Wicked Wounds Workshop @ Sutherland Library


Who said libraries were a safe place?
Wounded children could be found crawling through the library shelves during the holidays with huge gashes in their arms and face. Yuk! Kids stomachs turned with the creation of some very convincing wounds in the Wicked Wounds Workshop at Sutherland Library on Friday14th January.

Kids learnt about their heart and examined blood under microscopes as well as creating some very gory and life like wounds.

All who attended had loads of fun and enjoyed freaking people out as they left the library. I only hope these wounds wont leave the kids scarred for life!

Each school holidays Sutherland Shire Libraries have some great programs and events for Kids. To find out more, check out our school holidays page or keep an eye out on our events calendar.

Visit Sutherland Shire Libraries on Facebook

Sutherland Shire Libraries now have a Facebook page.

If you have a Facebook account, you can 'like' this page and be updated with all the news around Sutherland Shire Libraries. You'll find information about events, our collections, book reviews, feeds from our blog, photos and more.

If you don't already have a Facebook account, you can sign up for one here. It's free, easy to use and you'll be able to quickly check out all the latest from your favourite Library.

So take a look at our Facebook page today and tell us what you think. We'd love to hear from you.

Reading Down Under on Australia Day 2011


Australia day is the time to celebrate being Australian and everything Australian. What better way to celebrate than to get patriotic and read a book by an Australian author. We have some fantastic authors in our midst, writing fiction across a wide range of genres, from murder and mystery to romance and adventure. So whether you are relaxing under a beach umbrella, or home recovering from the festivities being held throughout the shire, go for gold (or download a book from Overdrive if you want to go green), with one of the listed Australian authors. In the best aussie tradition, the definition of an Australian author includes those who are born, raised, have emigrated to, or resided in Australia, as well as our ex- pats. There are stacks of Australian
authors out there, so this is just a selection to get you started. Feel free to share your favourites with us.

Larissa Behrendt 
James Bradley
Lily Brett
Geraldine Brooks
John Cleary (Crime)
J.M. Coetzee
Peter Corris (Crime)
Cecilia Dart-Thornton(fantasy)
Robert Dessaix
Sara Douglass (fantasy)
Robert Drewe
Nick Earls (humour)
Delia Falconer
Peter Fitzsimons
Richard Flanagan
David Foster
Helen Garner
Nikki Gemmell
Kerry Greenwood(Phyrne Fisher mysteries)
Kate Grenville
Shirley Hazzard
Kathy Lette (Humour)
Gabrielle Lord (Crime)
Roger McDonald
Andrew McGahan
Shane Maloney
John Marsden
Alex Miller

Frank Moorhouse
Di Morrissey
Tara Moss(Crime)
Les Murray
Judy Nunn
Matthew Reilly(adventure)
Elliot Perlman
Kim Scott
Peter Temple
Christos Tsiolkas
Janette Turner-Hospital
Peter Watt
Charlotte Wood
Alexis Wright
Markus Zusak


Happy reading
Monique

Donate to the Queensland Flood Relief Appeal and win great prizes!

Photo : Getty Images
Writers across Australia have united to raise funds for the Queensland Flood Relief Appeal. Enter Writers on Rafts to win some great prizes donated by over 150 authors including Kate Moss, Rebecca Sparrow, Marcus Zusak, Mem Fox, Morris Gleitzman, Kathy Lette, Anita Heiss, Larissa Behrendt, Melina Marchetta, Kate Morton, Nick Earls and Poh Ling Yeow.
There are four categories of prizes:
  • Author visit: have a local, participating author drop into your book club, school or writers group.
  • Writer support: have your own work professionally developed.
  • Character name: have a character named after you in a participating author's new work.
  • Book Pack: receive a selection of signed books by author or genre
You can enter each category as many times as you like and a winner from each state is picked per category. Tickets are $5.00 each. The fundraising goal is $20000 and prizes are drawn on 25th February so get in early to win great prizes.

