How to get Brad Pitt whispering in your ear

First of all, you could try asking Angelina. But if that doesn’t work, try an Audiobook. Yes, Brad Pitt is one of the many famous voices narrating much loved titles (which we’ll get to in a bit). First things first: is listening to an audiobook cheating? Apparently not, according to a recent article published in NYmag  'As far as your brain is concerned, Audio books are not 'cheating' ' . A great article to read that swiftly dispels the anti-audio opinion held by some resistant readers. 

Justin Guariglia / National Geographic Society / Universal Images Group

Whilst podcasts are the new cool, the humble Audio Book is still copping some flak. No more says Newcastle Library! The way we consume literature is changing and audio has come a long way from the nauseating narrators on cassette tape. You can now sun bake on the beach whilst Brad Pitt reads you Cormac McCarthy or take a walk whilst immersing yourself into the mind of the artist with Patti Smith. 

Have a road trip with the kids planned? Listen to Kate Winslet read Blyton's The Folk of the Faraway Tree or dive back into the wonderful world of Roald Dahl. Finding it hard to sleep? Stephen Fry can tuck you in with some Harry Potter. Of course if you'd prefer a giggle, Bossy Pants by Tina Fey is a top pick or William McInnes reading his book Holidays; a warm and funny celebration of Australia's favourite passtime. Perhaps you prefer a cult classic? Why not try Joan Didion's Slouching Towards Bethlehem narrated by Diane Keaton.

With an ever expanding catalogue filled with wonderful Audio Book titles Newcastle Library's Audio collection has never been easier to access. Whether you want to listen on CD in the car, phone, or tablet, Audio Books are at your fingertips and all you need is your library card. Visit our eLibrary to get started or drop into any of our branches with your device and we can set you up!



Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

New in the eLibrary - My Career Match

One of the secrets to a successful career is matching your personal style to a career that you love.

My Career Match  is a free online career and resume tool for Library members. Just login with your Library card and complete a 15 minute survey. You will then receive a personalised report describing the careers best suited to you. Career information is linked to an Australian Government website that provides up to date information on education requirements, employment opportunities and more. The resume report provides tips, templates and an online resume builder to help you secure the job you want.

My Career Match and other great resources for learning are located in the Search area of our  eLibrary.

Louise, 2/05/2016 Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

e-sounds of Christmas!

Freegal offers access to streaming services for up to 6 hours per day and three downloads per week. It is quick and easy to use. Read the Freegal FAQs to help with technical specifications, conditions of use and navigating the Freegal site. Some Christmas classics available include:


Party Songs for Christmas 2015
Mirror 2 Mirror Music 2015

For Christmas: Beautiful Concertos for the Holidays
Cobra Entertainment LLC 2009

Christmas Family Essentials
Yuletide Music 2015

100 Classic Christmas Songs
Holiday Music Inc. 2012

Greatest Christmas Ever!
Yuletide Music 2015

Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Cobra Entertainment LLC 2012

With plenty more to choose from, why not let Freegal provide the sound track to your Christmas?

 Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

' O come all ye ... virtual'

Hey all you advocates for the wonders of technology and the capacity for the virtual realm to bring us together, here is a treat demonstrating the wonders of virtual community and the delight of bringing those in a variety of locations together for a performance for the Christmas season  - a virtual choir sings 'O come all ye faithful'

While you're in the festive mood, you might like to download some free Christmas vibes from Freegal on the Newcastle Region Library website.

Wishing you the wonder and joy of the season.

Digital privacy and security reviewed in APC magazine this month

The December issue of Australian Personal Computer takes an in depth look at trends in internet crime and what measures you can take to protect your personal data online.

The issue also includes reviews of many of the most used security packages for Android, Windows and Mac and has a lot of simple advice such as how to protect yourself on public Wi Fi and why you might consider using a password manager.

APC is available in digital format through Press Reader in our eLibrary or in print in many of our branch libraries.

 Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Looking for something new to read?

Have you read everything your favourite author has written? Or maybe you're looking to explore new genres. Newcastle libraries have some excellent e-resources that can help.

Novelist Plus
Brimming with new book ideas for children and adults, Novelist Plus is a comprehensive guide to help you identify new authors and genres. Try the appeal mixer to find the style that you really enjoy.

Literary Reference Centre

Offering in depth analysis, reviews and plot summaries of fiction, the Literary Reference Centre is a valuable resource for students and serious readers.

 Who Else Writes Like...?
Login with you library card number to access this readers guide to adult fiction authors. With a variety of ways to search, including lists of award winners, Who Else Writes Like is a fabulous way to find a new book.

Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

"The Rooster Coop - where hundreds of coloured hens and roosters are stuffed tightly into wire mesh cages, packed as tightly as worms in a belly, pecking each other and shitting on each other, jostling just for breathing space; the whole cage giving off a horrible stench - the stench of terrified, feathered flesh. On the wooden desk above this coop sits a grinning young butcher, showing off the flesh and the organs of a recently chopped-up chicken, still oleaginous with a coating of dark blood. The roosters in the coop smell the blood from above. They see the organs of their brothers lying around them. They know they're next. Yet they do not rebel. They do not try to get out of the coop."
Meet Balram Halwai from India, representative of India's poor. His narrative of this brutal and sarcastically witty novel, draws you in, right to the very end...

Also available in Large Print, Sound Recording and e-Book

Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2008

Donna  Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Good Reading - Summer Issue

The December issue of Good Reading magazine is ready for you to read!

Aussie favourite Fiona McIntosh is back with The Perfumer's Secret and an article she wrote for us about her research trips to France, during which she crafted her own fragrance. Professor Robert Power, an award-winning short story writer and acclaimed novelist, tells us about his latest semi-fantastical offering Tidetown and his work in Zimbabwe that inspired his characters. We're joined by Peter Garrett, who takes us on a tour of his bookshelf, and we also dip into a conversation with one of the world's most fascinating scientists. Leaf through our reviews and Summer Reading Guide to find your next book to enjoy in the sunshine, and for dog lovers, we've got two canine-themed articles featuring posing French bulldogs and a labrador detective called Monty.

Read the lastest issue of  Good Reading for free on your home computer or tablet just by clicking through to the eMagazines section of our website.



Donna    Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Download and stream music with Freegal

Freegal is fantastic! Library members can access over 8 million songs, including Sony Music’s catalogue of legendary musicians, many of today’s top artists, a brilliant retrospective collection, as well as music from around the world. You can stream up to 6 hours of music per day and download 3 songs per week.

It's easy to use, just login with your library card number and you're away. To find out more head to Freegal FAQs or to Freegal and get your groove on today!!!

Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

November Good Reading

The November issue of Good Reading magazine is ready for you to read!

In the latest issue of gr, Isabel Allende tells us about her new book, The Japanese Lover, describing an illicit love spanning the years during and after World War II. We talk to Suki Kim about her life teaching the sons of North Korea's elite and Holly Ringland tells us about her envy-inducing writer's retreat to Oxford. Discover our Book of the Month, Unbecoming by Jenny Downham, a story encapsulating the effects of dementia on a family. Read our Book Bite extract from The Devil is a Black Dog to delve into some of the most war-torn and desperate places on Earth, and find your next great read from our wide range of independent reviews. 

Read the lastest issue of  Good Reading for free on your home computer or tablet just by clicking through to the eMagazines section of our website.

Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.