On board with books

The Campaspe Regional Library is proud to be partnering with the Port of Echuca to celebrate a very significant milestone of a most loved and well known member of the paddlesteamer fleet.  The PS Pevensey is due to celebrate her 100th Birthday on 20th July 2011.  We are well into the 100 day countdown to recognise this special date and lots and lots of activities have been planned to celebrate.  The library is involved in four ways

1. Treasure Hunt, venture into the library and locate the answer to the first question on the sheet.  Treasure Hunt sheets are available from the Port of Echuca shop.
2. The Nancy Cato Readathon, read five of Nancy's books, write a review and then receive a special double pass to the Port of Echuca.  Nancy wrote the famous book All the Rivers Run which infact put the PS Pevensey on the world stage as the PS Philadelphia.
3. On Thursday 5th July we are having a special school holiday activity on the Pevensey.  Stories, songs and craft as we cruise along the mighty Murray.  Boarding time is 11.15, bookings are essential and cost is $9 per child/adult
4. On Sunday 10th July we are having another cruise but this time renowned storyteller Julie Smith will be sharing the poetry and stories of Nancy Cato.  Afternoon tea will be included, boarding time is 2.15 and cost is $9 per person.
For more information about any of these great events please contact the library on 5482 1997.
We look forward to seeing you there and we congratulate our Shire colleagues on such a wonderful celebratory event.
For more information about the other events please head to http://www.portofechuca.org.au/

Libraries : we find stuff!

Always an exciting time for libraries across Australia.  It is a time to celebrate and recognise what libraries are all about and an opportunity to find out how libraries can help you 'find stuff'.  We have a few sessions about finding information from our website, catalogue and the internet during the week that everyone is welcome to attend.  We are also very pleased to be partipating in National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday at Stanhope Pre-School.   Our genealogy classes are always popular and this weeks is already booked out but please contact us if you would like to go on our waiting list. 
Please see the coming events for details of each activity and for more general information about Library and Information Week 2011 please go to http://www.alia.org.au/

Echuca Library Project - another milestone reached

We are now getting that little bit closer with the next stage in the process going live on the weekend.  The tender for construction of the $5.1 million project was advertised on Saturday via the Shire of Campaspe Council website http://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/
Detailed design has been completed, colours and finishes are being decided upon and car parking arrangements will the next thing to complete to ensure construction can commence in a timely manner. 
We are still working towards October 2012 for our new branch to be open, so very exciting times over the next 18 months as we prepare for the transistion.

Volunteers spreading the word

Last week two of our staff had the absolute pleasure in attending the launch of Words on Wheels at South Morang, Eltham and Rosanna.  Words on Wheels Storytelling was created by our library service a number of years ago and has now been embraced by the Yarra Plenty Library Corporation (largest in the state).  Words on Wheels provides storytelling sessions for older adults in all aged care facilities in our Shire.  Yarra Plenty will also be offering the program throughout their various Shires that make up the corporation.  It was wonderful to meet the volunteers that will be creating and delivering this program, they are so enthusiastic and happy to be doing something that will benefit so many others, as well as themselves.
Below is an image of Valerie Hansen, our Volunteer Coordinator with the staff and volunteers from Yarra Plenty Library at the launch in Rosanna

As we celebrate National Volunteers Week this week we would like to thank all our wonderful volunteers that support us through Books On Wheels, Words on Wheels, Friends of the Library, Adult Literacy, Broadband for Seniors, and general library tasks.  We could not be the library service we are without you, so thanks to everyone who donate their time and energy to us. 

Feathers for Phoebe

May is just about upon us and this is when libraries across Australia celebrate National Library and Information Services Week.  As part of the celebrations the National Simultaneous Storytime is a very special highlight of the week, so much that we present this storytime right throughout the month.  Children will be treated to listening to Feather's for Phoebe by Rod Clement as well as some fun activities associated with the book.  For more details of session times please keep a close eye on our library website.   More information about LISW will follow.

Tongala Library is back home again

We are very pleased to inform you that the Tongala Library has been relocated into the Tongala Library and Community Hub.  The library is now situated at the western end of the building.  It is open during business hours each day and Saturdays from 10am -12pm.  95% of the shelving is brand new and we also have some nice new furniture for reading and new computer desks and chairs. 
The official opening is on Thursday 21st at 10am, followed by a holiday activity for the children.  Please come along and check out the 'new' library.  And also thank you for your patience during our relocation and setting up period. 
For more information about the Tongala Library please see our main website.

It's great to have Friends

We are very blessed at Campaspe that we have two Friends of the Library Groups that support our branches at Echuca and Kyabram.  These two groups have been fabulous over the years raising additional funds for our library programs, lobbying and advocating for library services and of course being wonderful friends to the library staff in the true sense of the word.  This week our Echuca Friends are once again holding their famous Homemade Jam and Book Sale.   It will be at the Echuca Library on Friday 25th March from 9.30am - 1pm.  The Friends will follow the sale with their regular monthly meeting which is usually held at 10.15am on the last Friday of the month.   There is also a special raffle for a handmade Porcelain Baby Doll.   Please come along and support the Friends in their endeavours, they have worked particularly hard to raise money for the new Echuca library, as well as provide valuable input into the planning process.  For more information about Friends of the Library Australia please go to http://www.fola.org.au/