Wednesday, December 28, 2011
We are open today
Ashburton: 10am - 6pm.
Balwyn: 10am - 6pm.
Camberwell: 9am - 5pm.
Hawthorn: 10am - 6pm.
Kew: 10am - 6pm.
Virtual Library: www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/libraries
Phone: 92784666
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
All Boroondara Libraries closed today!
Apologies to all! Unfortunately the Boroondara website has reverted to our normal opening hours today. We are trying to get that changed.
All Boroondara's Libraries are closed today for the public holiday. We reopen tomorrow 28 December. Camberwell Library will be open from 9-5, and Ashburton, Balwyn, Hawthorn and Kew Libraries from 10-6.
See previous post for all our online services! You can still keep up with us in our virtual space while our physical branches are closed!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Holiday opening hours
Boroondara Libraries will be closed from 24 to 27 December and 31 December to 2 January.
Need to return your items while we are closed?
All libraries have external bookchutes which are open 24/7 over the holiday period.
Want to renew your items while the library is closed?
Then head to our website and you will be able to check when your items are due and renew them if no one else is waiting for them).
You can also reserve items online 24/7.
Databases and Bolinda e-audio resources can also be accessed when the library is closed.
Keep in touch with the library 24/7 all year round via our website, facebook, twitter and blogs.
Have a safe and happy holiday period.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
System Upgrade
The City of Boroondara Library Service is having a system upgrade on Tuesday 13 December.
On this day, services offered to the public will be very restricted.
- Items can only be issued on presentation of a library card
- No Online catalogue searching, either from home or within the library
- No Reservations
- Renewals are only possible in the library if the item is present
- No Borrower/loan record enquiry
- PC bookings will only be able to be made by staff
- No Processing of payments
Monday, October 31, 2011
Cup Day Holiday
However our returns chutes will be open if you want to return any items and you can renew items or place reservations via our website.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Storm problems from yesterday
All Boroondara Libraries are open today though there are still some difficulties due to storm damage.
Kew is still experiencing network and phone difficulties though the public computers are working. Most critical staff functions and phones have now been switched over from the lightning damaged server.
Ashburton's public network and phones are working but there are currently problems with issues and returns.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Boroondara Libraries Update
Kew Library may have been struck by lightning: no phones, no staff pcs. IT are working to restore server. However, public computer network is working & power is working.
Ashburton Library has no phones but some power has returned. Computers are being tested.
Camberwell Library is flooded.
All libraries are still open but please try and route requests to other branches (i.e. Hawthorn and Balwyn) for the time being.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Got an iphone or ipad? Get this blog as an app.
Here's how to do it.
1. click here to download bloapp from the app store. (don't worry it's free)
2. snap the QR code below & you will be able to add this blog to the app.
Or search for boroondara if you can't snap the QR code.
3. that's it
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Network upgrades today.
All public PCs and catalogues will be down at Hawthorn from 4pm and from 5pm at Kew and Balwyn.
The WiFi network will be unavailable at all branches this afternoon also.
Boroondara Library Service apologises for any inconvenience.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
#BlogJune wrap up
30 days 30 blogposts.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Happy Birthday Camberwell Library
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Join us for birthday cake
Friday, June 17, 2011
Boroondara Literary Awards
Calling Boroondara's budding writers
Now is the time to pursue those dreams of becoming a published author.
The 13th annual Boroondara Literary Awards is now open. Budding writers have until 5pm on Friday 27 August to submit their entries.
Entrants have the potential to receive cash awards in two sections.
A prize pool of over $2,000 is available in the Young Writers section, with close to $3000 available in the Open Short Story category.
The Young Writers section includes categories for poetry and prose for students from Year 7 to Year 9 and Year 10 to Year 12, and young people living, working or studying in Boroondara.
The Open Short Story section is a national competition inviting literary works between 1500-3000 words from writers across the country. Anyone in Australia may enter this category. There is a Best Boroondara prize as well as general prizes.
The Boroondara Literary Awards will be conducted in partnership with Leader Newspapers and the Balwyn Rotary Club.
How to enter
Entry forms will be coming soon. Watch this space.
Flyers
Download flyers for the Open Short Story section or the Young Writers section below.
