Sutherland Shire Libraries News

Looking for Something to Read Over the Holidays?

Do you have some spare time coming up? With the holidays approaching now is the time to find yourself a great read for those lazy summer days. Have a look at NoveList, one of the latest additions to the Library's collection of Online Databases.

*NoveList is an easy-to-navigate reader's guide to fiction providing a huge array of searching options. You can search by title, author, series name (even plot!) or peruse ready made lists and articles. You can even restrict your search to titles released within a certain year of publication or display only adult large print titles.

Readers wishing to find books in a particular genre can browse the ready made lists. The lists are categorisied under two main headings, Best Fiction which covers awards, honours and recommended lists and Explore Fiction showing mysteries, horror, romance, adventure and more. Children and Young Adult books are included under their own headings. In addition to the expected categories of romance, mysteries and fantasy for example, are collections such as graphic novels. Many of the genres are then further sorted into separate sections which could assist the reader in identifying a focus area.

Of particular interest to many will be the Read-Alike searching feature that lets you find other authors that write in a similar style to your favourite one! An author I'm particularly interested in is American novelist Joyce Carol Oates who has been writing consistently since the 1960s. A search on Joyce Carol Oates produced a sizeable piece on her background, her style of writing and the awards she has won. It also brought to light a pseudonymn that she writes under that I had not known previously.

NoveList provides a facility to create an account to save searches for future reference. After you sign in you can save search results and create alerts. In addition the database can save lists and retrieve previously saved lists. This database is well worth a look and if you're interested you might like to start with the 1 Minute NoveList, a sample search showing how you can get started.

Photos from Cartoon Dave's Book Launch

Here are some photos from yesterday's book launch by Cartoon Dave (Dave Hackett)



Were you there? What did you think? Leave us a comment...

The Summer Reading Club is On Again!

Christmas Activities for Kids

There are a number of activities for kids happening in the libraries as we approach Christmas. We have colouring in, craft, storytimes and films. Find all the details in our Events Calendar.

2006 Census Data for the Sutherland Shire

The data from the 2006 Census has recently been added to the Sutherland Shire Community Profile. The Community Profile is designed to inform community groups, Council, investors, business, students and the general public about the demographics of the Sutherland Shire using simple, clear tables and charts with concise factual commentary.

Much of the data is available at suburb level and the latest release now includes:

• Census 2006 demographic information about your community.
• Accurate time series data between the 2006 and 1991, 1996, 2001 Censuses.
• Enumerated and Usual Residence population data sets.
• New information collected for the first time in the 2006 Census about need for assistance, voluntary work, child care, unpaid care and home internet connections.
• Additional information about proficiency in English, individual income levels and what people are paying in mortgages and rent.
• Virtual Earth interactive maps - including road, aerial and hybrid map views.

If you need statistics about the Sutherland Shire the Community Profile is a great place to start looking.

Imagine NSW without Public Libraries!

...You wouldn't read about it.
Public library funding has now reached crisis point in NSW.

• One in two people are public library members and use our libraries 32 million times every year.
• Our state government provides the lowest per capita funding to public libraries in Australia.
• Services most at risk are: story times, home delivery, learning English, internet access, study and meeting places, opening hours, new books and branch libraries.
• The young, old, culturally diverse and disadvantaged have the most to lose.
• In a democratic society free public libraries are everybody's right.

Protest the ever decreasing level of state government funding by joining the Public Libraries Day of Action on Thursday 29 November 2007. We are urging all Sutherland Shire Residents to sign a petition decrying the low level of State Government funding for public libraries. The petition will be available in all branch libraries all this week.

Some Background...
State Government funding for public libraries has been reduced during the past 25 years. In 1980 the State Government contributed 23.6 per cent of the total operating costs of public libraries. This contribution dwindled to 7.8 per cent in 2004-05 with a massive cut of $1,023,000 (4.16 per cent) in 2006-07.

NSW has the lowest State Government per capita contribution to public libraries of all state and territories in Australia. Since 1980 State Government contribution to public libraries has increased by three times, from $8.5m to $22.4m, while Local Government contributions have increased by a massive 10 times from $27.5m to $265m.

OK. It's your turn...
Tell us what library services you would hate to lose because we didn't have enough money in the budget to fund them. Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Cartoon Dave at Sutherland Library

Have You Been Ripped Off?

Fair Trading NSW has established a new blog for young people called Ripped Off. It's a place where you get to tell your story about when you’ve been ripped off and what you’ve done about it.

Fair Trading wants to know what problems you have had getting a refund or returning faulty goods. They also want to know any issues you have had with mobile phones, cars and credit card debt. Your stories will enable them to develop further programs to help young people understand their consumer rights.


All NSW bloggers go into the draw to win one of ten $100 shopping vouchers so start blogging now!

Lapsit 2008 - Don't Miss Out!

We will be taking bookings for our Lapsit Program for February - June 2008 from Monday 26th November 2007. This 4 week program is held at Engadine Library on Wednesday at 11am and Sutherland Library on Friday at 11am.

The Book Thief Wins Another Award

Just to highlight how lucky we were to have local author Markus Zusak speak at Sutherland Library recently his novel, The Book Thief, has just won another award - the 2007 South African Boeke Prize.

