Get in the Game, READ!

This summer holidays your library is offering many opportunities for your family to get involved, get reading and win.

The Summer Reading Club is open 1 December 2008 to 18 January 2009 and all you need to do is read ten books, collect your reading rewards and then go into the draw to win $200 worth of books, toys and vouchers.

Every child who participates will be posted a 'participation certificate'.
To be eligible for the prize draw you must read 10 books and return the reading log to the library before 18 January.

Join in with the many summer holiday activities and games.

Get in the Game Party
The end of the Summer Reading Club will be celebrated at the ‘Get in the game party’. Summer Reading Prizes will be awarded. Bookings are essential.
Date: 23 January
Venue: Haberfield Library
Time: 3pm

Board of Studies Club
Come along for board games at the library with fun, lollies and activities. For 10 years and over. No bookings are required.
Date: 8 to 11 December
Venue: Ashfield Library
Time: 4-6pm
Date: 8 & 10 December
Venue: Haberfield Library
Time: 3.30-5.30pm

‘StorySport’ Pyjama Storytime
Wear your Pyjamas; bring your favourite teddy and friends for supper, stories and songs. Toddlers to 8 years recommended. No bookings are required.
Date: 15 & 20 January
Venue: Ashfield Library
Time: 6pm

Snakes & Ladders Craft
Kids are invited to come along and make their own Snakes and Ladders board game. Recommended for ages 4-12 years. Bookings are essential.
Date: 7 January
Venue: Haberfield Library
Time: 11am
Date: 8 January
Venue: Ashfield Library
Time: 11am

Pizza Olympics Night
Come along for a Pizza Olympics Night. Dress as your favourite sportsman or woman and join in the games and celebrate gold with a pizza supper. Prize awarded for best dressed. Bookings are essential.
Date: 13 January
Venue: Ashfield Library
Time: 6-7.00pm

Sand Boomerang Craft
Design your own boomerang and decorate it with sand art. Recommended for ages 4-12 years. Bookings are essential.
Date: 21 January
Venue: Haberfield Library
Time: 11am
Date: 22 January
Venue: Ashfield Library
Time: 11am

Download the Summer Holiday Fun Flyer and the Summer Reading Log.

New Books for November

Hey, I forgot to tell you about the new books list for November, and yes I know I have the wrong month on the cover (a blond moment- well blond streaks anyway).

Some of the new kids fiction books are:
Terror in cubicle four by B. Strange
UFO afloat by Dave Hackett
The Dragon Prince by T. Nhat Hanh
The wizard of Rondo by Emily Rodda
Werewolf versus dragon by M. Morgan

Some of the new youth books are:
The cat kin by Nick Green
Buffy: The quotable slayer
Rich dad poor dad for teens by R. Kiyosaki
Nation by Terry Pratchett

Some of the new youth graphic novels are:
Avril Lavigne’s make 5 wishes by C. D’Errico
Master of the clow by Clamp
World embryo by D. Moriyama
The knockout makers by K. Hashimoto
Good as Lily by Derek Kirk Kim
Kimmie66 by A. Alexovich

Some of the new kids graphic novels are:
Geobreeders by Akihiro Ito
Baby & me by Marimo Ragawa
Cowa! by Akira Toriyama (same guys who made Dragon Ball Z)
Kilala Princess by Rika Tanaka
Garfield pigs out by Jim Davis

There is also a very long list of baby board books in the book list, that's because in the span of two weeks about 15 mothers said 'why don't you buy more board books?'. I do buy board books, in the last 6 months alone the library has spent almost $5000 on them. It's just that I can't spend all the money on board books, or we would have no kids or teen fiction or information books, or graphic novels. There are of course many, many more new books at the library, a selection (with some reviews) is listed in the new books list but also check out the library gazette for more reviews pick up either in print at your library.

Happy reading.

Trends in borrowing

Just a quick note, It has been a few weeks since an update on any library activities - that's not because I haven't done anything - rather that I have been doing to much.

