Spring Reading

 

Spring has finally arrived and we can look forward to reading in the sun! 

There’s a lot happening at Boroondara libraries to celebrate the National Year of Reading over spring. 

Firstly, we have two ‘DestinationReading’ sessions where our expert librarians will be available to chat about reading. Find your new favourite author, learn about different genres and try some different ereaders and devices. We can show you our extensive range of literary eresources or get started with ebooks and eaudio. Whatever you like to read in whatever format, you’ll love the destination. There’s no need to book, just come in. September 6, 10:30am-12:30pm at Balwyn and September 10, 7:30-9pm at Ashburton.

Come along to our ‘Read Any Good Books Lately? ClickGoes the Library series’ to find or write book reviews, read ratings and recommendations, learn about literary eresources and join fellow book lovers online. Enhance your reading experiences with online resources, book now for September 19, 6:30pm at Hawthorn. 

Finally, join us to preview the beautiful new Camberwell Library! Take a library tour and enjoy drinks, nibbles and entertainment in the forecourt, September 14 from 6pm. 

We are also participating in ‘TheWrites of Spring’ a creative writing competition from the State Library of Victoria. Come into any branch to collect a postcard. Be inspired by the beautiful design and come up with a short story. Drop in your entry, winners will be included in a book for all public libraries. 

To find great spring reads, we have many book lists in the library and in our Facebookalbums, also check out the just released GetReading list.

Special National Year of Reading talk

Don't sit at home all by yourself this winter!  Come out and meet some people who love reading as much as you do!  This week at Balwyn Library author Narrelle Harris will give a special National Year of Reading talk.  Narrelle is an accomplished author of several books and short stories and short stories.  On Wednesday, she will talk about her love of reading and how growing up in a house of books set her on a path of lifelong reading.


Come and share your love of reading and meet some other like-minded people.  


For more information visit our website or book here or phone 9278 4666.

Kate Holden's visit to Kew Library

Author Kate Holden spoke at Kew Library on March 29^th to a group of around 50 people. 

She spoke about her journey from a young, socially awkward student to a heroin addict and sex worker and about her eventual escape from the grip of her addiction. Anyone who has read her acclaimed book "In my skin" would know much of this story but hearing it from Kate in this intimate setting gave her story even more power and despite the fact that she must have told this story many times it still felt very immediate and raw.

 Kate is anaccomplished writer and lecturer and her warmth and candour endeared her to the audience with one listener proclaiming her to be enchanting.  A fascinating evening with a remarkable woman.

We have lift off!

We launched the National Year of Reading at Kew Library on Tuesday with Dave O'Neil, P.D. Martin and the Boroondara Mayor, Councillor Heinz Kreutz. 

The Mayor launched us officially into this exciting year by talking about how important reading should be...to everybody.  Dave O'Neil's kids love to read but sometimes books don't answer all their questions.  So, of course, they ask Dad. 'How does grass grow, Dad?'  Dave was also in trouble with his wife because he went to Kew Library on Valentine's Day and she wasn't able to go to her bookclub.  But Dave reckons all she does at her bookclub is drink wine and discuss Team Edward versus Team Jacob. (His wife is Team Edward).  But we think bookclubs are lots of fun and we needs to have discussions about books...even if it's about Edward vs Jacob!

P. D. Martin said she was nervous about speaking after a comedian but we loved her!  She is a writer, a reader and a mum so she knows the importance of reading!   She says it's hard to read when you're writing because you want to make sure you're still using your own voice and continue to develop your own style.  But she is determined to read more this year for the National Year of Reading.  She also read a small section of her new novel - something that no one else has heard before!  We can't wait for her new book!

For the love of reading

Immerse yourself in books for the National Year of Reading with these titles celebrating reading and great books.

Andrews, Stephen E. and Bowis, Duncan. 100 must-read books for men

Bayard, Pierre. How to talk about books you haven't read

Bond, Jenny & Sheedy, Chris

Behind the bestsellers: the stories behind the world's favourite books

Carr, Bob. My reading life: adventures in the world of books

Coady, Roxanne. The book that changed my life: 71 remarkable writers celebrate the books that matter most to them

Denby, David. Great books: my adventures with Homer, Rousseau, Woolf, and other indestructible writers of the Western world

Kilgarriff, Catheryn. The bookaholics guide to book blogs

Kniffel, Leonard. Reading with the stars: a celebration of books and libraries / Leonard Kniffel with Barack Obama, Julie Andrews, Bill Gates, David Mamet, Laura Bush, Ken Burns, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Cokie Roberts, Ron Reagan, Garrison Keillor, Ralph Nader, Jamie Lee Curtis, Al Gore, Oprah Winfrey.

Knight, Brenda. Wild women and books: bibliophiles, bluestockings & prolific pens from Aphra Behn to Zora Hurston and from Anne Rice to the Ya-Ya sisterhood

Manguel, Alberto. The history of reading

Nafiai, Azar. Reading Lolita in Tehran: a memoir in books

Osborne, Susan. Bloomsbury essential guide for reading groups

Ozma, Alice. The reading promise: 3,218 nights of reading with my father

Pearl, Nancy. Book lust: recommended reading for every mood, moment, and reason

Peske, Nancy and West, Beverly. Bibliotherapy: the girl's guide to books for every phase of our lives

Reading group choices 2011: selections for lively book discussions

Rennison, Nick. 100 must-read life-changing books

Rugg, Julie. Buried in books: a reader's anthology

Sutherland, John. The boy who loved books: a memoir

The top ten: writers pick their favorite books / edited by J. Peder Zane