Lions Club generous donation

The Shire of Campaspe is very pleased to receive a very generous $20,000 donation from Lions Echuca and Lions Australia to purchase equipment and resources for the new regional library in Echuca.  The funding will enable the library service to purchase new large print and audio books to add to the collection, as well as provided much needed assistive technology for people with sight impairment.   It is planned that a dedicated area within the new library will house some large screen computers, keyboards and a range of video and hand held magnifiers will be available for library users to utilise during their library visit.  These resources will compliment the services the library already provides to people who have difficulties with their vision.  The cheque was presented to the Library Services Manager when she spoke to the Lions Club at their March meeting, then was formally handed over to the Mayor the following day by President Glenn Brotchie, Treasure John Meincke and Secretary Ron Johnson.  This is a wonderful partnership and the Lions Club are to be congratulated on the assistance they provide to so many in the local community and beyond.

Great fun at the Rochester Show

Thanks to all the families that visited the library stand at the Rochester Show over the weekend.  Lots of balloon people were made, showbags given and information about The Library Initiative was provided.  It certainly was a hot couple of days and glad we could be outside to catch the breeze.  We hope everyone enjoyed the show. 
Our next special event is an author visit on Wednesday March 14th, 7.30pm at the Kyabram Library.  Keri Arthur will be talking about writing in her particular genre which has been extremely popular with teens and adults.  There is more information on our library website www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/library
Free event, no bookings required

National Year of Reading Launch

For most people February 14th means Valentine's Day, but it is also Library Lover's Day and this year it is the official launch date of The National Year of Reading. We have been talking about it for a while now but it is finally here and is very exciting. For more information about what is happening across Australia go to www.love2read.org.au
Our library service has heaps planned to celebrate the year with lots of author and literary events to look forward to. The library has a beautiful mural to travel to all libraries and special events this year. The library service is proud to contribute to the myregion website to showcase the mural and talk about why it sees the National Year of Reading to be such an important year. www.myregion.gov.au
Please keep an eye on the library website for all the latest events and storytimes. During February the library is running a competition at each branch, all you have to do is write a short entry about why you love the library. There is a prize of a box of chocolates at each library to win.
Look forward to seeing you soon!

Echuca Regional Library Project Update

It is a hive of activity down at the building site which is very exciting to see.  The steel structure is complete and brickwork has commenced.  The concrete paths will commence next week.  If you are in Echuca please come along and have a look.  The library team continue to take photos nearly every day and these are available as a slideshow on our library website.  The project is tracking very well, not even a bit of rain held up the progress.  If you would like more detailed information about the project there are regular project bulletins available from the Shire of Campaspe website or the library website.  Keep an eye on the Shire of Campaspe Facebook site as well.  http://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/

Welcoome back Rochester

We are very pleased to let all our patrons know that the library in Rochester has now been re-established in its previous location and full library services are available.  The library is now open all week plus Saturday mornings from 9.30am-11.30am and a 6pm closing on Wednesday nights.  Wireless internet access and public internet access is once again available.  Please pop in and make yourself re-aquainted with the new look library.  The library will be staying in this location for a number of months while works are undertaken to create the new municipal precinct that will also inlcude Rochester Community House and the Opperman Musuem.  These will be a fabulous addition to the Customer Service Team and the Library so watch this space!  In the meantime we welcome back all Rochester library patrons and we thank you for your patience and understanding during the last year.

Good Reads Reading Challenge 2012

Welcome to the National Year of Reading 2012.  Heaps of awesome activities, author visits, special events and lots and lots of reading await us.  We would like to promote a great website called GoodReads which is a fantastic social networking reading website.  GoodReads is encouraging everyone as part of the National Year of Reading to make a pledge of how many books they will read over the year.  Some of our library staff have already registered.  It is free to join and by joining in you become part of an international group of people all aiming towards a collective goal of reading millions of books.  It will be a great place to see what other people are enjoying to read, you might find a new author or genre that you haven't read before.  The link to the site is http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/207-2012-reading-challenge

For other information about the National Year of Reading head to http://www.love2read.org.au/

Happy New 'National Year of Reading"

Welcome to 2012, a year full of wonderful new books and heaps of fatastic events across the nation to celebrate the National Year of Reading.  All of our library branches re-opened today with many people visiting early to beat the heatwave. 

This week we have a few things happening.  On Thursday we have Amazing Pets holiday activity at our Rushworth branch, starting at 10.30am. The same session is running at Echuca on Friday morning from 10.30am.  This activity is free.

Already we have seen many children bringing in their Amazing Read reading logs to collect their reading rewards along the way.  It is free to join and each child receives a pool pass courtesy of the Echuca Pool which is fabulous.   We have a great range of free or low cost holiday activities so please look on our website or pick up a schedule from one of our library branches today.  Next week the Scientwists will be appearing at the Kyabram Branch on Tuesday morning (10th) at 10.30am.   Other activities include Amazing Pets and Magnets.

This coming Thursday we have our second Library Bytes Radio program at 10am on EMFM Community Radio.  We will be talking about a range of things including Our Story, audio books and the Summer holiday activities.

A reminder that voting for our story concludes on January 6th, information for this is available at http://www.abc.net.au/arts/yearofreading/