Hop into the School Holiday program! 🐇

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Read online

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Your Library's April newsletter

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Hello and welcome!

At the end of March, we wrapped up our Picture This! Comic Book Competition. Delightfully, we received more than 70 entries from budding cartoonists and graphic novelists! Now we will wait to hear from our expert judges.

In exciting news, we surpassed 4,000,000 total lifetime loans in the Libby app during March! That's four million loans of digital books, audiobooks, magazines, graphic novels and picture books. An amazing milestone - thank you to our community for making such enthusiastic use of our digital library.

Looking ahead to April, we continue our jam-packed Autumn events program. ‘The Only Woman at Gallipoli’ will have her incredible story of adventure, heroism, love, and loss told at Realm Library. The Gully Gardeners are hosting a planting workshop for families. And best of all, our April School Holiday events will make it easier than ever to keep your little ones entertained while learning all sorts of new things!

We look forward to finding new ways to serve our community this month. Happy reading!

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The April School Holiday Program is here!

We can't wait to hop into the holidays with you! Here's just a small sample of the exciting activities hosted at a library near you:

◾ Adam Wallace cartooning workshop
◾ Spectacular science
◾ Make your own glimmer zines
◾ Gardening for kids
◾ Kamishibai Theatre
◾ Laser cutting
◾ African drumming workshops
◾ Aussie wildlife visit
◾ Butterfly enclosure
◾ Storytimes
◾ Art & crafting fun
...and so much more!!!

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Browse & book now!

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Work with us!

Do you have a passion for digital technologies, education and helping others? Applications are invited for the new temporary position of Digital Literacy Officer - Seniors. The DLO - Seniors will work to improve the technology skills of people over 60 in our region. They will create and deliver events and programs, foster new outreach relationships, and improve digital literacy in our community. To learn more, visit our Careers page. Applications close 5pm, Sun 16 April, 2023.

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Farewell OverDrive, hello Libby!

On 1 May 2023, the legacy OverDrive app will be discontinued. OverDrive users will have to switch to Libby.

No need to worry! In Libby, you'll still find our huge online library of eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines. Libby is a free, beautiful, modern, easy-to-use app. All of your loans, holds, and wishlist items will be waiting for you in Libby.

Learn all of the amazing features of the Libby app here. And download it straight away here:

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FEATURED RESOURCES

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Studiosity

Every student and jobseeker deserves support when they need it most. Studiosity is here to help. Connect Live puts you instantly in touch with a subject specialist, who can help you understand how to answer a tough question. Writing Feedback lets you submit an essay, résumé, thesis or cover letter, and get useful, detailed feedback. Free!

Get started now!

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Story Box Library

Watch and enjoy books by Australia’s favourite authors read to you by Australian actors, authors, illustrators and comedians, wherever you are.

Hundreds of stories available, with new stories added every month! Select stories also available in Auslan. Free!

Get started now!

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MEET THE AUTHORS

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Cheryl Adam

Wed 26 April 1:30 - 2:30pm
Bayswater Library
Cheryl Adam's books are about the struggles of women and finding humour, fun, family and friendship amongst a backdrop of family relationships, death, and injustice. Join us to hear from this fascinating author (FREE).

Bookings required

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Barbara McCarthy

Wed 26 April, 2:00 - 3:30pm
Ferntree Gully Library
Meet Barbara McCarthy, local author of Just a Hint of Autumn and My windows, my views...my life and travels. Barbara will speak about her books and experience of publishing at a mature age (FREE). Bookings required

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More author talks

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Words Aloud: featuring Cameron Semmens

Wed 5 April, 6:00 - 8:00pm

Miller's Homestead

Calling all wordsmiths and lovers of the spoken word! Our special guest at this month's 'Words Aloud' is Cameron Semmens, an award-winning poet, author of 27 books and 5 spoken word albums, with many other strings to his bow! Cameron will be sharing his stunning work with us before handing the mic to others to share theirs (FREE). Bookings required

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SHOW ME HOW

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Soap making

Thur 20 April, 2:00 - 3:00pm
Knox Express

Join Fran Snowden and learn how to use simple ingredients to create your own soaps at home. Participants will also receive a pre-made ready-to-use bar of soap to take home
(COST $5). Bookings required

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Beautiful book folding with Kay: autumn acorn

Mon 24 April, 2:00 - 3:30pm
Yarra Junction Library

Book folding is a form of artistic expression that enables you to up-cycle old books into beautiful home décor. Join us at Yarra Junction Library for a relaxing, beginner-friendly session (FREE). Bookings required

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What's for tea with Tracey: a quick veggie stir fry!

Fri 28 April, 12:30 -1:30pm
Belgrave Library

Join Tracey at Belgrave Library to learn how to make a quick and yummy veggie stir fry served with rice.
Tastings included (FREE). Bookings required

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MIND • BODY • SPIRIT

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Turning sleep into wellbeing

Wed 5 April, 11am - 12:30pm

Croydon Library

Join us to explore the science of sleep and its impact on our conscious and subconscious mind, the natural ‘body rhythm’, and discover how sleep allows for the healing of heart, mind, body and spirit. Participants will leave with a personal sleep diary to help boost quality sleep (FREE). Bookings required

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Introduction to Wayapa with Eliza Lee

Sat 15 April, 11am - 12pm

Healesville Library

Wayapa® is an ancient Earth mindfulness connection practice based on Indigenous wisdom that focuses on taking care of the Earth while deepening our personal relationships with nature through Earth mind-body-spirit connection. You are invited to join in a one hour introduction to Wayapa (FREE). Bookings required

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Fostering authenticity: creative writing for personal wellbeing

Wed 26 April, 10am-11:30am
Montrose Library

Being authentic in the world begins with fostering individual authenticity. Using collaborative and creative writing, journaling and sharing, we will practice exercises to listen to our personal truth in ways that are simple and enjoyable (FREE). Bookings required

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Heritage games for adults

Fri 28 April, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Lilydale Library

Come and try your hand (and feet) at some heritage games! Many have been lost to time, others are old favourites. Bring some friends for a fun-filled adventure back through history. Games will be available all day for you to try (FREE). Bookings not required.

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Robotic companion animals: a new addition to our Dementia Care Collection!

Fri 28 April, 10:00 - 11:00am
Realm Library

Just like any other cat or dog, these furry robotic equivalents offer those with dementia comfort, companionship, and joy as they purr, meow, wag their tails, and much, much more. Come and watch library staff demonstrate this special, new addition to our Dementia Care Collection (FREE). Bookings required

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EXCITING HISTORY TALKS

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Cold War Games: with Harry Blutstein

Wed 5 April, 2:00 - 3:00pm
Rowville Library

Cold War Games examines the underlying tensions between global superpowers during the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games in the midst of the Cold War. From blood in the polo pool to romance between warring athletes, the Games had it all. Don't miss this exciting presentation from influential writer, journalist, academic and historian, Harry Blutstein (FREE). Bookings required

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Queens of Egypt

Thur 27 April, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Mooroolbark Library

Many people are familiar with the names of some of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt such as Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great, but most are unfamiliar with the strong women behind the throne. This presentation will introduce you to some of these women; some you will have never heard of, while others have been the subject of many books and Hollywood movies (FREE). Bookings required

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