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Limited tickets are still available for the The Bad Diaries Salon, featuring many well-known Australian authors reading snippets of their first unedited forays into writing. Hear funny, heartening tales that were the beginning of successful writing careers. Other exciting authors visiting in July include Celeste Liddle, who is giving a special NAIDOC presentation for our Open Mind Series, Sally Gray with her fascinating account of the Australian fashion scene from the 1970's through to the 1990's and Caroline Jane Knight, a living descendant of Jane Austen, who will join us for a special High Tea.
Did you know our library team delivers free technology-themed learning sessions for adults regularly throughout the year? Each session is brief, hands-on and specific to a technology or particular skill. "The librarians who lead sessions are very welcoming and approachable, and I have learnt a lot from them," says Larry Adams, eKnow How learner.
"I have attended several eKnow How sessions, including iPad Basics, iPad Intermediate, Cloud Storage, Scam Watch and Cybersecurity. The sessions very informative and relevant to the online nature of modern life." "I especially enjoyed the small group size that allows individual questions to be answered and tailors the session to my needs," he says.
Our best tip for raising a young reader who will love books and literacy is to have fun together. The early years are critical for developing a lifelong passion for books and reading. It’s never too early to start. As a professional musician, Michelle Scully (above, top) believes it is imperative that her children are exposed to music from a young age. Michelle says "Story Time at the library is a great way to get fun, positive exposure to music in a social atmosphere. I believe there is a strong correlation between music and learning." Jackie James (above, bottom) says "My daughter's vocabulary has increased by learning songs at Story Time and her listening skills have improved too. I love bringing them into this environment, surrounded by all these lovely children's books. We all look forward to coming to the library together." Geelong Regional Libraries are accredited with READ - the quality standards ensuring that early literacy programs contribute to improved literacy outcomes. Baby Time, Toddler Time and Pre-School Story Time sessions run at a variety times, days and at many of our different library locations - check out all the Story Time sessions available on our website here.
A distinguished actor, a quantum physician and an NRL star may not at first glance have much in common but their shared career dedication and willingness to help others is on display at the 2018 Australian of the Year Exhibition, in Geelong. The free exhibit is the only presentation of its kind in Victoria. It showcases each of the eight state and territory 2018 Australian of the Year recipients and is open to the public at the Geelong Library & Heritage Centre, until Sunday August 5. Read more here
The Course of Love is a novel that explores what happens after the birth of love, what it takes to maintain love, and what happens to our original ideals under the pressures of an average existence. You experience, along with Rabih and Kirsten, the first flush of infatuation, the effortlessness of falling into romantic love, and the course of life thereafter. Interwoven with their story and its challenges is an overlay of philosophy, an annotation and a guide to what we are reading. Request a print copy of 'The Course of Love'
Friday, 11 July - 6:30pm to 8:00pm Geelong Library & Heritage Centre
Six published authors read for ten minutes each from their early, unedited works. Featuring Robert Gott (The Port Fairy Murders), Rosalie Ham (The Dressmaker), Tracy Farr (The Hope Fault), Jock Serong (The Rules of Backyard Cricket), Angela Savage (The Dying Beach) and Leah Kaminsky (The Waiting Room) and moderated by Jenny Ackland (Little Gods). Tickets $30pp, includes light refreshments.
Bookings
An Arrernte woman, Celeste Liddle is an opinion writer, a trade unionist and currently serves as the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organiser of the National Tertiary Education Union. Celeste started her blog ‘Rantings of an Aboriginal Feminist’ in June 2012 as a place of her own and a home for her prolific writing. Hear Celeste’s views as a social commentator and activist who, in 2017, was inducted to the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll. Bookings
Sunday, 15 July - 3:00pm to 4:30pm Geelong Library & Heritage Centre
'Glass Life' is the first full-length poetry collection by researcher, teacher and editor, Jo Langdon who has been described as 'a compelling force in contemporary poetry'. Published by Five Islands Press, the collection will be launched by Professor David McCooey at this special Sunday afternoon event.
Light refreshments will be served. Bookings
Thursday, 19 July - 6:30pm to 7:30pm Geelong Library & Heritage Centre
Join us for this special event as researcher and academic Dr Sally Gray joins Geelong Gallery Director Jason Smith to discuss her book 'Friends, Fashion and Fabulousness: The Making of an Australian Style'. Linking fashion, art, sexual politics and diverse urban subcultures, four friends in particular form her central narrative: fashion designers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, and artists Peter Tully and David McDiarmid. Bookings
Sunday, 22 July - 2:00pm to 4:00pm Geelong Library & Heritage Centre Caroline is the last Austen descendent to grow up in Chawton on the ancestral estate where Jane herself lived and wrote. Join Caroline for a very special High Tea as she shares her unique childhood growing up surrounded by four hundred years of family history in the heart of great aunt Jane’s literary legacy, private family photographs and how Jane Austen’s extraordinary popularity has changed the lives of her Chawton family today. Funds raised will be donated to the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation. Tickets $50, includes high tea and a glass of sparkling wine on arrival. Bookings
Monday, 9 July - 6:30pm to 7:30pm Corio Library Are you interested in keeping backyard chooks? Learn all about our fine feathered friends from Harry Bottomley from the Geelong and District Poultry Club and ensure that your backyard chooks are healthy, happy and laying eggs. Bookings
Wednesday, 11 July - 12:00pm to 1:00pm Lara Library Calling all junior firefighters and families! Join us for a visit from our local CFA to learn more about staying safe around fire. Bookings
Thursday, 12 July, 2:30pm to 3:30pm Belmont Library Tuesday, 17 July, 6:30pm to 7:30pm Ocean Grove Library Thursday, 26 July, 6:30pm to 7:30pm Torquay Library, Craig has spent the past 30 years mentoring thousands of teenagers in his stores. His book ‘28 Tips for Teenagers: Life Skills That Fast Track Success’ looks at skills Craig believes are important to help teenagers reach their own full potential. Bookings
Many of our members received an invitation to participate in our Disability Access Survey this week. We are inviting valuable insights from this survey to help inform our Disability Access and Inclusion Plan. Please share the survey link (below) with others if you feel they may like to contribute. All feedback will be anonymous and confidential. Go to the survey page on our website: www.grlc.vic.gov.au/DisabilityAccessSurvey
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This is an opportunity for your community group or organisation to partner with us to present events for our adult audiences that will inform, entertain and enhance social connectedness.
Please note all library branches and mobile libraries will be closed for Friday 29 November for our annual staff training day.
Calling all local makers, artists and creatives! We invite you to apply to sell your wares and creations at our Arts and Craft Market Day on Saturday 7 December
Are you a local Bellarine organisation looking to attract new members, volunteers, or simply raise awareness? The Bellarine Fair is your chance to connect with the community at our amazing Boronggook Drysdale Library,
Please be advised that all our libraries will be closed for the upcoming AFL grand final public holiday on Friday 27 September.
Access to the upper ground entrance to Boronggook Drysdale Library will be unavailable for three days from Monday 9 September.