This book had a fascinating genesis in the stories of his parents, which Markus kindly shared with an eager audience. If you weren't there on the night you can still hear what Markus had to say. We recorded the talk and it is now available on the web or you can borrow a copy on DVD.

If you were there we'd love to hear what you thought of the talk. You may even like to suggest someone for a future author talk. Leave a comment and share your views.

They call themselves the ‘Mild Ones’

Once a year librarians from all over the State gather for a fun-filled weekend and talk fest. The topic of their discussion, you may suggest would be literature and culture in all its guises and you’d be right, but the talk will also be about their motorcycles. Get a group of riders together and it can’t be avoided!


They are, however, in tune with their profession and so on the road south scheduled pitstops are being made at various libraries along the way. They know that librarians love an excuse for coffee and a chat!

The event is called Biblio Turismo 2007 and this year the gathering point is Engadine Library on Thursday 8th of November. Bikers (who happen to be librarians) will begin arriving from 8.30am and are scheduled to depart at 10am.

The riders will then be calling in on Corrimal, Bowral (for lunch), Ulladulla and Bateman’s Bay public libraries as they make their way to Bateman’s pub for a well earned cool drink, invigorating topical discussion, dinner and rest.

The next day will see them gathering in front of libraries in Narooma, Bombala and Merimbula. Saturday the route leads them back north but via the inland route. Taking in a library stop in Monaro, then cruising up to Kiama where the offical ride ends.
Here participants bid their farewells and depart in all directions to be ready on Monday, to help their own unsuspecting library customers.

The inaugral ride was in 2006 and travelled from Springwood to Cootamundra. It was organised by Gorford City Library staff to raise awareness about country libraries and encourage young people into the profession.

Whilst the leather-clad librarians were outside Cootamundra Library, one young lad was heard to say to his mates, “they can’t be librarians – they’re too cool for that.” Just the effect to help dispell the stereotype of librarians being quiet and conservative.

If you find the concept of librarians on bikes all too hard to reconcile… come see for yourself! Have a coffee & a chat and let them convince you!

The Book Thief Part 3

If you've watched part 1 and part 2 of the Markus Zusak talk at Sutherland Library you'll want to have a look at the third and final part. In this video Markus tells a story about the impact the book has had on people who have read it and reads a short passage from The Book Thief.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Part 3: a Reading by the Author from Sutherland Shire Libraries on Vimeo.

What did you think of the Markus Zusak talk? We hope to have more author talks in the near future. Is there someone you would like to hear talk at the Library? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with us so that we know how we can best serve you.

The Book Thief Part 2

In part 1 of this video series Markus Zusak talked about his writing process. Here, in the 2nd video of the series he answers questions from the audience about The Book Thief and his writing in general.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Part 2: Questions from the Audience from Sutherland Shire Libraries on Vimeo.

The final video in the series will be coming soon...

HSC Advice Line is now Open

Students can now call the HSC advice line is on 13 11 12 to get help preparing for exams. It will operate from Monday 8 October to Thursday 8 November. Remember to have your student number with you when you ring.

Here's a bit about the service from the Board of Studies:
The HSC Advice Line is staffed by highly experienced expert teachers waiting to answer your questions, and to help you prepare for the exams. For just 25 cents, no matter where you live in New South Wales, you can ring the Advice Line with questions about any of 26 different courses.
or you can read the all about it on their web site.

A Book Thief in Sutherland Library!

Did you miss out on the recent talk by Markus Zusak? Would like to relive the experience? Well, we're giving you a 2nd chance. We recorded and the talk so you can watch it online.

It was standing room only when over 100 people turned up at Sutherland Library to listen to local author Markus Zusak give a fascinating talk about his most recent novel, The Book Thief. In this first video Markus tells a story about his childhood and then explains how that story illustrates the thought process he goes through when writing.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Part 1: The Writing Process from Sutherland Shire Libraries on Vimeo.

We will be posting the rest of the talk over the next couple of weeks, so keep your eye on this page (or subscribe to the feed!).

Term 4 Internet Training Program is Now Available

We are now taking bookings for our Internet Training courses for Term 4 (Oct - Dec 2007).
Sutherland Shire Libraries present a number of different Internet training courses including:

Introduction to the Internet & Email
This course is designed to give absolute beginners all the knowledge and skills necessary to get started on the Internet. The course covers accessing and browsing the Web, basic searching and an introduction to sending and receiving email. Next course starts on 23 October.

Digital Photography & the InternetThis course is designed for those who are new to digital cameras. Discover how digital cameras differ from film cameras, gather tips on improving your photographic technique, learn to organise and edit your digital photos and share your photos using the Internet and Email. Next course starts on 25 October.

Internet Searching and SecurityIn this course you will learn the secrets of expert searchers and improve your ability to find quality information on the Internet. In addition, we explain the security issues associated with email and the Internet and help you understand how to protect yourself from those threats. Next course starts on 6 November.

Full details of times and dates can be found on our Events Calendar. Enquiries and Bookings can be made by telephoning Sutherland Library on 9710 0351.

Want a different course? St George and Sutherland Community College offer lots more computer courses in a range of different areas. You can pick up a Term 4 brochure at any of our branch libraries.