Files
- Open Short Story Flyer (pdf, 2.03 MB)
- Young Writers Flyer (pdf, 1.85 MB)
Monday, June 13, 2011
FAQs - WiFi
City of Boroondara Library Service WiFi Information
We have public Wireless Internet (WiFi) access at Ashburton, Balwyn, Hawthorn and Kew libraries.
The service is also accessible in the Ashburton (Copland Room), Balwyn and Kew (Phyllis Hore Room) meeting rooms.
This service is only available to library members.
Anyone can join the library (either online or at the Information Desk) as long as they have a Victorian postal address.
To use the service patrons simply need to ensure their laptop is wireless enabled and look for the connection called [Branch] Library.
On connection, you need to open a web browser where you will be asked to agree to the terms and conditions by logging in using library ID number and PIN. The hours of operation are from 6am to 11.55pm, 7 days a week. The service is speed limited to 256kbps/512kbps per user. Speed may slow down at peak times.
The service is provided to enable use of the World Wide Web. As such, only http and https protocols are permitted.
Patrons using email through a client such as Outlook will be able to receive email but not send it.
Patrons who are debarred, banned or banned from the Internet will not have access.
This is a 'self serve' service. Whilst we will endeavor to maintain access at all times, we do not guarantee it and are not liable for anything that may occur or fail to occur as a result of our WiFi service being inoperable for any reason.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Library Services Advisory Committee - Call for nominations!
The City of Boroondara is currently calling for community nominations for its Library Services Advisory Committee. If you live, work or study in Boroondara and would like to have a say about your libraries, have a look at the Committee's Terms of Reference on Council's website. Nominations close on 20 June and should be emailed to anne.holmes@boroondara.vic.gov.au.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
All branches closed on Monday 13 June
All library branches will be closed on Monday 13 June for the Queen's Birthday public holiday.
Normal services will resume on Tuesday 14 June.
Don't forget you can visit our virtual library @ www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/libraries to renew your items, check when your items are due back and place reservations.
If you need to return your items the after hours chutes will be open at all libraries.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
#BlogJune day 1.
Yesterday Eco the Gecko was at Balwyn Library for storytime (and to check out the library)
Being welcomed to the library by Sharee & Philippa
dancing at storytime
Choosing some books to borrow
Borrowing books
In case you were wondering Eco is a marbled gecko (often found in Melbourne).
For more info click HERE for the Melbourne Museum's fact sheet on the marbled gecko.
Blog every day of June - Introduction.
The goal is that one of our four library blogs will be updated each day for the month of June.
What, you didn't know we had four library blogs?
Well here they are:
Library News (this blog)
www.boroondaralibraryservice.blogspot.com
Adult book news, views, reviews & events
www.boroondarabookends.blogspot.com
Books for kids & teens
www.aboutthebooks.blogspot.com
Local History
www.boroondaratellingtales.blogspot.com
Happy Reading
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Sorry Day Human Library
Hawthorn Library,
584 Glenferrie Road,
Hawthorn
Contact: 9278 4666
Borrow a human book on Sorry Day!
Come and enjoy a one-on-one conversation with an indigenous Australian to celebrate National Sorry Day, 26 May 2011.
All sessions are free, however bookings are essential. Bookings can be made in person at any library branch, by phone on 9278 466 or by emailing the library.
Meet our human books
Maree Clarke
Today, in herrole as the Senior Curator and Exhibition Manager at the Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT) inMelbourne (an Aboriginal run organisation and cultural centre that protects, preserves and promotes the living culture of Aboriginal people of south-eastern Australia), Maree continues to curate exhibitions showcasing the development of contemporary southeast Australian Aboriginal art and culture.
Aunty Dot Peters
Yarra Yarra people of Victoria.
She has worked tirelessly for many years in the eastern region, raising awareness of Aboriginal issues and strengthening the community. In 2006 Aunty Dot, whose father was a prisoner of war and died on the Thai Burma Railway in 1943, approached her local Returned Services League to recognise the service given by Aboriginal people to Australia. That same year, the Honouring Victorian Indigenous Returned Service Men and Women Shrine of Remembrance was established, and the Aboriginal flag was raised at the Shrine of Remembrance for the first time. In 2007, every Australian state held an event to honour Aboriginal service men and women, based on the Victorian model.
