Illustrator Emma Quay Visits Sutherland Library

It was a priviledge for us to have children's book illustrator Emma Quay visit Sutherland Library on Friday 1st September to read her book, Good Night, Me, as part of the National Simultaneous Storytime. Emma entertained the kids with her stories and stayed to chat and sign books for the parents. Check out these photos of Emma and the kids at the Library.

August Additions to our Web Resources

These are the August additions to our collection of Web Resources, web sites and online resources selected by our librarians. We are always adding interesting sites to our collection and the list is constantly updated on the New Sites page of our site.
BBC News - South Asia Quake
News, pictures, and analysis of the earthquake centred on Kashmir in Pakistan on 8 October 2005 from the BBC News web site.
Date added: 23 August, 2006. Page: Disasters.
BBC News - Hurricane Katrina
News, pictures, video and analysis of Hurricane Katrina from the BBC News web site.
Date added: 23 August, 2006. Page: Disasters.
Librarian's Internet Index - Hurricane Katrina
A collection of web sites about Hurricane Katrina including news coverage, recovery and impacts.
Date added: 23 August, 2006. Page: Disasters.
The Era - Burning Palms Protection League
The Protection League was formed in 1945 to prevent the destruction of the shack communities at Little Garie, Era and Burning Palms beaches in the Royal National Park. The RNP Plan of Management (POM), adopted in February 2000, now recognises the heritage values of the cabin areas. The Plan requires that the cabins be retained with Licensing conditions to ensure that their cultural heritage values and the social context of the cabin communities are conserved.
Date added: 18 August, 2006. Page: Local Environment.
Press Conference regarding the withdrawal of the Migration Legislation to enable offshore processing of asylum seekers
A transcript of the Prime Minister The Hon John Howard MP Press Conference, Parliament House, Canberra, 14 August 2006.
Date added: 16 August, 2006. Page: Immigration and Refugees.
Counselling Online
Counselling Online is a website where you can communicate with a "live" professional counsellor about an alcohol or drug related concern. This service is for anyone seeking help about their own drug use or the drug use of a family member, relative or friend. The service is free and available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, across Australia.
Date added: 16 August, 2006. Page: Drug Information.
Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006
This is the Bill introduced to the Australian Parliament by the Liberal Party that seeks to transfer all unauthorised boat arrivals to Offshore Processing Centres for assessment of their claims for asylum.
Date added: 2 August, 2006. Page: Immigration and Refugees.
Crime Scene Investigation
Articles about crime scene investigation including sections on response, evidence collection, crime scene photography and forensic techniques.
Date added: 2 August, 2006. Page: Forensic Science.
From Fingerprints to DNA
From the ABC Science web site, this article explores the use of forensic science in solving a hypothetical crime.
Date added: 1 August, 2006. Page: Forensic Science.

National Simultaneous Storytime

Goodnight Me by Andrew daddo and Emma QuayThe Australian Library and Information Association organises a National Simultaneous Storytime in September every year, where libraries and schools across Australia read a book simultaneously to promote the value of reading and literacy.

I know it's short notice but...
We are extremely lucky to have Emma Quay, the illustrator of this year's book, Good Night, Me by Andrew Daddo, to read at Sutherland Library on Friday 1st September at 11am.

Emma QuayThis is a great opportunity to involve kids, parents and grandparents in a fun experience that also highlights the role that reading to young children plays in developing literacy.


Come along and join in the fun.

Children's Book of the Year Winners

The winners of the 2006 Children's Book of the Year Awards have been anounced. There is more information about the awards themselves in this post and on the Children's Book Council web site.

Click on the links below to reserve a copy as these books will be in high demand over the coming weeks.

The short and incredibly happy life of Riley by Colin Thompson & Amy Lissiat

Picture Books

Winner: The short and incredibly happy life of Riley by Colin Thompson & Amy Lissiat.
Honour Books: The Sound of the Sea by Warren Crossett (text by Jacqueline Harvey) and The Island by Peter Sheehan (Text by John Heffernan).

Annie's Chair by Deborah Niland

Early Childhood

Winner: Annie's Chair by Deborah Niland.
Honour Books: Kisses for Daddy by Frances Watts (Illustrations by David Legge).


Helicopter Man by Elizabeth Fensham

Younger Readers

Winner: Helicopter Man by Elizabeth Fensham.
Honour Books: Millie and the Night Heron by Catherine Bateson and Once by Morris Gleitzman.



The Story of Tom Brennan by J. C. Burke

Older Readers

Winner: The Story of Tom Brennan by J. C. Burke.
Honour Books: No Worries by Bill Condon and Lost Property by James Maloney.



Scarecrow Army: The ANZACS at Gallipoli by Leon Davidson

Eve Pownall Award for Information Books

Winner: Scarecrow Army: The ANZACS at Gallipoli by Leon Davidson.
Honour Books: Hoosh! Camels in Australia by Brian Janeen and The Glory Garage: Growing up Lebanese Muslim in Australia by Nadia Jamal & Taghred Chandab.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? leave a comment.

Fiction Follies: August 2006

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 dead hour by Denise Mina
Second instalment of the Paddy Meehan mysteries. For readers who like unusual female investigators, like Kinsey Malone and Fran Varady. Paddy is a 21 journalist working the grave shift for a Glasgow newspaper. Another mystery that brings in the colour and issues of 1980’s Britain.

