Learning about writing with Colleen

The National Year of Reading Writer's workshop last Saturday 5th May was so much fun!  A happy group of writers gathered at the Library to hear Colleen O'Sullivan speak.  Colleen gave us some great ideas and we all went home with more confidence and renewed passion for writing.  Thank you, Colleen!

Writer's Workshop: Putting the Past in Print

Many of us want to write about the past: stories about ourselves to pass on to children and grandchildren, family history we have collected over the years, the history of our local community.  Colleen O'Sullivan, a Writing Fellow of the Fellowship of Australian Writers NSW, will be conducting a Writer's Workshop at the Library, and welcomes anyone with an interest in writing to attend.

This session will provide you with ideas for getting your material together and writing it so that you capture your readers' interest.

When:  Saturday 5th May, 1.30-5pm

Where: Gilgandra Shire Library

Cost:  Free

Afternoon tea provided.

Bookings are essential.  To book, phone the Library 6817 8877 or email library@gilgandra.nsw.gov.au .  RSVP Thursday 3rd May.

Colleen has asked that you bring along a cup & saucer, or a mug that you value, a journal or exercise book, and a photo.

All welcome!  This is an event to celebrate the National Year of Reading 2012.

National Year of Reading 2012

Next Tuesday, 14th February, the National Year of Reading will be launched all over Australia. Well, these days we seem to have a “Year-of” something every year, and often we have several at once. So why does the National Year of Reading matter?
The simple answer is that in the reading stakes, Australians don’t always do well. Here are the facts, from the National Year of Reading website (http://www.love2read.org.au ).
The literacy issue in Australia
According to the 2006 Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey, nearly half of all Australians (46%) don’t have the literacy skills they need to cope with the complex demands of everyday life and work in the emerging knowledge-based economy. (http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4228.0 )
A survey by the Australian Industry Group in May 2010 of major employers found that more than 75% felt their businesses were affected by low levels of literacy and numeracy in the workforce. (http://www.aigroup.com.au/portal/site/aig/education/workforceliteracy/ )
Families who read give their children the best start
The most active period of brain growth and development is from birth to three and it is widely recognised that sharing books with young children before they go to school greatly improves their chances of developing good literacy skills. http://www.bookstart.org.uk/professionals/aboutbookstart-and-the-packs/research/reviews-and-resources/sharies-stories/
Fixing the problem
The National Year of Reading is about turning Australia into a nation of readers. There are three goals:

• For all Australians to understand the benefits of reading as a life skill and a catalyst for well-being
  


• To promote a reading culture in every home


• To establish an aspirational goal for families, of parents and caregivers sharing books with their children every day

There will be lots of reading events this year, at a National level, and also here in Gilgandra. On Tuesday 14th February (aka Library Lovers Day), the major Launch will take place at the National Library in Canberra. Here in Gilgandra, we’ll have copies of “Good Reading” magazine to give away to the first 30 library customers, free tea and coffee, lots of great reading material, and chocolate! We’ll also be asking customers to nominate their most loved books and authors, and we’ll be using this information to create a list of Gilgandra’s top reads.

What would you like to read this week? To see what books the Library has, call in and browse the shelves, or check out the library catalogue at http://nwls.spydus.com .

Vote for our State book- Australia's Biggest Book Group

Did you know that next year is Australia’s National Year of Reading? One of the nationwide projects planned for 2012 is Australia’s biggest book group, where people from across the nation all read the same book. As with any book group, the difficulty is “which book do we choose?” In the end, the organisers decided not to choose just one book, but eight books, one for every state and territory of Australia. Margaret Allen, chair of the National Year of Reading founders and State Librarian of WA, explained, “For 2012, we’re creating a collection of books which, read together, describe the Australian experience. We’re hoping that thousands of readers will take a journey around Australia through the pages of these eight books and come out of it with a deeper understanding of what it means to be Australian.”
The National Year of Reading founders brought together an independent panel of readers to choose a shortlist of books for each state, and now they have invited everyone to vote for their favourite. The shortlist for NSW is: “Torn apart” by Peter Corris, “Lilian’s story” by Kate Grenville, “Sydney Harbour: a history” by Ian Hoskins, “The idea of Home” by John Hughes, “The Harp in the South” by Ruth Park and “Bereft” by Chris Womersley. Until 6 January 2012, you can vote online by going to www.abc.net.au/yearofreading or by completing a voting slip at the Library.
The winning list will be announced at the launch of the Year of Reading on 14 February at the National Library. After that, we will be able to register as members of “Our Story”, a nationwide reading group, and discuss the chosen books. This is just the first of many plans for the National Year of Reading, and we are looking forward to celebrating our love of reading on a very big scale in 2012. Happy reading!