Sutherland Shire Libraries News

Goodbye Surf Road, Hello Cronulla Central!

With the closure of the Library at Surf Rd, Cronulla on Saturday we have begun to move into the New Library at Cronulla Central in Croydon Street.

There's still lots to do but here's a sneak peak at the new Cronulla Library. There's more photos on Flickr too...

Free Online Computer Training for Library members.

Free Online Computer Training for Library members - Teach yourself new skills at home!

Do you need some introductory knowledge to computers? Want to brush up on your Internet searching and email skills? Are the Office 2007 applications frustratingly different to your old version? Or do you have Windows Vista? Then use our newest online database Computer Training. It covers these topics and more, and it can be done at your own pace, in the comfort of your own home!

These tutorials are interactive and based on academic testing. They have been created in small modules so they can be done in short bursts. Each module has an optional testing facility, to help you see what you’ve remembered, which is simulation-based not just multiple choice questions.

Once at the site having logged in as a library member, you will be asked to ‘Create a New Account’. This is your own personal account and so your results will only be accessible to you! You can see how many modules you have completed, with what level of accuracy.

Try it out now...


This database is Australian designed and the methods have been University tested, resulting in the following vendor's statement:

“Dynamic Learning Online’s approaches to training have been empirically tested through Australian Research Council funded research and are based on the Cognitive Load Learning principles developed by Professor John Sweller (Emeritus Professor, University of NSW) and Professor Paul Chandler (Dean of Education, University of Wollongong).

Book Safari

For two very full weeks Menai Library along with other Sutherland library branches celebrated Book Week, the theme of which was "Book Safari" this year.

We are happy to say that staff and school students alike thoroughly enjoyed presenting and interacting with the games and also preformances by a visiting "Sunday Chutney".

Farewell Cronulla Library, as we know it.

All are sad to see the old Cronulla library go, we have had some great times. As we get ready to make the move to a new home in Croydon Street we look back fondly on our little cosy library.It hasn’t always been a library; the building was built back in 1908 as the first Methodist church in Cronulla.

Cronulla was booming by the 1950’s, so in 1955 council decided to open a branch library at Cronulla. A portion of the School of arts building (1912) in Surf road was leased for this purpose. However, by 1962 the premises was considered to be inadequate and it wasn’t until 1969 that the old church was used for a separate children’s library with the adult library following in 1975.

Cronulla Library will continue to occupy the current building until September 19th 2009. (For more information about Cronulla’s and it's old buildings view them online or contact our Local Studies section at Sutherland Library Ph. 9710 0225).

It is time to say goodbye and to move on to bigger and better things. So farewell to Cronulla Library as we know it, your memory will live on in us. Please share your memories by commenting, so they can live on long after it has moved.

Man Booker Prize 2009 Shortlist Announced

On Tuesday 8 September 2009 A S Byatt, J M Coetzee, Adam Foulds, Hilary Mantel, Simon Mawer and Sarah Waters were announced as the shortlisted authors for the 2009 Man Booker Prize for Fiction. Start your reading now and see if you agree with the Judges Verdict when the winner is announced on 5 October.

1. 
   The Children's Book by A. S. Byatt
2. Summertime by J. M. Coetzee
3. The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds
4. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
5. The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
6. Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

National Stroke Week 2009

National Stroke Week is held each year to provide continuing public education about stroke awareness and prevention in the community.
This year the new FAST campaign is being launched to help people recognise the early signs of stroke. The FAST test involves asking three simple questions.

Face - Check the face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arms - Can they lift both arms?
Speech - Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time - Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000 now.

To assist in the promotion of the signs of stroke, a Clinical Nurse Educator from Kareena Hospital will be available at Sutherland Library to measure blood pressure and to give advise on stroke prevention.

When and where?

Tuesday 15th September and Wednesday 16th September 2009
10am - midday

Sutherland Library
30-36 Belmont Street
Sutherland
ph 9710 0351

New books in the Living Library

The Shire Community Living Library is open again on Tuesday 8th September between 10am – 12 pm. If you’ve missed out previously, or loved taking part in it, here’s another chance to find out more about the people in your community.

There are some new books, waiting to be read for the first time, as well as some old favourites. Take the time to enjoy a conversation with a person you wouldn’t meet via your regular routine.

Why not combine borrowing a Living Book with picking up your regular reading – viewing - listening material!

Living Books cannot be taken home, they are Reference material, and therefore they must be read in the Library. Allow yourself an extra 30 minutes to challenge yourself to something different.