If you're a budding writer you might like to donate an original short story to the 100 Stories for Queensland anthology. 100% of sales from this anthology will go towards the Queensland Premier's Flood Relief Appeal. Submissions are now open for stories of any genre or for any age group that range from 500-1000 words. Submission deadline is Friday 28th January at 11.59pm so get your story in now.

Cosmos Magazine now online!

Sutherland Shire Libraries now holds the print and digital copies of this popular magazine.

For anyone not familiar with Cosmos, it is an Australian publication with articles on everything science including genetics, biology, physics, astronomy and even dinosaurs. The current issue has articles on space exploration and colonisation, origins of life and life forms that roamed the Earth hundreds of millions of years ago. The magazine is easy to read, very interesting and full of fun facts to impress your friends on trivia nights. It's also great for school projects.

The digital edition is just like the print edition - except you can read it straight from a PC. You can also view contents and archives and jump to individual pages. If the page is too small for you, you can zoom in and out for a better reading experience. The biggest bonus about the digital edition, is that it has a search box. This means you can search for a subject across all the Cosmos digital issues ranging back to July, 2005 - this makes research so much easier. You can also print pages of interest.

Cosmos magazine can be found in print at Sutherland, Cronulla, Caringbah and Menai Libraries. The Digital edition can be accessed from the PCs in any Sutherland Shire Library so come on in and check it out today!

Spooky Times @ Sutherland Shire Libraries

Stairs creaked, children (and parents) shrieked and wounds leaked at Sutherland Shire Libraries these school holidays as the branches held spooky storytimes. Here's what Cronulla and Miranda Libraries had to report:

Darkness creeped across the land, the hour was close at hand; when 30 slightly weirded out kids(after seeing our costumes!) joined us for our Scary Holiday Storytime at Cronulla. Our hosts for the day were Cheryl the witch and Debbie the vampire. Scary stories were told, scary songs were sung, eyeballs and spiders were flying across the room into big, green monster hands, much to the kids enjoyment! The huge bright orange pumpkin piñata was a massive hit and it took many massive hits by the kids to finally break it open and cause a cascade of lollies to fall to the ground! Everyone also enjoyed making the bouncy bat craft with the parents getting into the fun as well.


It's spooky time at Miranda Library! On the morning of Monday 10th January many children visited the library for some spooky school holiday fun! The children were greeted by a friendly, good witch and played games, listened to stories, sang and made a creepy bat craft. Many of the children came appropriately dressed as witches and wizards and a great time was had by all.

Engadine

Picture if you can ... a bunch of giggling children under a giant, white, ghostly sheet, a "time Warp" dancathon, the telling of scary stories ... and much more.
Children attending Spooky Time Fun at Engadine library (hosted by two friendly skelteons) were pleased by the guest appearances from Morticia Addams, several witches, Spiderman and a fairy or two as well as a variety of enthusiastic children.
The pumpkin pinata was a huge "HIT" - pun intended - with our attendees enjoying the opportunity to let off some steam without guilt or consequences!

For more information on upcoming activities please contact your local library or see What's on on the library website.

Healthy Weight Week Workshops at Sutherland Shire Libraries

Christmas is a time for giving . . . and eating . . . and putting on weight.

New Years is a time for resolutions and one of the most popular resolutions is to eat healthy and maybe even lose the weight you gained over Christmas

Now Sutherland Shire Libraries are here to help.

In January, we are holding a series of information workshops run by Accredited Practising Dietitian, Carolyn Shoemark to raise awareness of Australia's Healthy Weight Week. The workshops include:

Healthy Eating for a Healthy You
This workshop covers information relating to the 5 food groups and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. It includes food we should eat, how much we should eat and tips for weight loss and cholesterol reduction.
When: Monday 24th January 6.30 - 8.00pm
Where: Cronulla Library
Cost: $7.50

Nutrition for Infants
This workshop covers the nutritional needs of 1-4 year olds. It includes information on dealing with fussy eaters, the 5 food groups and how much your child should be eating from each and ideal beverages for children.
When: Tuesday 25th January 10.00 - 11.30am
Where: Engadine Library
How Much: $7.50

