjoy all our online activities – Story Box Hub, author talks, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines through Borrowbox, Indyreads, Libby and Hoopla, and stream movies: Kanopy Kids, Kanopy and Beamafilm. Access these services on your own device anywhere anytime using your CWL Membership Card. If you need assistance with your membership, please call us on 6393 8132.
Central West Libraries News
Central West Libraries is a regional library service with branches at Blayney, Canowindra, Cowra, Forbes, Manildra, Molong and Orange.
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Extended hours at Cowra Library
Weekdays Cowra Library will close one hour later – 9.30am to 6.00pm.
And Saturdays Cowra Library will remain open an extra four and a half hours – 9.30am to 4.30pm. See you soon!
Local Heritage Assistance Fund For Orange Residents Now Open
Orange City Council’s Local Heritage Assistance Funding program for 2025 – 2026 is now open for applications. The Department of Planning and Environment, Heritage NSW provides funding towards the grants.
The aim of the fund is to encourage as much positive work on heritage items in the Orange area as possible. Eligible projects are required to involve the repair, conservation or re-instatement of missing items on heritage buildings. This can include fences, verandahs or decorative details such as wrought iron or roof finials.
Owners of heritage buildings within the Orange area are encouraged to apply. Submissions are due no later than 4pm Friday 14 March 2025.
Read the Guidelines here.
Download a Grant Application Form here.
For more enquiries please email: [email protected].
2025 Annual Banjo Paterson Writing Awards Now Open with No Entry Fees
This year, we are pleased to announce there will be NO ENTRY FEES in the annual Banjo Paterson Writing Awards competition. Entries for the annual Bano Paterson Writing Awards opened on Monday 17 February, 2025 – the anniversary of Banjo’s birthday.
The awards, established in 1991, aim to honour Andrew Barton ‘Banjo’ Paterson, acknowledged as a great writer and favourite son of Orange, with a competition encouraging Australian content. However, entries do not have to be written in Banjo’s style of bush writing.
There are three categories with generous prizes to be won:
1. Short Story with a maximum word limit of 3,000 words. First Prize $2,000
2. Contemporary Poetry not exceeding 200 lines. First Prize $2,000
3. Children’s section, for entrants 16 years and under, Short Story 1,000 words or Poem no longer than 30 lines. First Prize $200, Second Prize $100 and Third Prize $100.
Entries are due Friday 2 May 2025 at 5pm. They can be emailed or posted.
Winners will be contacted by phone on Wednesday 18 June 2025 and publicly announced at the annual Orange Readers and Writers Festival to held on Saturday 2 August 2025.
There is no entry fee for this year’s awards.
Check the 2025 Entry Form for full terms and conditions and include with your entry.
Pervious winning entries can be found at Central West Libraries’ online resources Recollect for inspiration.
The awards are supported by Orange City Council, ABC Central West, and the Central Western Daily newspaper.
Family Literacy Programs Return
Canowindra Library Temporary Location
Canowindra Library has relocated to the Freemasons Hall (Masonic Lodge) at 39 Blatchford Street, Canowindra while renovations take place at the Gaskill Street address.
Molong Library Co-located in Cabonne Community Centre
Come and visit the Cabonne Community Centre – home to the new Molong Library at 98 Bank Street. There is parking at the rear of the building and a ramp to access the Library. It is a lovely space with free Wifi, computers as well as books, audiobooks, magazines and more!
Cowra Library Space Transformed
Cowra Library space has been transformed with new murals, flooring, carpets, painting and shelving. You are invited to come and see the wonderful welcoming space. There is something for everyone.
Cowra Library has installed a Book Locker providing 24 hours collect and return service, seven days a week to the Cowra community. It is a first for the Central West Libraries service.
Funded by the State Library’s Public Library Infrastructure Grant program, the 24/7 Book Locker adds to the Library’s technical resources. It is the final item as part of the recent Cowra Library transformation to create a modern welcoming community space.
When reserving items choose “Cowra Locker” as the pick-up location. You will be notified when the item is ready for collection from the book locker, touch the screen, enter their Library Membership Card Number and the respective locker opens and they collect your item.
If you have any questions, please contact Cowra Library on 6340 2180.
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Recollect Central West
Check out our newest digital platform Recollect Central West.
Here you will find a rich collection of heritage materials relating to Central West NSW including photographs, maps and brochures. We are continually adding more items to our collection, so check in regularly to see what new items have been added.
Recollect also holds digitised copies of many of local publications that may help you with your research.
There is also facility for you to share your own photographs of Orange and district to our online collection.
The CWL app is live!
Download the new Central West Libraries app to streamline your library experience.
Available on your phone or tablet, the app brings the library to you!
Download now by searching for Central West Libraries in your app provider, or visit one of our branches, call on 6393 8132 or email us at [email protected]