Here’s a glimpse of the newest Book on offer…

Lifequest : Oh, my goodness, Oh, my glory, on this page is my story.
Working with the people on our city streets who need support in so many aspects of their lives, and the major charities which support them, prompted this Book to dedicate himself to establishing a number of Foundations to provide relief in areas he could see, were not being adequately serviced.

This book relates how the toll of his charity work has led him towards a change of career into relationship counselling and personal training, and the satisfaction this provides him, to be part of the solution and help avert the crisis, rather than just pick up the pieces and try to reconstruct lives from scratch.

He can tell stories of the people he has met over the years in the pursuit of his charity work, both those requesting, or needing help and the Hollywood stars and Royalty who were patrons, attended the functions and donated.

Other titles in the catalogue include:

Turning the Shadow into a soft light
A woman who was determined to live a normal life although her husband was diagnosed with MS early in life, before much was known about it. She supported her husband and children by teaching music. She worked towards raising the awareness of MS and received awards for her efforts. She is now losing her own sight and learning life anew.

Being an Oblate of the Jamberoo Abbey
Fascination with mediation and spiritual traditions from around the world, spending time in Hindu, Christian and Buddhist ashrams. Committing to become an oblate of the Benedictine abbey, and what this means for oneself and the community.

Brown bread and liverwurst - growing up in Sydney being different
Coming to Australia – are there kangaroos in the street? Being a teenager is hard enough, but without being able to communicate at all school is a nightmare. Finding out that children can be so very cruel. Coming from Germany, had it’s own special issues!

Life giving experiences when caring for dying people
Caring for people with HIV/Aids, and volunteering to work with the poor in Calcutta, helping them to die with dignity, and how this makes one aware of what is important. Saying goodbye to a much loved Mother.

A Blessed Light in my Darkness
Losing his sight at 21, did not deter hthis Book from living a full life. He has married, had children and is now enjoying the chaos grandchildren can bring. Woodwork has continued to be a passion, using the skills he learnt as an apprentice. A friend introduced him to cycling and has been an avid long distance cycler for pleasure as well as for fund raising for various charitable organisations. Tandem is his bike of choice!Working as a telephone counsellor he has been able to support and assist many people in their time of need and is active in the local Baptist community.
Broken Pieces, whole story
Depression manifests in many forms, this is just one. Deliberate self harm becomes an addiction, and needs to be accepted as such, acknowledged and have a strategy in place to control it. The long road to regaining control, relasping and starting again and looking toward the future.

Immigration from Germany
Hear about social conditions in Germany before the rise of Hitler, and the losses that all war brings to any caught up its grip. Living in the partitioned Germany with family on either side, leads to emmigration to Australia. Immigration camps, finding work, housing the family, building a business and becoming involved in the community whilst providing for the family’s future, all feature in this book. As does the sadness, frustration and sense of loss that dementia brings to a family.

Let's blow the myth of ageing
How attitudes from one’s youth can colour one’s outlook forever. Marrying late and having 3 children quickly leads to struggles with depression. Recovery comes about with forgiveness and self acceptance. Working and learning all the while despite dyslexia. Started training in Feldenkrais movement therapy and began teaching it at 60. Living life to the full, whilst caring for a partner with Parkinson’s disease, from 80 on the journey continues.

Australia, my heart is in yours
Escaping a husband, with connections to Columbia’s drug trade, after he shot her, she landed in Australia with nothing – except the baby she hadn’t known she was carrying! Spending two years in detention centers, looking after her baby and having no English, she gained residency. Quickly learnt English and has been working ever since to provide for her daughter and make Australia her home.

Success through faith and perseverance
Born to Chinese parents in Indonesia under Dutch, then survived the Japanese occupation. Experienced the people’s revolution at first hand lead to Indonesian self rule. Education was now possible. A scholarship for University in Holland, led to work experience in England, and return home to serve his country with aeronautical engineering credentials. Emmigration to Australia provided a much more secure future for his children. Now works with overseas students and their host families, offering his services where they will help and contributing to build a future progressive modern Australian society.

Not all Books are available, on each occasion.

Jan Etteridge Prints @ Sutherland Library

 Sutherland Library is currently hosting a display of works by local artist Jan Etteridge. Jan is a talented artist whose works include sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, photography, prints, drawings, weaving and other crafts.

Jan has a keen interest in places of interest in Sutherland Shire, travel, history, early buildings of Sydney and botanical art. These interests are reflected in many of her works.

Jan's works are on display in the Southern Lounge at Sutherland Library during September and October.