Spring Fling @ Wallsend District Library

Wallsend District Library is shaking off winter, and getting ready to celebrate all things SPRING with our annual spring festival. Once again, the library will be filled with displays, live trees, floral arrangements and community talks.

When?
12-23 September 2016

What's on?
So many things!

Goodbye Winter Exhibition
The 'Goodbye Winter' Exhibition is a showcase of digital photographs presented by The Photographers Learning Forum, an Internet based group of professional photographers who give their time and expertise to help and mentor newcomers to the wonderful world of digital photography.
The Photography Learning Forum is based in Newcastle and operates through Facebook. The Forum provides free assistance and guidance to amateur photographers via on-line learning. Professional photographers provide their skill and expertise to the community. Participants can ask questions via online forums, video tutorials and photographic exercises. If you have recently purchased a digital camera they can show you how to use it effectively.
Cost: Free
Bookings not required, just drop in.
12 September - 15 October

Guided tour of Summerhill Waste Management Centre
Have you ever wondered what happens to the contents of your red and green lid bins? Now is your chance to find out by taking a free guided tour of the Summerhill Waste Management Centre.
Newcastle Region Library is offering a free one hour guided tour of the Summerhill Waste Management Centre. The tour departs from Wallsend District Library and provides a behind the scenes look at Newcastle's landfill and resource recovery centre.
Presented by: Newcastle City Council
Cost: Free
Bookings essential.
Monday 12 September, 11:00am-12:30pm - Book your spot
Tuesday 20 September, 11:00am-12:30pm - Book your spot

Community talk: Wallsend Flood Plan
Tuesday 13 September, 10:30am
Presented by Nathan Evans, Newcastle City Council

Special storytime - Hunter Wetlands

Celebrate Spring with our special storytime featuring the Hunter Wetlands Centre. Meet turtles and frogs and enjoy stories, songs and a Wetland themed craft activity.
Cost: Free
Bookings essential.
Wednesday 14 September, 10:30am-11:20am - Book your spot

Community talk: Hunter Wetlands
Now in its 31^st year, the Hunter Wetlands Centre is continually re-imagining how it helps Novocastrians and visitors alike to conserve and protect our wetlands and wildlife.
Dr. Stuart Blanch, Chief Executive Officer, Hunter Wetlands Centre, will talk about what is happening this Spring at the Centre, including what their volunteer team are working on, what wildlife is about, and some their upcoming projects during the Spring and Summer period.
Presented by: Dr Stuart Blanch, CEO, Hunter Wetlands Centre
Cost: Free
Bookings essential. 
Thursday 15 September, 11:00am-12:00pm - Book your spot

Community talk: Put a Spring in your step with fresh fruit and veg

Mary from The Fresh Ingredient will discuss seasonal spring fruits and vegetables and demonstrate how to create a nutritious tasty salad. The Fresh Ingredient won the Hunter Local Business Awards for Most Outstanding Fruit and Vegetable retailer in 2012, 2013 & 2015.
Presented by Mary, The Fresh Ingredient
Cost: Free
Bookings essential.
Wednesday 21 September, 11:30am-12:30pm - Book your spot

Floral Arrangement Demonstration
Alyn from Everything Floral will create a floral arrangement from native flora. Come along and learn the tips and tricks for creating a stunning floral display.
Presented by Alyn, Everything Floral  
Cost: Free
Bookings essential. 
Thursday 22 September, 11:00am-12:00pm - Book your spot

Food Carving Demonstration
Be amazed at the Thai art of food sculpting. Expert staff from Top Thai Restaurant will demonstrate the culinary art of sculpting fruit and vegetables.
Presented by: Top Thai Restaurant
Cost: Free
Bookings essential.
Friday 23 September, 10.30am-12:00pm - Book your spot

To see what other amazing things are happening, visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

History Week - Neighbours

To celebrate History Week the Local Studies Library will be holding a special talk at Wallsend District Library.
The theme of History week 2016 is Neighbours.
We will be exploring  the careers of some of the Mayors and Councillors of Newcastle's suburban councils whose volunteer work helped to establish our communities.

Supporting Your Community
Monday 5 September 2016
10:00 - 11:00am
Wallsend District Library's multi-function room

Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Australia! Story Country

Book Week 2016 is upon us, and the theme for this year is Australia! Story Country. With lots of fabulous books to explore in the Short List, Newcastle Region Library has also found time to bring you some exciting activities!

