Ancestry.com @ your library

We are very pleased to announce that all library patrons have free access to ancestry.com. This amazing genealogy database is available to you to use in the library from our internet computers. You will find that the database is the first port of call to collect information to create your family tree and find out more about your ancestors. Library staff are also learning more about this database and will be available to teach you more about it in the coming weeks, all you have to do is ask at the desk if you are not sure what to do. We know that this site is already extremely popular and and are thrilled to be able to offer it to all our valued library patrons. The only way to access this site is through our website and you will need to use it at one of our libraries, unfortunately due to licencing agreements we are not permitted to provide external access. We are also taking names at our branches for people who would interested in learning more about how to trace your family tree on the internet, just let one of the library staff your interest and we will organised small classes soon. Happy Searching!

Also don't forget we have access to newspapers, journals, health information and a wide variety of journals to also access freely online, when you search for a book these items will also be identified as an alternative reference.

Governor of Victoria Visit at Echuca highlights men's health

Today the Library Services Manager had the pleasure of meeting the Governor of Victoria, David De Kretser. He is currently touring the area and visiting the Gannawarra and Campaspe Shires. A very polite, softly spoken person but with presence and a sense of calm authority who spoke to community members and Shire Staff at a reception this evening. He spoke about his ambassador work promoting the need for men's health issues to have a higher profile and mentioned a range of resources available to assist men and women with information and support. One of those he didn't mention is the M5 Project which was launched earlier this year which is a Federal Government initiative. So far there are two parts of the project, one is a magazine that is availabe at doctor's surgeries called While you're waiting and the other part is a website www.m5project.com.au It is definitely worthwhile looking at the website and if you are in the doctors pick up the mag and have a flick through the range of interesting articles. Our libraries have many resources on men's health and we have just renewed our online resource "Health and Wellness" which has a host of journal articles and encyclopedia references on a range of health topics, this is available for free from our website. Please ask your local library staff to assist you locating the information.

Family History Feast at the State Library

If you are interested in family history and would like to know the latest information about researching your family tree we would encourage you to visit the State Library of Victoria for a Family History Feast. The free information day will be held on Monday 3rd August from 10-4, it will be held at the SLV Village Roadshow Theatrette, Entry 3, La Trobe Street. You will need to book a place as numbers are limited on 1800 657 452. The sessions include information about the Geelong Heritage Centre Collection which is Victoria's largest regional archive, VicHeritage at Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages will give an overview on their current projects. Sessions about the PROV, Multicultural Australia, Redmond Barry Collection at the SLV and the Victorian Association of Family History Organisations (VAHFO) 2009 Don Grant Lecture will be other special features of the day. While you at the State Library take the opportunity to visit The Independent Type ; books and writing in Victoria exhibition in the Keith Murdoch Gallery - this is also free and is fascinating, some of our staff have visited it and next year at Campaspe we will be hosting a range of events around the travelling exhibition which will be on display at the Echuca Branch.

Reuse, reduce and recycle

Come along to all our library branches during June and see the displays about the theme "reuse, reduce and recycle" We have joined forces with our Landcare team and have lots of information at each branch about what can be recycled and how to go about it. Thanks to Doug Gray from the Tongala Depot who has put together a "recycle Bin which is see-through"to show what can be put in it.

All our storytimes this month will feature this theme and the children will be making musical instruments out of recycled products.

National Library and Information Week

Did you know that libraries are your free passport to discovery? This years NLIW theme highlights the self-directed discovery element of libraries and celebrates libraries as free place to access, communicate, connect, educate, entertain and inform. We have a range of activities happening during the week including Toddler Rhyme time at Echuca Library on Tuesday 26th at 10.30am, Pete the Sheep storytime sessions at Rochester and Kyabram libraries also on Tuesday at the same time. Rushworth are holding a Australia's Biggest morning tea event also at 10.3o that day. New books will also be display at this one and other morning (afternoon) teas at Kyabram on Wednesday at 2.30pm, Tongala on Thursday 28th at 10am and Rochester also on Thursday at 10.30am. We will also be joining Nanneella Playgroup on Wednesday as part of their open day. To finish the week off the Echuca Friends of the Library are hosting an Australia's Biggest Morning Tea and book display at 10.30am.

So, there will be plenty of tea and cake all throughout the week, as well as an opportunity to come along and mingle with other library members, support an important cause and also see the latest books the library has purchased.

What has been happening in our branches?

We have just had a very successful holiday program and involvment in National Youth Week. Thanks to everyone that came along and supported the Bookmark Tour at Kyabram, Echuca and Rochester Branches. We also hope that the children and their parents enjoyed the Scientwists shows at the same branches. A visit from a Mermaid captivated the children at Kyabram Branch soon after we opened the library at the new site. Above are some of the photos from these special events. Next Monday 4th May we have special guest author Barry Heard who will be presenting a talk at the Echuca Civic Centre from 2pm. Barry will speak about his book and his experiences in Vietnam. Information or bookings 54821997. Soon it will be Library and Information Week which includes celebrating the National Simultaneous Storytime Pete the Sheep and "New Book" morning teas (in conjunction with Australia's Biggest Morning Tea) We are also involved at the Playgroup Playday next Tuesday 5th May at Apex Park Echuca from 10am. The following week we are promoting National Families Week at our storytimes. So there is something for everyone. If you need further information about any of these activities please contact one of our staff today on 1300 666 535 or pop into one of our branches. A reminder that our Kyabram Branch is now located at Lake Rd with the Shire of Campaspe Customer Service Centre, it's new name is Kyabram Library and Community Hub. Come in and enjoy the new comfortable surroundings, we are open from 9-5 Monday and Friday, 9-6 Tuesday and Thursday, 9-7 on Wednesdays and 10-1 on Saturdays.

One year on ....

We have just celebrated our first year being part of the SWIFT consortium. What does that mean to you? - access to nearly 2,800,000 items from the other participating libraries for free. Since we have joined the SWIFT consortium we have borrowed 4625 items from the other member libraries, and we have actually lent out 7807 of our items to the other members. The photo shows the amount of traffic that goes between our branches on a weekly basis. What a great caring, sharing bunch we are! It can be gauged as a tremendous success and we are pleased to announce that other libraries will be joining us soon to widen the choices even more. The SWIFT consortium recently won the LG PRO Award for Excellence for Innovative Management Initiative”. We also have access to another shared system called Library Link Victoria which will be upgraded over the next few months giving us even more choice and selection options to all our valued library customers. There are great advantages of being part of collaborative systems like these because they provide additional benefits to everyone. If you would like more information about our online services, or how to set up your own account so you can order material online or renew your items please contact us today on 1300666535 or email us at libraries@campaspe.vic.gov.au Remember that we have some fantastic resources available from our website including free online tutoring for students from year 4-12 and a range of authorative databases that can be accessed by just using your library card.