Weedbusters @ Sutherland Library

As part of Weedbusters Week Sutherland Library will be hosting Sutherland Shire Council Weeds Officers on Wednesday 10 October between 10am - 2pm. Come along and ask them a question.

These experts will be keen to share their knowledge. Find out what to grow instead of invasive plants in your garden as well as ways of protecting our bushland.

Weedbusters is an awareness program that works with the community to achieve sustainable land and water management, primarily through increased public involvement in weed management, education and awareness projects.

Officers will also be available at Southgate Shopping Centre on Tuesday 9 October and Cronulla Beach CBD on Thursday 11 October.

HSC/Uni Students - Feeling Stressed?

Sutherland Library is providing an opportunity for students to reduce their stress prior the beginning of exams. We are offering a series of body balance classes for free on 9, 10 and 11 October.

Take a short break from your study and come along to a Body Balance class, a combination of tai chi, pilates and yoga that helps reduce stress and improves balance and flexibility. The classes will be held at 12.30pm on Monday 9 October, Tuesday 10 October and Wednesday 11 October in the meeting room at Sutherland Library. The classes are 55 minutes long and will be run by qualified instructors from the Sutherland Leisure Centre.

The classes are free but places are limited. Bookings are being taken on the day so you must ask at the Children's Enquiry Desk on the ground floor on the morning of the class to secure your place.

Computer Training for Seniors: more than just computer skills Some recent studies have shown that the benefits of computer training for seniors go beyond simply learning new skills. Rather, ...computer and Internet use seems to contribute to older adults' well-being...

Just another reason to enrol in one of our upcoming Internet Training courses.

Read more about it in this article:
Senior Friendly Libraries: Empowerment, Self-confidence, and Decreased Loneliness - Additional Benefits of Technology Training for Older Adults

National Simultaneous Storytime 2007

You can see more photos of kids enjoying The Magic Hat by Mem Fox at Sutherland Library on our flickr page. This book was read to children in libraries and schools throughout Australia as part of the National Simultaneous Storytime, a program that encourages reading and literacy in children.

Strange but True, Libraries Help Deter Thieves!

Did you know that you can borrow Engraving Kits from all Sutherland Shire Libraries?

Engraving property with clearly identifiable marks, such as a drivers licence number is an effective deterrence for thieves. Property that is engraved is harder for thieves to dispose of, and is more likely to be recovered by police in the event that it is stolen. Secure your property and ask about our engraver kits on your next visit.

Each Engraving Kit Includes:
1 x Engraver with engraving point fitted
1 x Tool Box
1 x Video (In, Out, Gone!)
1 x Booklet (Crime Prevention Information)
1 x Instruction Leaflet

What's Under Wraps Returns!

Last May, as part of our Library Week celebrations, we invited you to unwrap selected new books. Well, now that Spring has arrived, we thought that it would be a good time to do it all again!

Between Monday 17th September and Saturday the 22nd of September our branch libraries will be unwrapping a selection of new books - new authors, new recipes, new adventures!

• Miranda Library
  Monday 17th September @ 10am
• Caringbah Library
  Wednesday 19th September @ 10am
• Cronulla Library
  Thursday 20th September @ 10am
• Menai Library
  Thursday 20th September @ 6pm
• Engadine Library
  Friday 21st September @ 10am
• Sylvania Library
  Saturday 22nd September @ 10:30am

Celebrate the beginning of the warmer weather by coming in and grabbing a brand new book for yourself. Who knows what we will have? We may even have a book by one of your favourite authors! See you there!

Hey Diddle Diddle...

Do you remember the rest of this rhyme? Do you remember any other rhymes from your childhood? Do you take care of a baby or toddler?


Rhymes are an easy and portable way to entertain your child – they can be sung in the car on a long trip, in a waiting room or they can become part of a morning or evening ritual – basically, anywhere, anytime! Best of all, you are doing something good for your child – the repetition and rhythm of childhood rhymes help lay the foundation for childhood literacy.

At Menai Library we have just the program for you. Rhymetime is a drop-in activity held every Wednesday afternoon at 2pm (except during school holidays). It is conducted by a trained staff member and is absolutely FREE.

Each week we have great fun with rhymes, songs, puppets and simple board books. So, if you have a little one that keeps you company drop into Menai Library, make some friends and make books and libraries part of your child’s life – they’ll love you for it!

Rhymetime is held throughout the Shire – You can find all the details on our Rhymetime page.

Deborah @ Menai Library

Do you know what happened on your Birthday?

Were you born between 1955 – 1990? Would you like to read the Sydney Morning Herald edition of the day of your birth?

We have recently purchased a subscription to the Sydney Morning Herald Archives online. The archive currently covers the period from 1955-1990. This database is available to search, free, within any of the Sutherland Shire libraries. So next time you are visiting us ask a librarian to show you how.

Maybe you need to check out a newspaper story that happened recently. Well you can do this from home! We have 2 products that provide full-text newspaper articles to library members online. All you need to do is type in your membership number (from the barcode on your library card) and away you go. To access the newspapers online go to our JournalSearch site and look up Newspaper Articles in the subject search. The two choices for remote use (outside the library) are Australian & New Zealand Resource Centre (ANZRC) and Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newstand.