The serpent on the crown by Elizabeth Peters
Cosy, archaeological mystery set in Egypt’s Valley of the kings. Mixes mystery and comedy. This is number 17 in the Amelia Peabody series so new readers should start with an earlier book. Worth reading also for the authors knowledge of Egyptology.

Never end by Ake Edwardson
Award winning Swedish author of dark and suspenseful police procedurals. For fans of Henning Mankell and readers interested mysteries set in a new environment, with a thoughtful and intelligent protagonist.

The coldest blood by Jim Kelly
Winner of the 2006 CWA dagger in the library for the writer whose work is currently giving the most enjoyment to readers. Judges described his books as “Treats – the characters are sympathetic and believable, their relationships with each other and that of the moody fen landscape Fen landscape developing in such a way that make the books special. The books are easy to read, yet not lightweight, with complex plots that engage the readers attention” For readers of Mark Billingham and Peter Robinson.

Other authors shortlisted for the 2006 dagger in the library award include:
Anthony Horowitz
Lesley Horton (Highly Commended)
Margaret Murphy
Danuta Reah
C. J. Sansom
Cath Staincliffe

A rare interest in corpses by Ann Granger
From synopsis “A gripping historical crime novel set in the heart of London by a well respected author. Lizzie Martin takes up the post of companion to a wealthy widow who is also a slum landlord. When the body of the previous companion is found Lizzie begins to wonder what exactly had been going on especially as her fate seems linked to that of the murdered girls.

Tarnished chalice by Susanna Gregory
Medieval mystery set in Lincoln of 1356. Matthew Bartholomew and Brother Michael are drawn into a web of murder, lies and intrigue surrounding a chalice with a bloody history.

New thrillers
Crisis by Robin Cook
Medical-legal thriller. Craig Bowman is being sued for malpractice after the death of a wealthy but irritating patient. However when the autopsy is performed the results are shocking.

The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl
A great mystery for history buffs. A young attorney, intrigued after the sight of Edgar Allan Poe’s funeral tries to unravel the final days before the authors mysterious death. This novel gained mixed reviews. Publishers Weekly described it as “compelling thriller” Bookmarks magazine “fusty and verbose”.

Secret asset by Stella Rimington
Espionage novel by the first woman to be appointed Director-General of MI5. While her colleagues try to avert a terrorist strike, Intelligence Officer Liz Carlyle must track down a mole within the organisation. A “thriller where no one can be trusted and nothing is what it seems”.

Traitor by Stephen Coonts
CIA agent Tommy Carmellini and Jake Grafton uncover a high level traitor and a terrorist conspiracy. But will their exposure also risk the identity of a top level agent who has managed to infiltrate Al Qaeda.

Last spymaster by Gayle Lynds
A classic espionage thriller. A Cold war traitor serving life in prison for selling secrets during the cold war escapes and Agent Elaine Cunningham must track him down. But is another, more explosive conspiracy afoot?

New Romance and Chicklit

Queen Mum by Kate Long
What happens when perfect wife and Mum, Juno signs up for the reality TV program “Queen Mum”. However the 2 weeks period spent with another family doesn’t go according to plan.

Blowing it by Judy Astley
You’re 30 and want to move up the property ladder with the inheritance you expect from the sale of your parents house. Then you find out that they plan to blow the whole proceeds of their house sale on growing old disgracefully.

Showdown by Tilly Bagshawe
Described by Publishers Weekly as “Horse Whisperer and National Velvet meet Jackie Collins in this libidinous fly on the stall peek at horse racing and Californian real estate chicanery.

The man from Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller
A romantic western set in Arizona told by the male character, ranger Sam O’Ballivan. This combines action and adventure as Same manages to thwart a gang of train robbers and cattle rustlers as well as a more old fashioned romance.

Megan of Merseyside by Rosie Harris
Megan Williams comes to Liverpool to escape after her heart has been broken. But further tragedy occurs when her sister is killed in a tragic accident and she finds out that her new love is not all he seems.

Room for a lodger by Sally Worboyes
East End saga set in the 1970s.

New fiction

Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda
English translation of the best selling French novel. This warm and funny work focuses on the life of four misfits living in Paris.

Sweet ruin by Cathi Hanauer
Compelling novel about a woman coming to terms with the death of her son.

Midnight cactus by Bella Pollen
A woman moves to the Arizona desert with her children to escape an unhappy marriage and life in London. While there she uncovers the secret of a brutal crime that occurred 20 years earlier.

New Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Supernatural
The night watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Epic struggle between good and evil set in Moscow. In this imaginative yarn the balance held between supernatural beings called others who support either the dark or the light threatens to be thrown out of balance by the emergence of one supreme “other”.

Silver may tarnish by Andre Norton and Lyn McConchie
A new novel set in witch world. A land destroyed by war and disaster must be rebuilt.

The smile of a ghost by Phil Rickman
Seventh book to feature Merrily Watkins, the Priest who fights supernatural forces. Combines wit, engaging characters and an occult mystery.

New Western

Telegraph days by Larry McMurtry
The adventures of Nellie and orphan who rises from telegraph operator in a small western town in 1876 to Mayor while witnessing the gunfight at the OK Corral on the way.


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.