Library week events for everyone
Published on 19 May 2015
Local Libraries will celebrate Library and Information Week next week, with National Simultaneous Storytime kicking off festivities from Thursday 21 May.
“National Simultaneous Storytime is organised annually by the Australian Library and Information Association, as part of the annual Library and Information Week, ” Mildura Rural City Council’s Arts and Culture portfolio Councillor Jill Joslyn said today.
“The aim of the campaign is to encourage more Australian children to read and enjoy books. Each year a book by an Australian author is chosen and read at the same time around the country in libraries, schools, pre-schools, bookshops and many other places.”
This year’s story, “The Brothers Quibble” by Aaron Blaby tells the tale of Spalding Quibble and the challenges and triumphs of becoming an older brother to a new baby.
“One of the great things about National Simultaneous Storytime is the way it introduces young readers to talented Australian authors,” Cr Joslyn said. “Aaron Blaby is a very accomplished writer who has won the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year and the NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature.”
Last year over 460,000 children took part in the activities at more than 3,100 locations and this year, Council will host four public sessions over three days with sessions at Irymple, Mildura, Merbein and Red Cliffs libraries.
“This is a great opportunity for parents and carers to share the joy of reading aloud to their children. All the library sessions are open to the general public and we would love you to come along and join in the fun.”
In addition to National Simultaneous Storytime, a number of other activities are planned for Library and Information Week. The Mildura Library is hosting an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea on Wednesday 27 May at 10:45am and Australian author Jacqueline Dinan will be visiting the Merbein, Red Cliffs and Mildura libraries to talk about her novels on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 May.
More information about National Simultaneous Storytime is available online at https://www.alia.org.au/nss, while details as to Mildura Rural City Council’s Library Service celebrations can be found at www.mildura.vic.gov.au/library
Fun Facts about our local libraries
Did you know in 2013/2014:
- Almost 230,000 people visited a local library
- More than 330,000 items were borrowed
- Almost 13,800 people attended a library event or program
- The most popular Adult Fiction title borrowed was Best kept secret by Jeffery Archer
- The most popular Junior Fiction titles came from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
- The most popular Non-Fiction title was Unholy Trinity by Denis Ryan
National Simultaneous Storytime Events
Irymple Library
Thursday 21 May at 10:30am
Mildura Library
Wednesday 27 May at 10:15 am
Merbein Library
Friday 29 May at 10:15am
Red Cliffs Library
Friday 29 May at 10:15am
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
Mildura Library
Wednesday 27 May at 10:45am
Gold coin donation to the Cancer Council or Australia
Jacqueline Dinan visits
Merbein Library
Tuesday 26 May 2015
2pm to 3pm with afternoon tea
Red Cliffs Library
Wednesday 27 May 2015
2pm to 3pm
Mildura Library
Wednesday 27 May
7:30pm to 8:30pm
ENDS
Media enquiries
Angela Umback
p) (03) 5018 8689
e) angela.umback@mildura.vic.gov.au