A search for equine flu in ANZRC today shows 177 articles, 164 of which were written since August 20 2007! All the major Sydney newspapers are represented, along with the majors from around Australia and the AAP Newswire Service.

Do you like to keep up with the major news in all the Sydney papers but can’t justify the waste of trees? Missed a day and want to catch up? These databases could be your solution. You can look up the newspaper or magazine you want to read and and get a list of all the articles that were included from a particular issue. The Australian from August 27 2007 has 218 entries - all the news without the ads! Horse & Rider for August 2007 has 32 entries, you could save on that expensive subscription and the articles are in PDF so you don’t miss those beautiful horse pictures.

We have plenty of other database options that allow you to view newspapers, magazines, academic journals, reference books and more online and many are available to library members wherever they are. Check out our Journalsearch site and get exploring - Have fun!

Not a member? Don't miss out, just pop into any branch library and join up (bring your driver’s license or a household bill as proof of your name and address).

Celebrate Outstanding Australian Children's Literature @ Your Library

The long wait is finally over – the winners of the Children's Book of the Year Awards for 2007 have been announced! Read on for the winners and how you can get involved at your local library during Book Week.

Caringbah Happenings: Book Week Edition

Well, it's been a long time between drinks, but we have finally got around to putting together another Caringbah Happenings report. Before I get around to talking about Book Week, what about last weekend's weather? Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make the most of it as I was busy finishing off Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. At over 600 pages, this is one book that you won't be able to read in a day (well not if you want to enjoy it anyway!).

On to Book Week. The announcement of the winners for the 2007 Children's Book of the Year Awards is being made today. The standard of the books in the running for the 2007 Picture Book of the Year is very high, however, I will go out on a limb and tip The Arrival as my favourite for winning the prize this year. The Arrival is a beautiful book (colour is used to great effect) that tells its story without the aid of any words at all.

During book week here at Caringbah we will have plenty of school visits. For each class that comes in we will explain a bit about Book Week and the books that were nominated in each category (Categories include, Book of the year for Younger Readers, Book of the Year for Older Readers, Best information Book and Best picture book) as well as a few fun activities for them to do. The Children's Book Council has more information about Book Week.

Don't worry, our regular storytime & rhymetime sessions will continue during Book Week. And, when you come into the library during book week check out the Ancient Egypt display put up by the Caringbah staff to coincide with the theme this year which is READiscover.

Michael @ Caringbah Library

Author Evening with Markus Zusak

Keep the evening of Tuesday 4th September free for what should be a very interesting talk by local author Markus Zusak, as he discusses his multiple award winning novels The Messenger and The Book Thief.

Markus grew up in the Sutherland Shire. He occasionally works as a high school English Teacher, and plays in a football team that never wins. His work is widely acclaimed and is published in the USA , UK and throughout Europe. His children's books include the award-winning trilogy The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe and When Dogs Cry.

The Messenger, published in 2002, is the story of the hapless Ed Kennedy, a man who is chosen to care. He makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary), until only one question remains: Who’s behind Ed’s mission? His latest book, The Book Thief, is set in Nazi Germany during World War II. On the surface it is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich, but teh message is about the ability of books to feed the soul. Ultimately, Markus' writing explores the humanity, which should make for an interesting evening.

The talk will be held at Sutherland Library and starts at 7pm. There is no charge and bookings are not required - just show up! Take a look at our Events Calendar for all the details.

See you there!

New Look for our Blog

We have just updated the template for our blog with a new look and feel. All the old content is still there we have just changed the layout and colours slightly.

We have also added a few new features. You can now search the library catalogue directly from the blog, subscribe to recent comments via RSS and see a list of websites added recently to Sutherland Shire Libraries del.icio.us bookmarks.

Have a look around and leave a comment to let us know what you think of the changes.

Happy 10th Birthday Pizza & Pages

This year is the tenth anniversary of Pizza & Pages, where our young adult readers get to munch their way through some yummy pizza while they find out about great new books at the library.

20 keen readers enjoyed tasty pizza generously donated by Taglia La Pizza (corner Glencoe St and Stapleton Ave, Sutherland).

Books featured on the night included Being Bee by Catherine Bateson and Don’t call me Ishmael by Gerard Michael Bauer. These books are both nominees for 2007 Children’s Book Week awards. Other books presented were In the Nick of Time by Robert Swindells, Singing for Mrs Pettigrew by Michael Morpurgo and I’m being Stalked by a Moonshadow by Doug Macleod.

Pizza Bingo was played and trivia questions answered with the winners getting to choose from the titles newly acquired by the library. There was something for everyone with books from a variety of genres including fantasy, short story collections, mysteries and some classic Tintin adventures

Our next Pizza & Pages night will be held at Sutherland Library in term 4. Keep your eye on our events calendar for the date.

Fiction Follies: August 2007

Fiction Follies is a monthly newsletter containing a selection of NEW fiction added to the collection of the Sutherland Shire Libraries. Click on the book title to reserve your copy.

New Mysteries

The return by Hakan Nesser
Nesser's latest contemporary police procedural, set in his Swedish homeland, is an excellent puzzler that will remind many of the Inspector Morse series. Publishers Weekly

A treasury of regrets by Susanne Alleyn
Freelance police investigator Aristide Ravel comes to the aid of Jeannette Moineau, an illiterate servant girl accused of poisoning the master of the house where she works, but his case is complicated by a household brimming with suspects and motives and by the deaths of additional family members, in a mystery set against the backdrop of revolutionary Paris.