Aunty Dotlearnt the art of basket and eel trap weaving from her grandmother and is passionate about passing on her traditional skills to future generations. For over 20 years she has been teaching Aboriginal culture through her basket weaving workshops at TAFE colleges, Museum Victoria, festivals and community organisations.
In 2002, Aunty Dot won the Australia Council for the Arts Red Ochre Award, which is awarded annually toIndigenous Australian Artists who have made an outstanding contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture. She was also awarded the Victorian Aboriginal Women’s Award in 2002 and the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee(NAIDOC) Elders Award in 2010.
Len Tregonning
These roles have included outreach health work, 12 years within the employment and industrial relations area and a number of project, consultancy and research roles with organisations including the Aboriginal Advancement League, Aboriginal Community Elders Services and the Victorian Records Taskforce. Len was also one of the first Aboriginal tertiary students in Victoria, attending Swinburne Institute in the mid 1970s, undertaking the Community Organisation Skills course.
Eva-Jo is a Mutti Mutti / Yorta Yorta woman - also a member of the Stolen Generation, who has spent much of her adult life re-discovering and re-engaging in the heritage and culture she lost. Eva-Jo is actively involved in the reconciliation process and has been employed in many vital areas of work. She has been part of Koorie Night Market team from day one, in an evolving role as Community Engagement Officer.
Aboriginal artist, Sharon Hodgson-Riley lives in Ashburton and has Wurundjeri ancestry. She holds a graduate diploma in Cultural Heritage Interpretation Studies and has done a Master of Arts degree (by research). She is a multimedia artist and has worked with many types of media over the years.
"I am an Aborignal descendent a mother a grandmother an artist/designer researcher. My main interest lately is gardening as the environment is our best teacher.
My experience as a multi/media artist has been varied. I have worked with many different types of media over the years from web design, computer graphics, costume, textile and graphic design. a Moomba festival float, book illustration, community mural projects, ceramics, co-ordination of projects, theatre and 5 years in aboriginal community radio. I believe that an artist must be true to oneself to nurture creatively one must also be versatile.
I spent many years engaged in researching our cultural history, ancestry and the impact of westernisation on our sacred land, people and culture. In traditional culture art has always played a role an important role in close relationship to the land and sky. Interpreting spirituality and celebrating life in stories, dance, music and visual arts.
Westernisation in its intrinsic disrespect for mother-nature and indigenous society has been destructive. I observed that the apology on what is now known as sorry day was meaningful, a symbol of hope, to a lot of my people."
Lance Briggs
A Kulin – Boonwurrung/ born in Yalukit Willam at Toorak. Well known member of the traditional owner family of the greater Melbourne area. Born on country, the lands of the Yalukit Willam – living his entire life in spiritual lands which are the metropolis of greater Melbourne.
Lance has been involved with family and country all his life. Involved with various Aboriginal/ Indigenous organisations, and Governments’ departments all over Australia (while living in Melbourne) for over 3 decades – at all levels, as a volunteer, a paid employee, a member of the Board of Directors, a consultant, and now as a consultant and entrepreneur.
An experienced government and economic analyst Lance takes a holistic view of society, government policy, and legal systems with an ability to interpret situations and apply traditional Boonwurrung/ Kulin philosophy and wisdoms and apply them to life in present day Australia.
In maintaining a strong cultural lifestyle, Lance can only live on country (which is his identity) as indigenous settlement is alien to his family and not an option.
Hawthorn Library,
584 Glenferrie Road,
Hawthorn
Contact: 9278 4666
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Faith, Expression and Learning Gathering
Celebrate the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development with the Boroondara Interfaith Network
Ashburton Library,
The night will include:
- A sacred opening song, sung by the wife of a Rabbi in Hebrew and English.
- Guest speakers Michael McGirr, Hanifa Deen and Constant Mews will speak from their diverse religious perspectives.
- An Australian Aboriginal elder who will talk briefly and lead an activity (drawing a Rainbow Serpent)
- Displays from the Library Service religion collection
- Interactive arts and dialogue activities
All community members are welcome to this event.