All the Summer Reading Challenge stuff is almost ready to launch, are you ready to Get in the Game? Along with the joy of reading, and of course the thrill of the competition (I know you don't have to be the best - but you cant help wanting to win can you!) There will also be some Board of Studies afternoons in December - that's board games and snacks in the libraries after school (Homework is on hold, but the tutor will be there if you have a mean teacher who has given you some) . As well as after Christmas we have a heap of holiday activities all in the sporty theme to go with the Summer Reading Challenge (not that I normally accessorize).

In the theme of reading, I was hanging out with a group (45) of childrens' and youth librarians on Thursday and we discussed what you and your friends are reading. That's right we do talk about you amongst ourselves (hope that doesn't sound too creepy). Did you know that there has been a state wide drop of 13% in kids and teens reading non-fiction (that's information books for you non library types) and a gigantic 43% increase in teen books being borrowed! What's so amazing is that traditionally librarians have said 'those teens don't read' and scarily some still think that (they arn't childrens' or youth librarians though).

So in accordance with this trend and many other little things I've noticed about our reading community at Ashfield, I am planning on merging (read mash-up) the kids and adults non-fiction (info books) together and expanding the teen area a bit further. Now of course you do get a say, so if you think its a horrifically catastrophic mistake feel free to email me and say so alexanderm@ashfield.nsw.gov.au.no.spam.

Something else I probably should tell you is that the Council will be advertising shortly for people aged between 12-24 to join a youth council advisory thingy. So if you are (or know) someone who is passionate about our community start thinking about joining. It wont actually be called the youth council advisory thingy, but you will know it when you see it (and I will point it out here anyway).

Oh, and next week we have Mike who will be spending some time with us at the library for work experience, so he will be featuring here soon!

Ok, that's enough procrastination, I have an essay to finish.
Have fun.

PS. Did you know JK Rowling has a new book coming out soon?

KOALA Winners

I spent a wonderfully exhausting day today out at Blacktown Library for the 2008 KOALA Awards Day. I got to meet (and have lunch with) Duncan Ball, Ursula Dubosarsky, Anna Fienberg, Kim Gamble, Catherine Jinks, Chris Milne and Emily Rodda. I also got to meet all the students from across the state who attended Awards Day.

It was a great day despite the miserable and wild weather. Val the KOALA Secretary commented 'it is the first time that authors have had to come through snow to attend Awards Day!'

The 2008 Kids Own Australian Literature Awards were announced and the winners are:
Picture Book Winner: Annie's Chair by Deborah Niland
Honour Books: Where is the green sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek and Rex by Ursula Dubosarsky and David Mackintosh

Younger Readers Winner: Just Shocking! by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
Honour Books: Tashi & the mixed up monster and Selby Shattered by Duncan Ball and Allan Stomann

Older Readers Winner: The Key to Rondo by Emily Rodda
Honour Books: Boy Overboard by Morrris Gleitzman and Spookiest stories by Paul Jennings

Fiction Years 7-9 Winner: Mao's Last Dancer by Lee Cunxin
Honour Book: Dragon Moon by Carole Wilkinson

Here are a couple of pic's Yvonne took today.

Ursula Dubosarsky, Catherine Jinks, Duncan Ball and Emily Rodda

Anna Fienberg and her Tashi doll.

Did you know? Anna invented the Tashi stories with her mum, and Kim Gamble invented the way Tashi looks. Kim had this little doll made for Anna so he could keep her company while she writes, but Anna's little boy liked the tashi doll so much Anna gave it to him.

Kim Gamble and the artwork he created in front of our eyes.

Kim's artwork was won by Wollondilly Public School on Awards Day. Kim was inspired to create a dragon for Tashi after Lee Castledine told the assembly a story about a great dragon and a magic golden snail.

Ashfield Spring Life

Abstract expressionist paintings by the children of Ashfield
We had a picnic in the library on Friday 10th October to celebrate the art works created by the children.
The project was coordinated by the Artist in Residence Cher Breeze and involved 5 preschools and a parents group 'Jump in Joeys' who created a series of abstract expressionit paintings reflecting Ashfield in the spring time.
Each of the 6 canvases was a communal work completed by many hands; this shared creative experience means that these works truly reflect the vibrancy and uniqueness of the Ashfield community through the eyes of children.
The works have been displayed in the Ashfield Library Children's Section, please drop in and see them.