Into the shadows by Shirley Wells
When a man wrongfully arrested for murder hangs himself, forensic psychologist Jill Kennedy, who helped put him away, moves to a sleepy village. But when the vicar’s wife is murdered, Jill discovers that village life isn’t the retreat she’d hoped for.

Murder on the dancefloor by Susan Kelly
A dangerous new drug has emerged into the nightclubs around Newbury. Entrium Trilenium, otherwise known as Entry, is easy to manufacture, looks deceptively like ecstasy, but is incredibly lethal. After the deaths of two young girls at a local nightclub, Superintendent Gregory Summers and his team believe that they’re after a small time drug dealer on a probable manslaughter charge. However, their investigations take a devastating turn when tragedy strikes close to home.

New Fiction

After dark by Haruki Murakami
A short, sleek novel of encounters set in the witching hours of Tokyo between midnight and dawn, and every bit as gripping as Haruki Murakami's masterworks The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Kafka on the Shore.

Salt by Jeremy Page
A haunting, evocative portrait of three generations of a family by an exciting and inspired new voice in fiction. Salt is a family saga that explores the relationship between people and the landscape in which they live. Atmospheric and lyrical, Jeremy Page's debut novel is revelatory in its use of language. For fans of John Banville and Marilynne Robinson, Salt signals the introduction of a significant writer.

Tales from the town of widows by James Canon
The women of Mariquita – made widows when their men are swept away by the army or rebel forces – learn hard lessons about love and survival. Forced to grow in extraordinary ways, they challenge the tenets of male–dominated society, discover power with all its pitfalls and strive to create an entirely new social order, an all–female utopia.

Seizure by Erica Wagner
Janet grew up with her father; her mother, she was always told, died when she was three. But now she discovers she has inherited a house from her mother—who, she learns, died only recently. In a state of shock she travels north with the key: and finds an old stone cottage at the sea’s edge.

New Thrillers

Stalin’s ghost by Martin Cruz Smith
Moscow-based Senior Investigator Arkady Renko, in his outstanding sixth outing (after Wolves Eat Dogs), investigates a murder-for-hire scheme that leads him to suspect two fellow police detectives, Nikolai Isakov and Marat Urman, both former members of Russia's elite Black Berets, who served in Chechnya. This masterful suspense novel casts a searing light on contemporary Russia. Publishers Weekly

Never fear by Scott Frost
Set in the suburbs of simmering Los Angeles, NEVER FEAR is a fast-paced thriller featuring Alex Delillo, detective and single mother. Seventeen years ago, three young women were murdered; their bodies dumped in the wasteland of the Los Angeles River. The serial killer was never found. Now, Lieutenant Alex Delillo, is forced to re-open the case after the brother she never knew existed, a private investigator, is found murdered. As Alex gets closer to the truth behind her brother's murder, alarming flashbacks from her childhood start to plague her and she realises that the truth may lie closer to her life than she could have ever imagined.

Truth catcher by Anna Salter
Breeze Copens is a forensic psychologist with paranormal abilities. When she must recommend that Daryl Collins be released from prison because on paper he is not a threat, she knows it’s a dangerous mistake.

New Family Sagas

Rough justice by Gilda O’Neill
The Flanagans, Tanners and Lovells all live on the top floor of a crumbling Victorian tenement in the heart of London's East End. It's 1936 and Britain is in the grip of the Depression. Nell Flanagan is a decent, hardworking woman, married to Stephen, a tough, heavy-drinking brute of a man, who works as a casual in the docks — when there's work available. Nell has hidden the abuse she has suffered at his hands from her young children, although most of the neighbours realise what's going on.

A step in the dark by Judith Lennox
A powerful family drama set in India and Scotland, from 1915 to the 1960s. It's 1915 when young Bess Ravenhart, recently widowed, leaves her baby son Frazer with her mother-in-law, Cora, while she sails from India to Britain to set up a home. But Cora has no intention of returning Frazer to his mother's care.

New Chic Lit

Falling out of fashion by Karen Yampolsky
In the bestselling tradition of The Devil Wears Prada, Karen Yampolsky's hilarious and disarmingly candid debut goes deep inside the glossy, glamorous, and completely ruthless world of magazine publishing, where bitchiness and betrayal are always in vogue, and this month's hotshots are just one dud issue away from a pink slip and a one-line career obit on Page Six.

The two Mrs Robinsons by Donna Hay
Anna lives with Oliver Robinson and their 3-year-old son Charlie. They met when she worked as a waitress at his restaurant; he had recently separated and she was a shoulder to cry on. But friendship turned to love. Now she juggles motherhood with part-time work and she couldn't be happier. Or perhaps she could? Oliver has never divorced his first wife Eve who is everything Anna is not.

* Note, many descriptions of books are taken from the publishers synopsis and websites.

Have you recently seen an interesting book that we don’t have? Visit our web site to Suggest an Item for the Library's collection.

Books Alive is on Again

Every year a national campaign called Books Alive is run to ignite Australia's passion for reading. A major part of the campaign is the Great Read Guide. You can pick up your copy from any of our branch libraries.

