Read on the Wild Side Winner!

We are very happy to announce that the winner of the 2010 Summer Reading Club 'Read on the Wild Side' competition is:

Janu Jain, age 11

In total ACT kids read 1,410 books - a wonderful result. Congratulations to Janu and to everyone who entered, well done!

Welcome to preschool: a parent's survival kit

Join us for a valuable information session for the parents of preschool-aged children.

 

Tuesday 16 February

10.30 am - 11.30 am 

Erindale Library

Bookings online or phone 6205 9000

 

Carolyn Harkness is an Early Childhood Lecturer from Australian Catholic University, Life member / Counselor Canberra Preschool Society.

 

This session will cover a range of topics including:

• What happens at preschool?
• How to make a great start?
• What parents can do at home?

Carolyn Harkness is a Canberra mother of three children – all of whom have gone through the ACT Government Preschool system. Her early childhood experience arises from family-based playgroups, directing summer primary school camps and preschool and primary teaching. She is passionate about children, family and community. Currently the Early Childhood Course Coordinator at the Australian Catholic University, Carolyn lectures on Early Childhood units that focus on play-based programs that meet the needs of both the child and their family. She also has developed a series of free Early Years Workshops for parents that are run through the Canberra Preschool Society.

 

Lightning Thief Strikes Into Cinemas

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief the movie will be released February 11 (this Thursday!). Now is the perfect time to catch up on the adventures of the young demigod if you haven’t read them, or to enjoy them again if you have:

• Percy Jackson and the lightning thief


• Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters


• Percy Jackson and the titan’s curse


• Percy Jackson and the battle of the labyrinth


• NEW The demigod files
  
  You might also like to check out these sites:
  
  Percy Jackson series website
  Rick Riordan's official websitePercy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Movie website with trailer
  Rick Riordan's blog
  
  Click here to request Percy Jackson titles
  

Chinese Lantern exhibition

As a prelude to the Lantern Festival in late February, the Australia China Friendship Society (ACT Branch) is staging an exhibition of Chinese lanterns at Civic Library from 9 - 16 February 2010.

The exhibition includes Chinese lanterns, Chinese artefacts and winning entries from the 2009 Panda Competition. The Panda Competition is open to all schools and has a different topic each year. This year's was 'The Lantern Festival' and entries included drawings and hand-made lanterns from children aged 5 - 15 years.

The Lantern Festival is the concluding event of the Chinese New Year and has been celebrated by the Australia China Friendship Society for more than twenty years.

Story time has resumed

Do you have a child aged between three and five? They will enjoy preschool story time which is held at library branches on a weekly basis during school terms.

Story time for has now resumed for 2010. Session times can be found on the library website. Story time helps develop:

• A love of books and lifelong use of libraries
• Pre-reading skills and a desire to learn to read
• Listening and language skills
• Cooperative behaviour as part of a group
• Understanding of simple concepts
• Imagination and creativity

Authors feature on postage stamps

Australia Post has released a series of stamps featuring Australian authors:

• Peter Carey
• David Malouf
• Colleen McCullough
• Bryce Courtenay
• Thomas Keneally
• Tim Winton

Click here for more information about the stamps and to view video comments from the authors concerned.

Have you visited Kingston Library yet?

Kingston Library is located on Giles Street in Kingston, amongst the cafes and shops, and is open:

• Monday 10.00 am - 5.30 pm
• Tuesday 10.00 am - 5.30 pm
• Thursday 10.00 am - 8.00 pm
• Friday 10.00 am - 5.30 pm
• Saturday 9.00 am - 4.00 pm

Kingston Library provides access to a brand new collection of books, DVDs, magazines and CDs, as well as access to the wider library collection. It also has:

• Wireless internet access
• Public Internet PCs
• An XBOX 360
• Playaway digital audio books
• Two large LCD screens with rotating library information
• Self check out and a smart chute for returns

Click here to read more about Kingston Library or view photos on our Flickr photostream.

Closed for public holiday

A reminder that all branches of the ACT Public Library and the Mobile Library will be closed for the Australia Day public holiday on Tuesday 26 January.

Simple tips for writers

Are you a writer? Have you ever wanted to try writing? Check out this fun little video with simple tips from some authors.

Newbery Medal winner announced

The Newbery Medal is the highest honour for children's books in the United States, and has been given since 1922. This year it has been awarded to Rebecca Stead for her novel When You Reach Me.

Twelve-year-old Miranda encounters shifting friendships, a sudden punch, a strange homeless man and mysterious notes that hint at knowledge of the future. These and other seemingly random events converge in a brilliantly constructed plot.

Click here for the winner, a list of the honour books for 2010, and mroe information about the award.