Welcome to Central West Libraries
Our Libraries at Blayney, Canowindra, Cowra, Forbes, Manildra, Molong and Orange, and soon Grenfell, 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, ULibrary, and Hoopla, and stream movies: Kanopy Kids, Kanopy and Beamafilm and Beamakids. 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.
We are social!
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and Subscribe to our CWL Newsletter.
Anzac Day Public Holiday
Please note all our Libraries – Blayney, Canowindra, Cowra, Forbes, Manildra, Molong and Orange will be closed for the ANZAC Day Public Holiday on Friday 25 April. Usual hours resume on Saturday 26 April.
Waste2Art
Book into the COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS that will be held at the Environmental Learning Facility (ELF), Orange Showground this weekend to prepare for the 2025 Sims Metal Waste2Art Exhibition and Competition.
Children’s Workshop – Saturday 26 April 2024 from 2pm—5pm
This workshop is facilitated by local artist Tavia Lyons and is aimed at our younger people and their parents. Tavia was involved with Waste 2 Art in Orange since its’ inception in 2015.
Families, Adults, and Community groups Workshop – Sunday 27 April 2024 from 9am—12pm
This workshop is suitable for families with older children, adults and community groups who would like to learn some techniques to use to make an artwork to display in the Waste 2 Art Exhibition. It is facilitated by Jaq Davies, a multidisciplinary artist also local to Orange.
Come along and share ideas, individuals and groups are welcome. If you have an idea already, take advantage of this opportunity to gain some advice on how to go about it. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent, carer or guardian. The 2024 theme focusses on toys as waste.
Here is the W2A Entry Form
April School Holiday Activities
Plan your school holidays with us – check out our events or call in for all your reading, watching and listening items!! And don’t forget to enter the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards – there are no fees this year!
- Orange April School Holiday Activities
- Cowra April School Holiday Activities
- Blayney School Holiday Activity
- Molong School Holiday Activities
Sydney Writers’ Festival Live & Local at Orange 22-25 May
Photo credit: Jamie Williams
One of Australia’s most loved forums for literature, ideas and storytelling, Sydney Writers’ Festival will live-stream its headline events from Sydney to Orange Regional Gallery Theatre, hosted by Orange City Library, on Thursday 22, Friday 23, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May from 10am to 5pm. There are 16 sessions held across 4 days. All sessions are free, but bookings are required online via Eventbrite or call the Library on 6393 8132
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.
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 Term 2
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.
***
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]