The Great Read Guide is a collection of 50 remarkable books, selected by an independent panel of book industry experts from right around Australia, across a range of genres and styles: biography, crime, fantasy, history, science, children’s books and more. There is something for everyone in the 2007 Books Alive Great Read Guide.

A couple of the books from this year's Guide have sparked my interest.

The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards, a book that explores ramifications of a split second decision. A doctor, forced to deliver his wifes twins, realises that one of the babies has down syndrome. He orders the nurse to take the baby away to an institution and informs his wife that their daughter died.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. Any book with a title like this surely deserves a chance!

The Beginner's Guide to Winning the Nobel Prize by Peter Doherty, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine and Australian of the Year in 1997. A book that gives an insight in to the world of science and how scientists have contributed to our understanding of the world, answering questions such as why scientists and born again Christians can't get along in the process!

It's going to be a busy time for book lovers with all these books and our upcoming talk by local author Markus Zusak (more on this soon!)

I'm sure you can find something in the Great Read Guide that tickles your fancy. Be sure to leave us a comment if you read one of these books and let us know what you thought.

Free Online Tutoring is Back

After few months hiatus, Yourtutor online tutoring service has returned to Sutherland Shire Libraries. Library members in years 4 to 12 can access one-to-one tutoring from home in an online classroom from expert tutors in a range of subject areas.

You can read more about this service in this post.

Tutors are available from 4pm until 8pm, Monday to Friday. To login visit our web site.

We would love to hear from you if you have tried YourTutor. Let us know what you thought by leaving a comment.

Do you Speak Greek, or Know Someone who Does?

Sutherland Shire Libraries are introducing a collection of Greek language books. We have for some time had books, magazines and DVD’s in Arabic and Chinese languages available for loan and we are expanding this service with a small collection of Greek language books.

Please pass this news on to your friends and relatives.

This is a trial collection has been introduced in response to a large number of Greek Bulk Loans requested during the previous year. Bulk Loans are boxes of books in a specific language borrowed for 3 months from another library service, usually the State Library of NSW. The books are then available for any of our customers to borrow. Anyone can request a Bulk Loan. If there are books available in your chosen language we will get them in and let you know when they are here.

The new Greek collection includes novels such as Gynaika me triantaphyllo by Helene Sarantite, Phader Hēmōn by Manos Vourakēs and Ta megala koritsia den klaine by Mpesse Livanou.

Some of the subjects covered by the non-fiction collection are health, cookery, world politics, history and biography. At Sutherland Library, Community Language material is shelved behind the Enquiry desk on the ground floor. If you can’t find them please ask. Branch Libraries also have small collections.

Wrap With Love

There are millions of people in the world suffering extreme cold. Wrap with Love Inc provides knitted wraps to warm people around the world. Miranda Library is currently accepting donated knitted wraps.

Wrap With Love is non profit, non denominational, non racist, non political and is incorporated with the NSW Dept. of Fair Trading. 'Cold humanity is their concern, humans caring about other humans'.

If you are interested in contributing to this worthwhile cause drop into Miranda Library for more information or visit Wrap with Love.

Internet Training @ Sutherland Library

We are now taking bookings for our Term 3 Internet Training program (July - September).

We cater for absolute beginners with our Introduction to the Internet & Email course and we are running a Digital Photography & the Internet for people who want to make better use of their digital camera. More information can be found on our Course Information page.

The next Introduction course starts on July 24. Details of future course are available on our Events Calendar.

For enquiries or bookings please telephone Sutherland Library on 9710 0351.

Q: Why does a blue-tongued lizard stick its tongue out?

A: Because it’s blue!

Just one of the answers offered by kids during our school holiday program about Bugs and Beasties!)*



Yes, this and many more amazing facts were learnt about the animals presented at Feature Creatures at Sutherland Shire Libraries in the July School Holidays.

There was a stick insect that wanted to jump off its carer and onto the jungle vines in the children’s section at Cronulla. And a frilled-necked lizard that wanted to run outside and bask in the warm winter sunshine.

Boys and girls got to see and touch stick insects, frogs, tortoises, pythons, a bearded dragon, frilled neck lizard and all sorts of other creepy crawlies at Cronulla and Miranda Branch libraries on Tuesday 3rd July.

The theme for the school holidays is ‘Bugs and Beasties’, and there are fun activity days to be held at all branches, with stories, rhymes, games and crafts. No need to book – just turn up.

* Blue tongues use their tongue the way we use our noses – to smell the air.

Are You at Risk of Diabetes?

Find out if you are at risk of diabetes at Sutherland Library from July 10-12 2007 - Know your risks!

Kareena Private Hospital / Diabetes Australia will be conducting free blood glucose tests at Sutherland Library from 10am until 11am on July 10, 11 and 12 as part of National Diabetes Week.