Some book lovers with Wallsend District Library's Book Week display

Digital Story Making 
Create your own picture book using the Storybird app. Local author Katrina McKelvey will be there to help create amazing stories.
Suitable for children 8-12 years.
Free event, bookings required.
To book, click on the appropriate link:
Monday 22 August 4:00-5:30pm @ Wallsend District Library
Tuesday 23 August 4:00-5:30pm @ City Library
Wednesday 24 August 4:00-5:30pm @ New Lambton Library

Children's Book Week: Special Storytime
Join us for special storytimes featuring short listed Book Week books. Enjoy stories, songs and craft.
Perfect for children aged 3 - 5 years.
Free event. Bookings not required, just drop in!
Tuesday 23 August 10:30-11:15am @ Hamilton Library
Wednesday 24 August 10:30-11:15am @ City Library
Wednesday 24 August 10:30-11:15am @ Mayfield Library
Wednesday 24 August 10:30-11:15am @ Wallsend District Library
Thursday 25 August 10:30-11:15am @ Stockton Library

Australia! Story Country The Play - Family Session
Our talented library team present a selection of Book Week picture books using drama, humour, stories and song. Enjoy our Book Week play, and come dressed in your favourite costume.
Perfect for K - 2 students.
Free entry. Bookings essential.
Wednesday 24 August 4:00-5:00pm @ Wallsend District Library.
Book tickets to family session.

School Sessions also available, at various branches.
Book tickets to school sessions.

To find out what else is on, where our branches are located, and to place a hold on some of those short listed books, visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Pokémon Go at Newcastle Region Library

If you've visited the Civic precinct in Newcastle over the last couple of weeks, you may have noticed an unusual number of people wandering and staring at their phones. That's because Pokémon Go fever has hit Newcastle! Hundreds of people have been converging on Civic Park and the surrounding area to take part in this latest cultural phenomenon, that allows players to catch, collect, evolve, train and battle their favourite pocket monsters. Although playing Pokémon is generally considered the domain of kids, plenty of adults are having fun reliving their childhood and trying to collect all 151 Pokémon.

A Doduo jumping out at a patron at Hamilton Library.

Many branches of Newcastle Region Library have become hotspots of Pokémon activity. Hamilton, New Lambton, Wallsend and Adamstown branches are all pokéstops, where you can load up on useful items such as pokéballs for catching new Pokémon, and various potions for treating Pokémon wounded in battle. Lambton Library is even a pokégym, where players train up or battle their creatures against other teams. Plenty of Pokémon have also been located hiding in the shelves at City branch - a Nidorino has been eluding staff in the Adventure & Travel section over the last few days. Come in and see if you can catch it before we can!

A Nidorino in the Adventure & Travel section at City Library. Still not caught! 

The app utilises augmented reality technology which takes a computer-generated image - in this case, a Pokémon - and superimposes it on the user's smartphone camera to make it look like the creature is right in front of them in the real world. It is not the first time this technology has been utilised. Previously, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney and Melbourne implemented the Disney Fairies Trail app, which allowed visitors to use their smartphones to seek fairies whilst exploring different areas of the Gardens. Retail stores are also experimenting with the idea to set up virtual fitting rooms for their customers.

Load up on pokeballs, potions and razz berries at Hamilton Library. 

The Pokémon franchise itself is nothing new. It was created in 1996 and was popularised in Australia through a trading card game. The creation of Japanese video game designer, Satoshi Tajiri, Pokémon was directly inspired by his childhood hobbies of collecting bugs and playing video games. Considered reclusive and eccentric by his peers, Tajiri was dubbed 'Mr Bug' for his seemingly obsessive behaviour. Tajiri has recently confirmed he has Asperger's Syndrome and is a great example of someone who has found a passion in their life and used it to build a successful career.

Choose a team and battle it out at the pokegym at Lambton Library.

If you're having fun playing the app and would like to check out more Pokémon related media, you can access a range of books, graphic novels and DVDs through Newcastle Region Library's catalogue, including the original Pokémon movie and a number of different guides to the world of Pokémon.

Happy hunting!

Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Jerry Knight and Hypnotherapy

Join us for an inspiring talk with Jerry Knight as he describes his journey from the Royal Navy to a career in Clinical Hypnotherapy.

New Lambton Library
Thursday 5th May
10.30-11am
Free Event

Bookings on Eventbrite: Jerry Knight, or phone the library on 4904 3340

Happy π Day! - 3.14

Founded in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw, π (or pi) Day celebrates a constant and irrational number which has fascinated mankind for over 4000 years.