Back to School Healthy Lunches
Just in time for the new school year this workshop covers preparing easy, healthy packed lunches, nutritious breakfasts Kids will like, healthy snacks and beverages and health claims on food packets - what they really mean.
When: Tuesday 25th January 2.00 - 3.30pm
Where: Sutherland Library
How Much: $7.50

Healthy Eating for Older Adults
This workshop covers the dietary needs for the older population. It includes easy and healthy meal, snack and beverage ideas, keeping active and health claims on food packets - what they really mean.
When: Saturday 29th January 10.30am - 12 noon
Where: Caringbah Library
How Much $7.50

These workshops will have you eating and snacking healthy in no time so don't miss out. Bookings are Essential. Please RSVP by calling 9710 0245. Happy, healthy eating!

Summertime Storytime at Cronulla Mall

Just before Christmas, the friendly staff from Cronulla Library made an appearance in the mall with a very special Summertime Storytime.

As the children gathered around the stage anticipating the fun they would have at Summertime Storytime; so did the STORM CLOUDS! But they had their own Christmas miracle - when we started to sing Jingle Bells, the rain stopped and the sun came out! Santa may have helped us out there as I am sure he was enjoying our singing from his throne that was located just behind us. The kids listened to a mix of beach and Christmas stories and particularly enjoyed the encore re-enactment of the book week award winning “Bear and Chook”. Bookatoo also made an appearance to wish all the boys and girls a Merry Christmas; with many hugs and hi fives in return. Debbie and Cheryl looked quite fetching in their Hawaiian inspired outfits and a good time was had by all.

Regular preschool and after school Storytimes are held at Sutherland Shire Libraries throughout school terms. At these hour long sessions we read stories, sing rhymes, watch a DVD and make a simple craft. To find out the Storytime Day at your closest Library see our Storytime page.


Menai Library Spooky Time Fun

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Things were a little scary at Menai Library last Friday during the Freaky Film Fest. Everyone is looking forward to having more frightening fun during our Spooky Time Fun holiday activity on Wednesday 19 January 10.30 - 11.30am.


Bestsellers at your fingertips. FAST BACK has arrived!


  • Special display of popular bestsellers available to borrow.

  • No reservations, no renewals, no waiting!

  • Collection updated regularly with new titles.

  • 10 day loan period for fast returns.


New FAST BACK collection at Sutherland Library, on display right by the elevator.

Available NOW.

Aurelia D. Roberts - Original Artworks on Display



A vibrant display of artworks by local artist Aurelia D. Roberts will be featured in the Southern Lounge at Sutherland Library from January to March 2011. Works include portraits and landscapes in oil and acrylic.

Aurelia is a member of Friends of Hazelhurst and the Southern Cross Art Society. She began painting after retiring from full-time teaching. Head into the Library to view her colourful and interesting artwork.

All you need to know about surf, sand and rips this Summer

Have you ever been caught in a rip? Stuck in the current? Dragged under by waves that seemed so much smaller from the shore?

I know I have - and it can be terrifying.

Well now you can learn how to avoid those sticky situations with award winning scientist, university lecturer and published author Dr Rob Brander (aka 'Dr Rip'). Dr Rip will be holiding a free educational seminar and book launch aimed at helping you and your family keep safe in the surf this summer.

Learn how to understand and 'read' the conditions of your favourite beach from a professional whose expertise has been used in media reports for '60 Minutes', '7:30 Report' and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Following the Seminar, Cronulla Library will be hosting a book launch and signing for the newly released Dr Rip's Essential Beach Book : everything you wanted to know about surf, sand and rips. Copies will be available for sale at the launch.

So get down to Cronulla Central this summer for a different kind of read - a read of the surf. The seminar is free but places are limited so Bookings are Essential! For more information visit http://www.scienceofthesurf.com/.

When: Wednesday 19th January @ 1.00 - 3.30pm
Where: Cronulla Central Community Centre Hall with book launch at Cronulla Library
Cost: Free
Bookings: Please call 97100163 to book your place