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.

Attention all writers!

There are some great opportunities coming up in December for writers to hone their skills. The first is the WritersLINK workshop at Macquarie Regional Library, Dubbo, on Thursday 3 December, from 9.30am- 4.45pm. The workshop lineup includes Trudi Sheppard, an experienced publicist, who will talk about PR and marketing and media release writing. Dr David Reiter will talk about the application of new media in the composing and publishing of text and cross art form works. Kathielyn Job will discuss living and working as a professional artist in regional Australia with a focus on short stories and contemporary poetry. Peter and Pat Dargin will run a session that focusses on children's books, historical biography and family history, and different forms of writing. Paul Stafford, a literacy consultant and author, will cover writing for children and will give hints and tips on the challenges encountered. His latest series of comedy-horror books "Horror High" are published by Random House Australia.

This is a fabulous opportunity to attend a regional writer's workshop, at a cost of only $25 (includes lunch). To register for this workshop you will need to contact Orana Arts, phone 6817 8705, or email Kerry Ellen kellen@oranaarts.com .

The NSW Writer's Centre in Rozelle, Sydney, are running a Masterclass; a Fiction Writing Workshop with Jean Bedford, who is a well-known Australian novelist and short story writer. She has also been a journalist and an in-house or freelance editor for many of Australia's mainstream publishers. She has taught creative writing for over 20 years in most of the universities and writer's centres on Australia's east coast and has been a judge for many prestigious writing awards. She currently lectures in Creative Writing at UTS. The objective of this workshop is to allow participants to focus on their own writing and the work of others, developing critical abilities and skills to bring the work to completion. Benefit from the insight of Jean and other writers, share your experiences and learn from other writer's mistakes. This workshop will be held on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, 10am-4pm, at the NSW Writers Centre, Rozelle, and the cost is $250. For more information, call 9555 9757 or visit www.nswwriterscentre.org.au