π represents the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. It is commonly represented as 3.14, hence π day is celebrated annually on March 14th. π is a constant number because regardless of the size of the circle the value for π remains the same. It is also irrational as it can not be expressed as a fraction nor be calculated precisely as a decimal. To date, π has been calculated to over 10 trillion decimal places, taking a computer 90 days to perform the calculation.

Presently, Newcastle is home to a world renown π expert; Jonathan Borwein is a Laureate Professor at the University of Newcastle who regularly publishes academic articles on π, exploring its mathematical uses and meanings as well as its place in popular culture. You can find out more about Borwein and his publications here.

π can be found just about anywhere. We seem to have an endless fascination with this number, referencing it over and over in popular culture. Explore the following items available at Newcastle Region Library and see if you can uncover the π references within.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel (book, DVD movie)

Probably the easiest place to find a π reference, Martel names the protagonist in his prize winning novel Piscine Patel, shortening his name with direct mathematical reference to π.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (book, DVD movie, DVD series)

The first in a 'trilogy' of 5 books, we follow Arthur Dent and his best friend Ford Prefect as they escape the demolition of Earth and set out to locate the President of the Galaxy with the aid of a computerised guidebook called the 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'. If you struggle to find the π reference, you may need to look closer at the ultimate answer to life, the universe and everything. The reference is fairly obscure but given Douglas Adams' playfulness with all things obscure, it is unlikely to be a coincidence.

Matrix Reloaded (DVD movie)

Neo races against the clock to save the inhabitants of Zion from a machine army of sentinels set on destroying them. Whilst negotiating the unusual and complex characters of the Matrix, Neo must find the Keymaker in order to save the last of the free humans.

Twin Peaks (DVD TV series)

This series follows the FBI investigation into the murder of popular teenager Laura Palmer, but the real draw is the quirky vision of creators David Lynch and Mark Frost and their ensemble of curious characters. It is often suggested that a certain character's fondness for a particular pastry is a direct reference to the mystery that surrounds π.

Torn Curtain (DVD movie)

This cloak and dagger mystery from Alfred Hitchcock depicts an American Scientist defecting to the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. Whilst embroiling the audience in the political and military intrigue of the Iron Curtain, the protagonist is actually on a secret mission to steal a mathematical formula and escape back to the West.

The Simpsons (DVD TV series)

With many of this show's writers holding advanced degrees in mathematics, it follows that 'The Simpsons' is chock full of mathematical innuendo. So much so that a book, 'The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets', was published to shed light on many of these references. For π, check out the episodes 'Bye, Bye Nerdie' (season 12, episode 16) and 'Simple Simpson' (season 15, episode 19).

You can find the above books and DVDs at Newcastle Region Library. Check them out on the catalogue

Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Is Your Dog Seeing Red? Libby Hathorn Book Launch and Dog Parade

Newcastle Writers Festival Event

Libby Hathorn Book Launch & Dog Parade

You and your beloved canine friend are invited to join us for the launch of A Soldier, a Dog and a Boy by award-winning Newcastle born writer Libby Hathorn.

April marks the centenary of The Battle of the Somme and we are commemorating the occasion with this special book. There will be lots of activities for you and your dog, including a parade.

Remember to dress your dog in red!

When 01 APR 2016

Time 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Where Newcastle Region Library, Laman Street, Cooks Hill

This is a free outdoor family event.

 Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Chinese New Year - The Year of the Monkey

Wallsend District Library turned red once again for Chinese New Year, celebrating the Year of the Monkey, the 9^th animal of the Chinese zodiac. For two weeks, 8-20 February 2016, a dazzling array of monkeys greeted customers as they came in the door, leading them into the library (and to the return chutes). The customer service desk was artfully decorated with authentic Chinese motifs, which invited many comments and compliments from customers of all cultures.  Everyone enjoyed the festive atmosphere, and applauded the multiculturalism of the event.

Characteristics of those born in the Year of the Monkey are honest , intelligent, flexible, sociable and lively, and some of those definitely applied to the various activities on offer, which were very well received by the community. We were very generously supported by the Confucius Institute at the University of Newcastle, an organisation that works to strengthen and expand exchange and cooperation between China and the local regions.

A Chinese/English bilingual storytime was held at two branches, with over 100 children and parents attending. Many families joined in singing the Chinese version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and all enjoyed learning more about the Chinese culture, and the festivities traditionally held during Chinese New Year. The City Branch storytime was followed by a traditional Chinese Lion Dance, performed by four dancers from The Ching Nin Lion Team, which means young and green, or  youthful. Wallsend hosted the lions the following week, where the children joined in the revelry, touching the dragon for good luck, laughing and squealing with delight as it cavorted around the library.

