Goodbye from our Blog

As technology changes and the ways we communicate also do we have decided to discontinue our Library Blog.  Originally it was created to bring you up to date with the library redevelopment in Echuca and then it became an important tool to highlight other events that were happening.  As we now have a Twitter and Facebook page we feel that these are more appropriate and that these can bring you instant posts about what is happening.  Thanks for reading our blog over the years, we will still continue to host the Genealogy one which is extremely popular and highly regarded. 
All the best from your library team.

Getting closer to becoming eSmart

The Campaspe Regional Library is thrilled that is getting closer to completing the implementation phase of eSmart Libraries www.esmartlibraries.org.au
As one of the first pilot libraries to work through the framework it is very pleasing that after about 18 months work this milestone is not far away, we have recently completed the planning phase. 
The library staff are currently undergoing a training plan to assist them to become more confident about online safety and the resources that are available to support the community. 
We are also asking our library users to complete a follow up survey to assist us to plan further training and information and how best to support our communities. 
We thank the many people who have already completed the survey, if you haven't please head to our library website www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/library for the link.  We really do appreciate your feedback. 
We will be reporting back to the community about the results of the survey, also keep an eye out on our website for information about training opportunities in the future. 

Being Connected - Libraries and Autism

It is very exciting to see the first key component of the Being Connected - Libraries and Autism project commence this coming week.  This innovative project has been funded through the Pierre Gorman Award, State Library of Victoria   Con Livanos from Think Access will be coming up this Wednesday to meet with parents, children and older adults who have Autism Spectrum Disorder.  After this Con will undertake a sensory audit of all of our library branches across the Shire to help us to prepare a plan to improve our buildings for people with ASD.  Con has undertaken a great deal of research in preparation of the audit and we are still keen to hear from people who would like to let us know what sensory issues they encounter within our libraries. 
A report will be completed after the audit which will direct further planning and improvements for an enhanced user experience.
Other components of the project will include staff training, programming, assistive technology and working towards the communication access symbol.

Children's Book Week and Community Reading Days to celebrate the National Reading Hour

It has been a fantastic week full of lots of wonderful reading activities.  Together in partnership with Campaspe Cohuna Local Learning Education Network, Community Reading Days have been held in Cohuna (Gannawarra Shire), Echuca, Kyabram, Rushworth, Rochester and Tongala.  Over 300 students from local schools have visited a range of School Friendly Businesses who have read a selection of Children's Book Week shortlisted titles.  Thanks to all the schools and businesses that have supported this great community event and for sharing your love of reading with the children.

5000 poppies project

Our library service is an official collection point for the 5000 poppies project.  It is actually lovely to say that the target of 5000 has easily been surpassed already and it is likely the end result will be close to 100,000.  We recently held a poppy making afternoon and it was just lovely at our Echuca Branch.  We will certainly run some more over the next few months, as well as include them in the school holiday activities. 
People are encouraged to make poppies from the patterns provided which we have available at the library branches.  They can also be downloaded from http://5000poppies.wordpress.com
There is also a very active 5000 poppies Facebook group with nearly 1000 members. 
We encourage you to take part in this amazing community tribute of respect and remembrance.  It is a Victorian Government endorsed commemoration project which will culminate in a stunning display at Federation Square on Anzac Day 2015. 
So get knitting, crochet, felting or lace-making and participate in this wonderful project.

Winter Blues Magic

Please join us for two special events during the Winter Blues Festival from the 25-27 July.  We are very proud to be hosting two fantastic artists at our Echuca Branch over this amazing weekend.
Ali Penney will be performing Saturday morning from 11am and Phil Manning will be back for a second year performing on the Sunday afternoon from 2.30pm. 
We are an official supporter of the festival, it looks like a wonderful line-up again with heaps of artists performing at a variety of venues.  For more information about the festival please head to
http://winterblues.com.au/

It's school holiday time again!

Out libraries are jammed packed with activities to keep your children occupied during the July School Holidays.  Might be cold outside but there are lots of creative sessions over the next two weeks and hopefully something for everyone.  Please check our website for all the details.  The emphasis is definitely on learning something new.  There is opportunity to contribute to a national project through the Neural Knitworks, making music using the Sound Fusion website and helping to illustrate a book by local author Kaye Baillie.  Wool crafts, movie afternoons, pizza and games nights and special storytimes are in there too. 
Thanks to parents for their support, we hope it helps you out too by providing free and low cost activities.
See you soon, please contact our branches for more information 1300 666 535

Thank you for your support

Just a quick note to all of our wonderful library customers for voting for us as Australia's Favourite Library.  We pass on our congratulations to the winners Sandringham (Bayside) who actually one the overall title and to Hume Library Service for the Victorian title.  It was wonderful to part of this promotion.  We also had a great week last week for Library and Information Week and we feature in the www.alia.org.au wrap up of 2014 events.  Thanks to everyone for coming along and attending our special events.
This coming week we have our final High Road to Reading session with James Phelan on Thursday at Echuca at 2pm.  Everyone is welcome, please check our website for booking details.
We have also started planning activities for the next school holidays with the theme 'get creative @ your library' so keep an eye out for the details.
On a sad note we will farewell our respected colleague Valerie Hansen this week who passed away last Tuesday.  Valerie was our Home Based Services Coordinator and she made a wonderful contribution to this important part of our library service.  She will be sadly missed by colleagues and the many volunteers who assist with home deliveries and the words on wheels program.

