Central West Libraries

This week at the Library hot topic ebooks

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:22:00 +1100

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.

CWL Book Chain Reviews - Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:19:00 +1100

Here are some more reviews from our CWL Book Chain for Dreams From My Father. From Mandarin 1: Have to agree with Obama's statement in his introduction that his memoir could be further edited by at least 50 pages. I say double or perhaps even triple. As he charts his background growing up in a white household, struggling to find his identity as a righteous black man by resisting "the pure and heady breeze of privilege", his story bogs down in discussions of racial exploitation without really shedding any new light on the subject. Although I did find his trip back to Kenya, reuniting with his new found siblings and defining "what is a family?" intriguing. Just a thought - I find it hard to believe that Obama wrote his first memoir in one year. I suggest that he may had major editorial help, even a ghostwriter. Successful politicians have sought this service with acknowledgment of their help. Why Obama has not, is perhaps due to his political persona built around his presumably superior intellect. Mandarin 2: What makes someone become a president? Let alone coming from a mixed race background, American mother, African father, an Indonesian stepfather and growing up in different countries I really enjoyed reading this, discovering all about this boy growing up into a man who is wise beyond his years. It is quite detailed, the conversations he recalls and his thoughts about different events, like the advertisements for whitening skin. I found his real father fascinating even though Barack hardly knows him - he was brought to life. It is well written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. When he became president I honestly didn't know much about him but now I feel I know him well and what life events have shaped his ideas. Mandarin 3: This is an excellent read about race in modern society and his struggle to find where he fits in life. It is also about an absent father and discovering a family a world away....a real insight into the man of the moment the US President. Thank you "Mandarins", More reviews to come............

Stories from Palliative Care Awareness Evening 25 Nov

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:22:00 +1100

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.

Orange Civic Theatre Festival Curtain - stories & memories

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:08:00 +1100

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.

CWL Book Chain Reviews - Revolutionary Road

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:13:00 +1100

Our inaugural CWL Book Chain (via email) has ended for this year with two groups (Mandarin and Tangerine) reading a total of six books they self-nominated. Keep in mind not everyone read all the books so there will be more reviews for some books than others. Here are the reviews from the Mandarin Book Chain for Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. Our next email book chain will start next year. From Mandarin 1: A portrait of the artifice of American suburban life in the '50's.Told through Frank Wheeler, a selfish and insecure man who has a deep investment in maintaining his male status quo. Frustrated, Frank with his wife, April and two children move to suburban Connecticut. As a temporary measure, Frank takes a job that is dull due to his belief that he is destined for an extraordinary creative life. How and when? He's not quite sure although April may have the solution... I really thought this novel was very well written. It's a familiar theme similar to movies like "American Beauty" and the TV show "Mad Men" in which hysterical housewives and angry suburban men dream of escaping while simultaneously protecting their fragile stability. However, the confronting "honesty" that Yates is recognised for does not allow the reader to sit back and enjoy an ultimate moral conviction. We find the novel judging our own harmonious reality and the role of chance. There are those who may view this theme depressing. However the well developed characters, the astonishing understanding of human nature that is sometimes portrayed with cynicism and Yates refusal to let sentiment seep in will capture the reader in a novel that is utterly absorbing. A very memorable performance. Mandarin 2: This is so well written and timely for today as people search for meaning in life. It is subtle and an insider's study of a couple, and their neighbours and striving for a life less ordinary. I can see some would say it is bleak but it reminds us about what makes us happy and reminds us to be be grateful for what you have.

Storytime on the Move....to Cook Park

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:27:00 +1100

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.

Alan and Josh in Poetry Slam State Final Friday Night

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:44:00 +1100

Good luck to our regional poetry slam heat winners Alan Fragar, of Cowra, and Josh Simpson, of Bathurst. They will be performing their original poems on Friday night at the State Library of NSW, Sydney, in the Australian Poetry Slam 09 State Final. Then the NSW winners will perform on 3 December, battling against state and territory winners for the coveted national title at the Sydney Opera House. All heat contestants are given a microphone, a live audience and just two minutes to impress the judges with their original spoken word poetry. Five judges are picked randomly by the MC throwing gifts into the audience. Whoever catches the gift is a judge. The judges' decision is final! So it is up to the audience to decide who wins. Good Luck guys!!!!! Wish them well everyone.

Lost in Black Sheep Weekend Thank You

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:43:00 +1100

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

Miss Austen Regrets on ABC Sunday Night

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:25:00 +1100

Austen fans rejoice - the wait is almost over. All self respecting Jane Austen fans will not miss this: Miss Austen Regrets screening on ABC TV. Here is the promo: "Approaching her fortieth birthday, Jane Austen (Olivia Williams pictured, from Emma and The Sixth Sense) appears happily unmarried. When asked by her young niece Fanny (Imogen Poots) to help her vet potential husbands, Jane's confident composure is threatened as she finds herself looking back on her own potential suitors and the choices she has made. Could potential family financial ruin have been averted if she'd accepted the proposal of a wealthy landowner? And what about the handsome young physician Jane meets as a result of a family illness? Based on the life and letters of Jane Austen, Miss Austen Regrets tells the story of the novelist's final years, examining why, despite setting the standard for romantic fiction, she died having never married or met her own Mr. Darcy." And look out for Greta Scacchi in the role of Jane's sister Cassandra. It has received great reviews and of course is beautifully filmed. Screening on ABC TV on Sunday 15 November from 8.30pm to 10pm. A must see!

Welcome to Lost in Black Sheep Weekend at Orange

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:42:00 +1100

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.

Galileo Book and Paul Brunton Talk attracts crowd at Forbes Library

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:52:00 +1100

More than 30 people attended Forbes Library recently to be among the first Australians to see a rare book by Galileo and hear Senior Curator Paul Brunton talk the book purchased by the State Library of NSW. Galileo was a mathematician, astronomer and philosopher who lived in Italy from 1564 to 1642. He is also regarded as the father of modern science for his improvements to the telescope and astronomical observations. The rare Galileo book is titled Dialogo dei massimi sistemi [Dialogue on the two chief world systems], Galileo's celebrated defence of the Copernican system, published in Florence in 1632. By casting Pope Urban VIII as the simple-minded Aristotelian Simplicius in the book, Galileo brought upon himself arrest, trial by the Inquisition and life imprisonment. The sentence was commuted to permanent house arrest, while the printing of any of his works was forbidden. Paul Brunton spoke about the origins of the book, how it was purchased and went into detail about Galileo's life. Surprisingly Galileo was not a rich man, despite his genius. Pictured above is: Barbara Cowled, Maud Morris and Glad Johnson from Jemalong Retirement Village, with Senior Curator of the State Library of NSW Mr Paul Brunton, at the talk and rare book display. Pictured below is the front of the book showing Aristotle, Ptolemy and Copernicus - note the candle burn on the side.

More Fabulous Felting Designs at Holiday Activities

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:25:00 +1100

Here are some more of the fabulous felting designs by children at our Needle Felting Holiday Activity. Hearts, flowers and sequins featured on the creations - zippered purses. Pictured are Molly, Hannah, Sophie, Summer and Poppy with their own designs from the workshop. WooHoo!! Wonderful works everyone!!!

Take Time Take Ten (Read to your Child Ten Minutes a Day) Literacy Program Hands Out 5,000th Book

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:40:00 +1100

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.

Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood talk to school children at Orange City Library

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:09:00 +1100

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.

Felting and Quilling Holiday Activities

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:34:00 +1100

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.