Bob the Builder Story Time

The RTA roadworks at the back of the Library have provided interesting viewing for many little ones over the last few weeks, so this week our Story Time will have a “Bob the Builder” theme. Come along and join us at 10.30am on Thursday 24th November for stories, activities and fun. Story Time is for babies, toddlers, under 5s and their parents or carers. Story Time is free, but we ask you to book in so that we have enough materials ready. You can book (even on Thursday morning) by phoning 6817 8877, or by emailing library@gilgandra.nsw.gov.au.

This will be our last Story Time for 2011, but we will begin again in February. Story Time is held on the fourth Thursday of the month at 10.30am, and usually takes about 45 minutes.

Free online tutoring for school students

Did you know that anyone with a Gilgandra library card can log in to a free online tutoring service? It is called yourtutor, and the Library pays an annual subscription fee which allows all library members free access to the service.

How does it work?

*It operates Monday to Friday, from 4pm-8pm.

*It is designed to help students from Years 4-12.

*You log in with a particular question you need help with, and a tutor will work with you to find the answer, via instant messaging, an online whiteboard, and links.

* Do you have a library card? If not, call in at the Library to join, or get a new card. Those under 18 need to be enrolled by a parent or guardian.

* Go to http://nwls.spydus.com/
*Scroll down until you see the yourtutor logo, as above.

*Click on the word "here".

* Where it says GILGANDRA borrowers click here, click "here".

*Type in your library card number.

*Select your year level.

*Select your subject.

*You will be connected with a tutor, whom you can talk to via instant messaging on the screen.

We hope you like this service!

Treasures left in libraries in Edinburgh

Just felt I had to pass on this link for these amazing paper sculptures, left as gifts in libraries in Edinburgh. There is an Ian Rankin link to them, too...

The first of these sculptures bore a tag that read, in part:
"We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books....a book is so much more than pages full of words....."

The blog these sculptures appeared on is pretty inspiring too: Central Station.

Reading in someone else's shoes

One of the wonderful things about reading is that it enables you to walk in someone else’s shoes for a little while. Sometimes those shoes take you to places and lives radically different to your own. “Tamil Tigress” by Niromi de Soyza is an example of just such a story. Two days before Christmas in 1987, at the age of 17, Niromi de Soyza found herself in an ambush as part of a small platoon of militant Tamil Tigers fighting government forces in the bloody civil war that was to engulf Sri Lanka for decades. With her was her lifelong friend, Ajanthi, also aged 17. Leaving behind them their shocked middle-class families, the teenagers had become part of the Tamil Tigers' first female contingent. Equipped with little more than a rifle and a cyanide capsule, Niromi's group managed to survive on their wits in the jungle, facing not only the perils of war but starvation, illness and growing internal tensions among the militant Tigers. Today, Niromi de Soyza lives with her husband and children in Sydney. Walter Mason reviewed this book for “Good Reading” magazine (September 2011) and he said “This is a book about suffering, resilience and personal strength that I found ultimately unsettling and uniquely insightful”.

We hope you enjoy whatever you are reading this week. To find out what other books the Library has, visit http://nwls.spydus.com.

Holiday competition at the Library

Looking for something to do over the school holidays? Why not enter the library's new competition? Draw a book cover on an A4 sheet of paper, write your name, age, address and phone number on the back, and bring your entry to the LIbrary by Saturday 15th October. The one we like the best will win a $50 Visa prepaid gift card.

StoryTime

We're back after a year's hibernation. We would like to apologise for the absence- we flirted with Facebook during this time, and thought maybe it would replace the need for a blog. But... while Facebook is good, people are still checking the blog, so we've decided to reactivate it.

Tomorrow (Thursday 22nd September) at 10.30am, the library is likely to be a noisy happy place. StoryTime happens on the third Thursday of most months, and we welcome babies, toddlers and under-5s, and their carers, to come along for some fun. At StoryTime tomorrow, we'll be finding out who sank the boat, getting muddled up on the farm, and going to sea, sea, sea! Come along prepared to Timbuktu! (Don't worry- I'd forgotten how to do that bit, too- but I learnt how to do it again thanks to the wonderful blog "Irresistable ideas for play-based learning".)

For more info about StoryTime, call the Library on 02 68178877 or email library@gilgandra.nsw.gov.au

Shelving project

The Library will shortly be receiving new shelves. So we have lots of second-hand shelves for sale. All offers will be considered. To see what we have available, check out the catalogue on the Council's tenders and quotations page http://www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/index.cfm?objectid=4C0D6AB4-FEA3-0007-8C6C7414398EC857 .

Don't be shy to make an offer- we want to see these shelves go to a good home.