Victoria on Record

During May and June our library service is hosting a touring exhibition from the Public Records Office of Victoria.  We are very pleased to offer our visitors the opportunity to view this interesting banner display which promotes and highlights the many interesting and diverse things that the Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV) keeps. At the moment the exhibition is at Rochester Branch until Saturday and then head to Rushworth, Echuca, Kyabram and then finishes at Tongala.
Well worth a personal visit to the PROV in North Melbourne and take in a tour.  For details about the Victoria on Record exhibition, when and where it will be please head to our library website.  For more information about the exhibition itself please go to http://prov.vic.gov.au/whats-on/touring-exhibitions/victoria-on-record
Look forward to seeing you at one of our branches.  In conjunction with the display being held at Echuca we will also have a session about the PROV which will be conducted by one of our library staff.  Again details are on the library website.
On Sunday 25 May we are also hosting a Sunday afternoon session about collecting your own oral history which will be bought to us by Heather Rendle from the Echuca Historical Society. 

School holidays and Youth Week

The Campaspe Regional Library are very proud to offer a range of activities for the School Holidays and Youth Week.  We have partnered with our Youth Services Team this week to run the Photographic competition which will conclude this Friday with the announcement of the winners at a special Youth Week luncheon.  Thank you to all the young people that entered the competition and to Echuca Moama Photography Group for their involvement and for judging the winning entries.  We also have Pizza and Games activities this Wednesday night at Echuca and Kyabram Branches, as well as Manga Drawing with the guys from Oztaku on Thursday at Echuca, Kyabram and Rochester.  A full range of activities for young children including movie afternoons, Easter craft, lego, board games and a special live show at Echuca this Friday.  Please see the library website for all the details and the booking form.  All activities are free but bookings are preferred.  Please call us if you need further information on 5481 2400.

Special literary events coming up

We are so fortunate to offer so many wonderful literary events this year.  Tonight we have the final of the Campaspe Murray Writers Group Poetry Competition kicking off at 6pm.  Congratulations to all those who entered and especially to the winning entries.  We look forward to hearing the poems being performed tonight. 
This week we have a special guest author Shane Maloney who will be in Kyabram on Wednesday as part of the State Library of Victoria "High Road to Reading" program.  Shane will be speaking to students at St Augustine's School in the morning and then everyone is welcome to join us at 2pm for an afternoon event.  It is free to come along and bookings via our website are preferred. 
On Sunday we have representatives from SCOPE and Community Living and Respite Services presenting what they provide to our communities.  The session will be at 2.30 at the Campaspe Regional Library, Echuca. 
On Saturday 12 April the Echuca Branch is hosting Torre De Roche as part of the Summer Read Program also provided by the State Library of Victoria.  The morning session "In conversation with Torre" will kick off at 10.30am, again bookings are preferred via the library website. 
Keep an eye out for more events that are planned for rest of the year, there are some sensational guests coming along.

Australia's Favourite Library

Did you know that Campaspe Regional Library has been nominated in the Australia's Favourite Library Competition.  We would love all of our members and visitors to the region to vote for us.  It is fantastic to see that so many libraries across Australia are loved by their communities and their users.  It is an honour to be nominated, would be lovely to be up there in the high votes.  So vote today.  The link is https://www.alia.org.au/campaspe-regional-libraries

EMFM Radio

Did you know that we have a monthly chat with Ron Wood at EMFM about all the good things that are happening at our library?  This week the Library Services Manager will be chatting with Ron on Friday 14th at 11am and then resume to her usual spot which is the third Monday of the month at 9.30.  We talk about all the events and special activities, as well as books and new resources to the library.  Please tune in 104.7 on Friday to hear the live to air interview.  http://www.radioemfm.org.au/
Also a reminder that we have Maggie Coulinan talking at our Rochester Branch on Thursday at 10.30am.  Please come along and hear how here life changed when she decided to backpack overseas.  Quite the adventurer and quite a personal journey to share.

Poetry Competition

It is with much pleasure to announce that the Campaspe Murray Writers Group, in partnership with the Campaspe Regional Library is currently running a Poetry Competition.  Entry forms are available at all library branches and you have until March 7 2014 to enter.  Prizes are being provided by Collins Booksellers and Tangled Garden Bookshop.  There are a number of categories, all entries must be original and have been written after January 1 2013.

Open Age, less than 150 words
Open Age, over 150 words
Intermediate (13-18 years) Less than 150 words
Intermediate (13-18 years) More than 150 words
Junior (9-12 years) No word limit
Junior (up to 9 years) No word limit

Details, terms and conditions of entry are all available on the entry form.  An entry form must be signed and accompany all entries.

So happy writing, we look forward to lots of entries.  A performance night of the finalists is also part of the competition which will be held on 28 March.  More details to come.

Please contact any of our library branches for more information.

Happy New Year

Welcome back to all our wonderful customers and visitors to the Campaspe region.  Our libraries are all once again open for business and we look forward to seeing you in 2014.  There is lots on in the holidays to keep the children entertained, please look at our website for details of session times and booking information.  There is also the Summer Read for older readers, info at www.slv.vic.gov.au
Storytimes will also be happening at the Echuca Branch right though out the holidays so the little ones won't miss out either.  Please pop in, pick up a book or two to relax with.