In addition, a series of information sessions are being held in conjunction with the blood glucose testing:

• Pre Diabetes & Type I & II Diabetes
  Cecile Eigenmann: Diabetes Educator
  Tuesday 10 July 2007 10am - 11am
• Eating to reduce the risk of Diabetes
  Jenny Chan: Dietitian
  Wednesday 11 July 2007 10am - 11am
• Exercise and Diabetes
  Linda Richards: Physiotherapist
  Thursday 12 July 2007 10am - 11am

Sutherland Shire Libraries also has a wide range of information to support people living with or at risk of diabetes. For Example:

• Prediabetes wake-up call : a personal road map to prevent diabetes by Beth Ann Petro Roybal
• Understanding diabetes by Marie Clark
• Delicious living : approved recipes for people with type 2 diabetes and everyone by Peter Howard

National Diabetes Week 2007 will be targeting the entire Australian community. Diabetes is the fastest growing non-infectious disease in the world. For every person who has diabetes there is another person who has it and doesn’t know.

Diabetes is a serious health condition. There is no cure. If left untreated it can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, amputation, and erectile dysfunction. If diagnosed early, diabetes can be effectively managed and the risk of serious health problems greatly reduced.

Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, can be successfully managed or even prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity and having healthy eating patterns.

Leisure and Business: New Trails Added to Picture Sutherland Shire

Two new Trails have been added to Picture Sutherland Shire, our online collection of historical images of the Sutherland Shire.

Business in the Sutherland Shire revisits some of the shops and streetscapes of the early days of the Sutherland Shire. Who knows, perhaps you might recognise one of the staff of Vallance's Stores?

Leisure in the Sutherland Shire brings together a collection of images showing what people did and where they went to spend their leisure time in the first 50 years or so of the Sutherland Shire.

Do you have old photos of the Shire?
The Library actively collects photographs of the Sutherland Shire which are of historical interest. Enquiries regarding the donation of local history material should be directed to the Local Studies Librarian at Sutherland Library.

Macular Degeneration Awareness Week

Macular Degeneration Awareness Week runs from 25 June - 1 July 2007 and aims to promote awareness of this disease. Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision impairment in older Australians. It occurs when central vision deteriorates, making reading, close work and recognising faces more difficult.

Eligible people can contact the Home Library Service on 9710 0459 for information regarding services that are available for people with macular degeneration and related problems.

More information about macular degeneration is available from the Macular Degeneration Foundation.

Poetry Reading @ Sutherland Library

Listen to and meet Jo de Groot at Sutherland Library on Saturday 30 June at 2pm.

Jo offers a collection of beautiful and moving letters, articles and poems of a fellow Australian of deep faith, or radical and practical spirituality centred upon justice for the humiliated and marginalised.

Born in the Netherlands in 1941, Jo de Groot grew up in Queensland where, at 20 years of age, she entered the Institute of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. Her first 15 years as a sister were spent teaching, after which she became a social worker. She spent many years working with St Francis Community ministering to the poor and homeless in the inner city of Sydney.

In 1986 Jo re-entered lay life and finished her doctoral studies in 1993, pursuing her interest in mental health. She is now happily married and lives in the south of Sydney. Retired from the workforce, Jo continues to speak and write on a variety of topics ranging from science to spirituality.

Young Voices: Refugee Week 17-23 June

Come to Sutherland Library and see fabulous photos and visions of the future by refugee students in Young Voices, a display celebrating Refugee Week, 17-23 June 2007.

These students attended a Homework Club supported by St Phillips Anglican Church at Caringbah and Gymea Community Aid and Information Service. The students have come from Sudan. They are relatively recent arrivals in Sutherland Shire who are enjoying the peace, acceptance and freedom found in their adopted home.

These students are also featured in an exhibition at Kogarah Library - Voices of Our Young People from Refugee Backgrounds - which will be launched on Tues 19th June at 4.30pm.

Rhymetime Comes to Cronulla and Menai

Our ever expanding Rhymetime program, a drop-in storytime for babies from 6-18 months, is about to start at Cronulla Library and Menai Library.

On Wednesdays beginning 18 July you can visit Cronulla Library at 11am or Menai Library at 2pm for some storytime fun for you and your baby. Rhymetime involves songs, simple books, rhymes and finger play all aimed at developing early childhood literacy.


Of course our existing Rhymetime sessions at Sutherland, Miranda, Caringbah and Engadine Libraries will continue. Click here for full details of days and times...

Bring your singing voice and have some fun!

Have a Creepy Crawley Time @ the Library these School Holidays

Visit one of our libraries in the July School Holidays for some beastly fun! Bugs and Beasties is the theme this time around - you can get up close and personal with Feature Creatures, bug Trevor for a drawing lesson or come along for some creepy crawley games, stories and craft.

The Events Calendar has all the where and when information and the School Holidays page will give you the lowdown on the dos and don'ts.

Bookings are being taken now so get in before you miss out. We hope to see you there!

Fiction Follies: June 2007

Fiction Follies is a monthly newsletter containing a selection of NEW fiction added to the collection of the Sutherland Shire Libraries. Click on the book title to reserve your copy.

New Mysteries

Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin
A Collector's Edition of the first Rebus novel, before Rebus became a national institution. At first it seems that Rebus is just one of many policemen hunting the killer of two young girls.Then messages begin to arrive: knotted stringes taunt Rebus with a puzzle only he can solve and matchstick cross.

Murder on the Ile Saint-louis by Cara Black
A distraught, late-night anonymous phone call distracts Aime from her deadline and sends her to the courtyard of her Ile Saint-Louis building, where she finds an infant girl. After the caller never shows up for her baby (whom Aime decides to care for), Aime wonders if the woman may have become an "Yvette", a Jane Doe dragged from the Seine.