This event is free, but bookings are essential.
About the speakers
Michael McGirr
Michael McGirr was born in 1961. He is the author of the best-selling Things You Get For Free, a comedy about travelling in Europe with his mother. He is also responsible for Bypass: The Story of a Road, a quirky biography of Australia’s main street, the Hume Highway. Bypass is currently a Year 12 English text in Victoria.
The heart of Bypass is a bike ride that Michael, not the fittest man on the road, made from Sydney to Melbourne with the ever-patient Jenny, now his wife and more patient than ever. By the end of the book, they were expecting their first child. The Lost Art of Sleep takes the story further. It was inspired by the arrival of twins not long after Michael and Jenny’s first little boy. Suddenly there were five in the bed. This meant that Michael, who was used to, after 20 years in the priesthood, long nights on bad mattresses now had a great mattress but only short nights.
Michael McGirr has been a regular columnist and reviewer for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times and a presenter on ABC radio. He has also been was editor of Australian Catholics and publisher of Eureka Street and fiction editor of Meanjin. At the moment, he is a secondary school teacher in Melbourne where he lives near a port with his wife and three children who want to be pirates.
Hanifa Deen
She has held a number of high profile positions including Hearing Commissioner with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission; Deputy Commissioner of the Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission of WA, and was a director on the Board of SBS for five years.
Hanifa Deen was born in the gold mining town of Kalgoorlie WA and blames all that desert air for turning her into a ‘Muslim maverick’. Five generations of the Deen family ‘belong’ to Australia going back to both her grandfathers who came out from what is today Pakistan in the 1890s, before the White Australia Policy of the era closed the doors for nearly eighty years.
Hanifa is proud of her Muslim childhood and adolescence, but speaks out against what she sees as fundamentalist ideologies on both sides of the religious divide. She is also a feminist and a great believer in the capacity of women to reinvent themselves and is particularly fond of disobedient women in history, literature and real life: she began her career as a high school teacher (English and History), taught English as a foreign language for seven years in (West) Germany at a boys’ high school before returning to Australia where she became active in ethnic affairs and humanrights at both a community and, finally, at a professional level in the public service.
Feeling that an irreverent tongue was better suited to writing than a career in the public service and concerned that years of churning out ‘Yes, Minister’ memos and reports was turning her into a writer of turgid prose, Hanifa turned to full time writing fourteen years ago.
Constant Mews
I came to Australia in July 1987, when I took up a position at Monash University as Lecturer in the Dept of History. Since then I have become involved in developing the Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology and in promoting studies in religion more generally, with a strong interest in interfaith work. I have had spells of study at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, in 1990 and 2000, and have also taught in Paris, at the Ecole pratique des hautes etudes (Ve section) and in the Ecole des hautes etudes en sciences sociales.
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Wednesday 18 May @ 06:30 pm
Ashburton Library,
Friday, May 6, 2011
Meet the Author - Belinda Collins
Meet Belinda Collins co-author of Warrior princess: fighting for life with courage and hope
Warrior Princess is the true-life story of a woman Belinda describes as 'the most inspirational leader with the power to change the world', Zambian Princess Kasune Zulu. Belinda and Princess met in 2002 when Belinda worked in the media team of World Vision Australia. Belinda and Princess formed a bond that they describe as sisterhood.
Princess lost her parents, baby sister and brother to AIDS. At the age of 21 Princess learned she too was HIV positive. Since that time Princess has travelled the world fighting against the virus that has left one in three children in her country an orphan. Most notably, Princess sat eyeball-to-eyeball with former US President George W Bush in the Oval Office and compelled him to spend $15 billion fighting AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean. Warrior Princess is her story written with the help of Belinda Collins. Belinda describes herself as a social justice entrepreneur with a heart for issues affecting the world's women and children.
This session is free but bookings are essential.
WHEN: Monday 16 May at 7:30 pm.
WHERE: Ashburton Library,Contact: 9278 466
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Easter & Anzac Day Opening Hours
All library branches will be closed from Friday 22 April to Tuesday 26 April.
Normal services will resume on Wednesday 27 April.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Harmony Day. Everyone Belongs.
