So what do you think of ebooks? Your library wants to know. Will books via PCs and mobile phones take off here like they have overseas? Do ebooks signal the end of reading books? Will no one get high on the smell of a new book (tragic – I know) but you know what I mean, or linger over beautiful covers, marvel at illustrations and the perfect font. Where is all this headed? A small screen somewhere – mobile phone, laptop, kindle etc. Read more in this article titled The Future of Reading by Tom Peters published in Library Journal. http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6703852.html Let us know your thoughts by adding a comment – right here, right now.

Guest speaker Dr Frank Brennan - a Sydney physician, will relate hopeful and compassionate stories from his writings which are based on caring for sick and terminally ill people at Orange City Library on Wednesday 25 November from 6pm - 8pm. Frank worked for the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern, as a paediatrician in South Africa, and for the Sacred Heart Hospice before specialising in palliative care. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to the Library on 6393 8132. All welcome.

The Orange Civic Theatre Festival Curtain was made in 1983 by more than 300 volunteers from around the district. Orange City Council is calling upon anyone who may have assisted or knows someone that was involved in the project. Council wanted to record memories of the curtain. This is one way of keeping the history of the curtain alive. Stories are often lost when people pass away or the item is removed from its context. Council intends to record the stories on video. The curtain project was designed and directed by local artist, the late Cath Wyatt. It was a community craft project to celebrate the biennial Orange Festival of Arts. The work now forms a giant backdrop to the stage of the theatre and depicts the rural landscape of Orange. The curtain is made up of 30 panels. Anyone with information about the curtain can contact Alison Russell on 6393 8170 at Orange City Council.

So far mother nature has smiled rays of sunshine upon us for our Pre-Schooler Storytimes in Cook Park. We are taking part in the Orange Blossoms Garden Festival by hosting Pre-Schoolers Storytime next to the Fernery in Cook Park (Clinton Street side) rather than the normal Library location. Join in at 11am on the following days: 17, 18, 19 November and 24, 25, 26 November. If the weather's bad Storytime will be held in the Library. Storytime is a fun way to encourage children under 6 to be interested in books. Come along and enjoy reading in Cook Park then feed the ducks, play on the swings or have a picnic.

A big thank you to all the locals and visitors from around the state and Queensland who came along to the Lost in Black Sheep Weekend hosted by the Society of Australian Genealogists, Central West Libraries and Orange Family History Group. More than 70 family historians enjoyed the guest speakers, meals, venue, Library, Orange, book sales, prize draw (won by a Parkes delegate), socialising, family history advice and discovered a wide range of resources to help find ancestor records. Pictured above is Society of Australian Genealogists Executive Officer Heather Garnsey at the seminar book sale table. Read more about the seminar in today's Central Western Daily. http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/out-on-a-limb-to-trace-ancestors/1672817.aspx

Central West Libraries and Orange Family History Group in association with the Society of Australian Genealogists is thrilled to be hosting the Lost in Black Sheep Weekend (7 & 8 November, 2009) and welcomes family history buffs to Orange for this event. We expect more than 70 visitors for the two-day family history weekend being held at the Orange Civic Theatre Forum, Byng Street, Orange. We hope everyone enjoys the range of expert speakers to help further their research. Welcome to Orange.

The Take Time Take Ten Literacy Program celebrates a milestone – handing out its 5,000th book to a newborn since the program began in 2002. The nuts and bolts of literacy are established in childhood and that's why this program is so important. Presenting newborns with a book is the first stage of our ongoing programs for children, we also have our Baby Rhyme and Read program for toddlers, Storytime for pre-schoolers and library resources for school students. We would like to thank the Take Time Take Ten volunteers - Orange Base Hospital Blue Ladies, Orange Base Hospital Maternity Ward, Margaret Schwebel at Book City for purchasing the books and our sponsors. Orange Credit Union has allowed us to purchase books for the 900 or so children to be born in Orange this year. The lucky family receiving the 5,000th Take Time Take Ten book was Amanda and Mark Paterson, of Orange, and their newborn daughter Amelia Jane. Pictured above is the Take Time Take Ten team: Margaret Schwebel of Book City, Blue Ladies President Cheryl Lobsey, Blue Ladies volunteer Mary O'Hare, Orange Credit Union Marketing Coordinator Noelle Cornish and Orange City Librarian Elizabeth Barry. Pictured below is Amanda and Amelia receiving the 5,000th book (and flowers) in the Take Time Take program from current sponsor Noelle Cornish from Orange Credit Union.

Join in talks by author Libby Gleeson and local illustrator Freya Blackwood when they tell school children about their latest book Clancy & Millie and the Very Fine House. The book is published by Little Hare Books and was launched just this month. It is about a little boy called Clancy who has moved to a new house that is huge and unfamiliar. He is missing his old house terribly - the new house is much too big and much too lonely. How will he ever make it his home? As despair takes hold Clancy hears a small voice. Soon, Clancy with the help of his new friend Millie is building towers to the sky and trains to the street outside, and together they build the home that Clancy thought he had lost forever. Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood will be talking about their new book Clancy & Millie and the Very Fine House at Orange City Library on Friday 30 October at these times: 9.30am – 10.30am; 11.30am – 12.30pm; 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Come along and sit in on one of the talks by this award-winning team. The event is supported by Boomers Bookshop & ABC Centre.

Children had lots of fun at our Holiday Activities crafty workshops learning felting or quilling. Quilling is also known as paper rolling, paper scrolling and paper mosaic and children made fantastic creations in these classes. Creative children were also adding their own touches to colourful felt zipper purses with love hearts, dogs, flowers, snowmen and lady beetles all making an appearance. Pictured is Caitlin, then Julia and Emily,then Katherine and Isabel showing their own felt designs.

You are invited to join Central West Libraries and the Society of Australian Genealogists on a Lost in Black Sheep Family History Weekend to be held at the Orange Civic Theatre Forum, Byng Street, Orange on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2009. If your ancestors were 'black sheep' - divorced, destitute, or spent time in gaol or an asylum, they probably left behind a wonderful paper trail. Come along for the two day seminar featuring experts on State Records NSW, Divorce Records, Bankruptcy Records, Local Studies and Family History, Corrective Services, Greater Western Area Health Service and take a guided walking tour of Bloomfield Hospital and learn more about its records. Registration: $85 SAG members and Orange Family History Group Members; and $95 non-members includes two-day seminar, lunches & morning & afternoon teas. On the Saturday evening a casual dinner will be held for participants in a local restaurant in Orange. If you'd like to attend the dinner please let us know at the time of booking. Cost will be approx. $50 plus drinks per person, payable on the evening.

For more details and to book your place, please call (02) 9247 3953 or visit www.sag.org.au