Four members of the Confucius Institute treated Wallsend patrons to a Chinese New Year cooking demonstration, under the live trees of our internal 'avenue'. Jonathon Yi was a most entertaining presenter, cracking jokes while he explained some customs, and why glutinous rice balls with red bean paste are significant. Red, for good luck, round for longevity, and the continuity of the seasons. His three assistants, April, Julia and Maggie, busily prepared the ingredients for the demonstration, amazing everyone with their nifty knife skills, reducing carrots and other vegetables to fine slivers. Patrons were then invited to have a go at making the rice balls, which were then boiled, and the gow gees filled with chicken mince, finely chopped vegetables and spices,  which were steamed. The stirfried fish with Szechuan chilli paste created a fragrant aroma that permeated the library, making everyone very keen to taste the results. They were, of course, delicious.

The Chinese paper cutting demonstrated by the incredibly talented Sarah Dunn was extremely popular. Patrons were given tips on how to successfully cut out intricate designs and mount them on colourful paper, then had a chance to try their hand at cutting out pre-printed templates. Naturally, the monkey design proved the most popular.

The Confucius Institute also offered an extremely popular Chinese knotting demonstration. There was lots of laughter as staff and patrons discovered that they are far more involved than your average knot. All persevered until a couple were completed, and many took advantage of offers of one-on-one help. At least one staff member had to have hers 'finessed' by our wonderful hosts, but everyone was happy with their final product, and gained an increased appreciation for the nimble fingers that are required, and the intricate work that is involved.

Overall a wonderful two weeks, and we are very much looking forward to celebrating the Year of the Rooster next year. Cock-a-doodle-doo, or wo-wo-wo, as the Mandarin Chinese say!

Visit Newcastle Region Library's website to see what else we're up to!

Celebrating Australia

Do you enjoy Australian fiction? or maybe you want to know more about Australian history than you learnt in school? Does no-one rock you like the Rockmelons? Our libraries have a broad collection of works on, by and for Australians:

Nine Days

Toni Jordan

It is 1939 and although Australia is about to go to war, it doesn't quite realise yet that the situation is serious. Deep in the working-class Melbourne suburb of Richmond it is business - your own and everyone else's - as usual. And young Kip Westaway, failed scholar and stablehand, is living the most important day of his life.

Kip's momentous day is one of nine that will set the course for each member of the Westaway clan in the years that follow. Kip's mother, his brother Francis and, eventually, Kip's wife Annabel and their daughters and grandson: all find their own turning points, their triumphs and catastrophes, in days to come. But at the heart of all their stories is Kip, and at the centre of Kip's fifteen-year-old heart is his adored sister Connie. They hold the threads that will weave a family.

Sir Henry Parkes: The Australian Collosus
Stephen Dando-Collins

Henry Parkes arrived in the colony of New South Wales with his young wife Clarinda, and newly born daughter, in 1839. He went on to be five-time Premier of New South Wales, a father to seventeen children and a fierce proponent of the need to federate. Politican, social reformer and newspaper proprietor, Henry Parkes' legacy will never be forgotten.

Up From Down Under: How Australian Music Changed the World

Jeff Apter

Beginning with Peter Allen’s unlikely journey from the plains of Tenterfield to the stage of New York’s Radio City Music Hall — astride a camel, no less — and charting the rollercoaster rides of the Little River Band, Helen Reddy, the Bee Gees, Air Supply, Rick Springfield, Men at Work, Keith Urban and recent Grammy-winner Gotye, this broad panorama plots the massive influence our tiny population has had on popular culture over the past 40 years.

The Fourteenth Summer of Angus Jack

Jen Storer

Funny, exhilarating and a little bit scary; a bewitching blend of Norse mythology and urban fantasy.
Since moving to Australia with their father, Angus Jack and his sister, Martha, have moved house constantly. They end up living next door to a peculiar old lady called Reafen, who is a second-hand dealer. To Angus and Martha, Reafen seems harmless enough. But who is she really and where did she get all the weird stuff in her shop?
Without his knowledge, Reafen draws Angus into her world; into ancient feuds, Wild Magick and bitter rivalries - into the secret dealings of Vikings and goblins and all those who have lived in the Old Realm.