It's a day where all Australians celebrate our cultural diversity.
The day is also the United Nation's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The continuing message for Harmony Day in 2011 is that Everyone Belongs, which means all Australians are a welcome part of our country, regardless of their background.
It's a time to reflect on where Australia has come from, recognising the traditional owners of this land.
It's also about community participation, inclusiveness and respect – celebrating the different cultures that make Australia a great place to live.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Happy Birthday Ashburton
Ashburton Library
Ashburton Library was officially opened by the Mayor of Camberwell, Councillor J. W. Rumpf, on Friday 14 March 1980. The opening day programme included hourly tours of the library which ended with refreshments in the community meeting room. Book bags, library stickers, balloons and certificates signed by the Mayor were handed out to borrowers.
The architect was Daryl Jackson of Daryl Jackson Architects Pty Ltd who is now one of Australia's leading architects. The project architect was John Niemann and the builder was McCorkell Construction Co Ltd. of Hawthorn. The final cost of the building project was approximately $790,500 (including furnishings!).
Ashburton Library was built to serve the residents to the south of Camberwell who relied on the Bookmobile service. With the opening of the Ashburton Branch Library the Bookmobile service ended and the Bookmobile bookstock of approximately 14,000 items was incorporated into Ashburton Library's basic collection of books.
At opening Ashburton Library had a collection of approximately 31,000 items. It was staffed by Lydia Klimonvitch as Branch Manager, three librarians and six library assistants. Ruth Cameron was the Regional librarian.
Continuing the celebration of 150 years of continuous library service across Boroondara
Ashburton Library & Community Centre Upgrade: Community Consultations
Wednesday 23 March, Ashburton Library, 6:45pm-9pm
Wednesday 30 March, Ashburton Library, 1:30pm-3:30pm
The upgrade will provide additional space for both the library and community centre, and some multipurpose space for intergenerational activities.Council is aware of the need to preserve the integrity of the Daryl Jackson design of the library, and to take account of the adjoining playground and any significant trees.
More information
Friday, March 11, 2011
Libraries Closed Monday March 14.
Normal Hours resume on Tuesday March 15.
While the libraries are closed you can still return books via our after hours return chutes.
You can also renew your books and place reservations via our online catalogue.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Ashburton Library and Community Centre Upgrade: Community Consultations
Before we begin the design process, Council wants your ideas for the upgraded library and community centre.
Consultation
Join us for a community information and discussion workshop.
An evening workshop will be held on Wednesday 23 March at Ashburton Library. Refreshments will be available from 6.45pm for a 7pm start.
A lunchtime workshop will be held on Wednesday 30 March at Ashburton Library, starting at 1:30pm. Lunch will be provided.
You can also participate through an online survey or a survey on the e-kiosk at the Library: available from 15 March 2011.
Phone: Fiona Brown, Senior Policy and Project Officer on 9278 4476
Friday, March 4, 2011
Have your say on the Ashburton Library upgrade
The upgrade will provide additional space for both the library and community centre, and some multipurpose space for intergenerational activities.
Council is aware of the need to preserve the integrity of the Daryl Jackson design of the library, and to take account of the adjoining playground and any significant trees.
Before we begin the design process, Council wants your ideas for the upgraded library and community centre.
You can participate in a number of ways: through an online survey on Council's website, a survey on the e-kiosk at the Library, and by attending one of two community information and discussion workshops being held during March.
The survey will be available online and in hard copy from 15 March 2011
If you would like to participate in one of the community workshops, or want further information on the consultation process, phone 9278 4476.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Hawthorn Library Closure!
Just a reminder that due to minor building works to provide increased community space and RFID (Radio Frequency ID) enabled loans and returns, Hawthorn Library will be closed from Monday 28 February to Sunday 6 March 2011. The Hawthorn Library after-hours chute will be available during this period. Hawthorn Library reservations will be available for collection from Kew Library and other Boroondara Libraries will be open as usual. Library users will also be able to access our online presence at www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/library where enquiries, reservations, renewals and other online services will be available.
Hawthorn Library will reopen to the public at 10 am on Monday 7 March. The Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development has contributed financially to this project through the Living Libraries grants program.