Don Tate Author Talk

We don't often have the chance to hear authors speak in Gilgandra, but just such a wonderful opportunity has come our way. Don Tate, author of the book "The war within" will be speaking at the Cooee Cultural Heritage Centre on Wednesday 7th April at 10.30am. This free event is open to everyone. As well as speaking about his book, Don will host a showing of historic movie footage he took in Vietnam as a young infantryman in 1969. His film shows images of the 4th and 9th Battalions in the field, an air strike by U.S. Phantoms, men on leave in Vung Tau, and patrols in the thick jungle of Long Khanh. This is a wonderful opportunity to see this footage and to hear an author speak.

For more information about the author, visit his website. There is a transcript of a report about Don on the 7.30 Report , or you can listen to a radio interview with Don on Radio National's Life Matters program. Or better yet, come along to the Cooee Heritage Centre on April 7 at 10.30am and hear what he has to say, for yourself. Free tea, coffee and muffins will be available after the talk.

Over the school holidays, 91 Gilgandra children and teenagers took up the Summer Reading Club challenge. Each person had a goal of ten books to read before 1 February, knowing that when they reached their target, they could collect a small surprise gift from the Library. So far, 36 young people have collected their gift- a library bag containing some treats. It's not too late to bring in your reading record sheet and collect your prize, just like the little one in the post below!

Now what is in my Summer Reading Club surprise bag?

Summer reading club- Read on the Wild Side!

This is the tattoo that lots of young people have recently received as members of Gilgandra's Summer Reading Club. As members, they registered to read 10 books by 1 February, and they received the tattoo when they had read three of these books. To date, 89 young people have registered, and many of these have already completed their challenge and received their "surprise gift". Gilgandra has a lot of great readers!

Our new computers!

Free online computer training

The Library has now made some great online computer training available to all library members! To find the new free online training, go to the library catalogue website (http://nwls.spydus.com ), click on "Online databases" in the left margin. Scroll down the page and click on "Learn computing". In the box labelled "Library code", type in your library card number and click on "Submit". You will see the front page of "Dynamic Learning Online". As you read down the page, you will see that as a new user, you can set up an account, which will allow you to log in to the course and keep track of where you are up to.

Last week we were very fortunate to have Year 10 Work Experience student, Shani, here at the Library. Shani checked 0ut the course and wrote the following review. Thank you, Shani!

"We are pleased to announce that a new and easy computer teaching website is now available to all library card holders. The website is designed to help people understand how to use their computers and the applications that come with them. From sending an email to writing a letter to searching the web, this site will help you to learn exactly what to do.

The fifteen lessons currently available include introductions and a few easy steps into using the chosen application. Some of the courses include: Introduction to computer technology, Using and searching the net, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Windows Vista and Setting up email accounts.

This course is very useful to Seniors and those who are new to computer technology, though it can also help those who wish to go further into using their computers and the internet.

I recommend this course to anyone and everyone who believes they may need help in the understanding of computers and the applications they provide." By Shani

Judy Nunn's "Maralinga"

November 2009 has been a good month for Australian author Judy Nunn. Her new novel, "Maralinga" was November's selection for the Daily Telegraph Big Book Club. To top that off, Judy Nunn was on the cover of November's edition of "Good Reading" magazine, and the lead story was about her writing career and "Maralinga". "Maralinga" is the story of British Lieutenant Daniel Gardiner, who, in 1956, accepts a twelve-month posting to the wilds of South Australia on the promise of promotion. His fiance, Elizabeth Hoffman, is an adventurous English journalist. The site Daniel is posted to is the top-secret nuclear testing facility at Maralinga. There he is drawn into the unique madness surrounding the nuclear tests, where the young soldiers and the local Indigenous people were exposed to radiation. Sarah Minns, writing for "Good reading" magazine, November issue, stated that "The book is hard to categorise: part historical fiction, part intelligent thriller, part romance, it is very compelling, and often the most memorable parts are the scenes inspired by the true accounts of the period. For example, a gripping scene in "Maralinga" portrays the time the young British and Australian soldiers were instructed to stand near the explosions wearing just their combat uniforms, so the army could test out various fabric's suitability to nuclear warfare".

Judy Nunn is one of the most popular authors in our Library.