The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson
Eriksson's debut opens a week before Christmas when a Swedish town is rocked by the brutal murder of John Jonsson, a local family man. Detectives, led by a very pregnant inspector Ann Lindell, at first suspects a chillingly well-drawn psychotic, and they may be right.

Fatal burn: she's the moth to the flame by Lias Jackson
The police don't believe Shannon flannery when she says someone is out there, watching her, trying to kill her. The only person on her side is Travis Settle. The former Special Forces agent is convinced Shannon's dark past has something to do with the disa ppearance of his daughter, Dani, a child. This is just the beginning of the nightmare.

New Fiction

Goodbye Mexico by Phillip Jennings
Remember when the alphabet agencies CIA, DIA, NSA and the FBI were actually competent? Are you sure? Maybe they were just better at burying their mistakes. Allies and enemies alike have getting tired of grubby fingerprints all over. Gearheardt's answer? We ar gloves. If you thought the Vietnam was crazy, you ain't seen nothin' yet!

February Flowers by Fan Wu
Seventeen-year-old Ming and twenty-four-year-old Yan have very little in common: Ming, innocent and preoccupied; Yan is, by contrast, sexy but cynical, beautiful but wild. She uses her looks to get what she wants from the many men in her life. When the two girls meet and become best friends, Ming's world is changed forever.

A thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini
Tells the story of an unusual and lifelong friendship between two Afghan women, spanning from the idyllic mid 1950s to post-September 11 Kabul. Bound by tragedy and fate, by political circumstance and custom, the two women live through the Soviet war, the harrowing days of the Afghan civil war and the rule of the Taliban.

The witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho
This is the story of Athena, or Sherine, to give her the name she was baptised with. Her life is pieced together through a series of recorded interviews with those people who knew her well or hardly at all, parents, colleagues, teachers, friends, acquaintances, and her ex-husband.

New Thrillers

The alibi man by Tami Hoag
Amid the glitz and glamour of the ultra-rich, in their playground of expensive toys and world-class polo, Elena is walking a tightrope over fire. But the deeper into the case she goes, the more determined she becomes to reveal the truth. A truth that will shock Palm Beach to its very core.
The night ferry by Michael Robotham
Alisha Barba's dreams of being a detective were shattered when a murder suspect broke her back across a brick wall. Now on her feet again, with her police career in limbo, she receives a message from an old friend, Cate Beaumont, who is eight months pregnant and in trouble.

Zoo Station by David Downing
Englishman John Russell is a member of the foreign press corps in Berlin and a first-hand witness to the brutal machinations of Hitler and the Nazi party in the build-up to war during the early months of 1939. Unlike many of his colleagues, Russell wishes to remain in Berlin for as long as possible to be close to his eleven-year-old son, who lives with his estranged German wife.
Anatomy of fear: A Novel of Visual Suspense by Jonathan Santlofer
Nate Rodriguez is a police sketch artist for the NYPD and his success rate is high, with one out of three of his drawings leading to an arrest. But when he is faced with an unusually talented killer, he realizes that he may have met his match.

New Romance

A Dangerous Man by Candice Camp
Eleanor has always been looked on askance as "the bossy American" by London society, the very antithesis of British virtue and propriety. Now, at the death of her husband, she has been appointed trustee to his estate, and the proverbial fur is flying. From its delicious beginnings to it’s satisfying ending, offers a double helping of romance.

The marriage game by Fern Michaels
In a dazzling celebration of the power of friendship and love, acclaimed bestselling author Fern Michaels brings her trademark wit and warmth to an action-packed story featuring a group of diverse women who bond Survivor-style under the most unlikely of circumstances... and find romance along the way.

A Time To Remember by Margaret Pemberton
A teenager when her father dies, Elizabeth turns to his Adam Harland for guidance, and despite the twenty-year age gap, they marry. As the threat of war hangs over Europe, Adam takes his wife away from a burgeoning career as a concert pianist to Hong Kong, where if the Japanese invade, Adam Hopes to defend his country.

New Historical Fiction

The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani
The haunting story of a young girl's journey from innocence to adulthood, and begins in the 1620s in a remote Iranian village. On the sudden death of her father our heroine and her mother fall upon hard times and are forced to travel to the exotic city of Isfahan where relatives take them in. Happiness may come in time.

* Note, many descriptions of books are taken from the publishers synopsis and websites.

Have you recently seen an interesting book that we don’t have? Visit our web site to Suggest an Item for the Library's collection.

Author John Tate Talks @ Sutherland Library

NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2007

The winners for the 2007 NSW Premier's Literary Awards on 29 May 2007 .

Christina Stead Prize for Fiction
Peter Carey, Theft: a Love Story

Douglas Stewart Prize for Non Fiction
Robert Hughes, Things I Didn't Know: a Memoir

Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry
John Tranter, Urban Myths: 210 Poems

Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature
Narelle Oliver, Home

Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature
Ursula Dubosarsky, The Red Shoe

See the full list of award winners and judges notes on shortlisted works on the arts/nsw web site.

$18,133 Raised During Library Book Sale!

Library Week @ Menai Library

Library Week @ Caringbah Library