Talking to my Country

Stan Grant

Stan Grant spent many years outside Australia, working in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa, a time that liberated him and gave him a unique perspective on Australia. This is his very personal meditation on what it means to be Australian, what it means to be indigenous, and what racism really means in this country. Talking to my Country is a rare and special book that talks to every Australian about their country - what it is, and what it could be. It is not just about race, or about indigenous people but all of us, our shared identity. Direct, honest and forthright, Stan is talking to us all. He might not have all the answers but he wants us to keep on asking the question: how can we be better?

.

 Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website

Bots in The Books

Mechatronics, coding, electronics, soldering, Arduino. All of this and more is happening in the "Mad Science Theatrette" at Newcastle Library in Laman Street.

Bots in the Books represents a collaboration between Hunter TAFE and Newcastle Library and has been generously sponsored by Port Waratah Coal Service.

Members of the public are welcome to drop in to view the activities on Thursday 14th January between 10am and 2pm. For enquiries call Kieran on 4974 5340.

A big thank you to our partners!

LED sequencer almost ready to go

Soldering the LED sequencers

Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Lost World Treasure Hunt

The Lost World Treasure Hunt is running as part of our summer program. Each Library branch has a different Lost World to explore. There is no need to book, simply collect an information sheet, search the library for clues, and solve the mystery!  All successful explorers receive a certificate to celebrate their victorious expedition! So, why not keep the kids busy while you choose a book, or  head to every branch and complete your passport to the Lost Worlds? Happy travels!

 Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website

Free Mechatronics and Coding Course for Teens

Bots in the Books

This is a free 3 day course for teens aged 14-18.

When: 12th, 13th and 14th January 2016

Time: 10am-2pm daily

Location: "Mad Science Theatrette", 1st Floor, Newcastle Library, Laman St, Cooks Hill

Activities will be delivered by Hunter TAFE and include:

• Introduction to electronics, application of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) theory in practice with physics based practical sessions, high reliability soldering, component measuring, and circuit assembly. 
• Introduction to mechatronics, coding, project building.  

Bookings essential via Eventbrite. 

For more information call 4904 3341.

Competition

Bonus competition for ages 5-18

Decode this hexadecimal question, and work out the answer within the code 
to win a mini quadcopter:

4e 61 6d 65 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 6f 75

74 20 72 6f 62 6f 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 6c

6c 20 75 73 20 77 68 6f 20 77 72 6f 74 65 20 69

74 2e 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 68

65 6c 70 20 61 73 6b 20 61 20 6c 69 62 72 61 72

69 61 6e 2e

If you need help ASK a Librarian for tips and tricks

Send your answers to: nlbookings@ncc.nsw.gov.au by 12.00 pm Monday 11th January 2016. Include your name, age and phone number.

The first correct entry drawn will win a prize.

 Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Summer Reading Club

The always popular Summer Reading Club kicks off on Monday 7 December and runs until 28 January 2016. Kids are encouraged to read as many books as they can during this period to qualify for great prizes. Some exciting new titles for Summer Reading include:

Where's Santa?  by Louis Shea

Over 700 things to spot! Santa has flown Down Under to visit his cousin Barry. But Rudolph has created chaos on the farm and red-nosed animals are flying everywhere! From kung-fu cassowaries up north, to footy-playing possums down south, can Santa and Barry put everything right? Will Australia ever be the same again?!

My Brother is A Super Hero by David Solomons

Luke could have been a superhero, except that he needed a wee! Instead, older brother Zack is granted superpowers by a visiting alien, and Luke must work with him to defeat the evil Nemesis! A super-exciting, laugh-out-loud novel, with enough heart to fill the entire galaxy, recommended for readers aged 8-12.

Little Stars by Jacqueline Wilson

Hetty Feather has begun a new chapter in her life story. Escaping from Tanglefield Travelling Circus with her dearest friend Diamond, Hetty is determined to find them positions as glamorous music hall artistes. Hetty and Diamond quickly become the Little Stars of Mrs Ruby's show, alongside many colourful acts including an old friend from Hetty's past, Flirty Bertie. But the Cavalcade proves a dangerous place, and Hetty must fight to protect her darling Diamond, who longs for a normal childhood. Will Hetty become a true star? Starring a cast of wonderful characters, both old favourites and new, this is the fifth fabulous Hetty Feather story.

Eye to Eye by Graeme Base

From one of Australia's favourite picture book creators comes a remarkable look at the connection between the animals that inhabit our Earth - even the human ones. A child, brave and curious about the world, flies high over the mountains, goes out on a limb and dives into the deep. From here, he can see eye to eye with majestic and curious creatures, from the miniature to the enormous, the everyday to the fantastic.  Eye to Eye will give you an amazing new perspective on the world!

 

Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.