Australia Day!

Yes folks, next Thursday is Australia Day. To celebrate our heritage we at The Library are indulging in the Great Australian Tradition of taking the day off. Chutes will be closed at 9pm on Wednesday the 25th and will re-open on Friday the 27th at 9am.

If you find yourself with items due on this day, please refer to This Post for information.

Scott.

One day left!

Tor.com Readers choice nominations.

One day left to add your voice to the Tor.com readers choice awards for 2011.

Head over to the Tor website to vote for the best Sci-fi, fantasy or even book covers for 2011.

Categories are:

• Best Novel: Must have been published in 2011, doesn’t matter where.
• Best Short Fiction: Same as Best Novel, except for stories that are under 40,000 words.
• Best Comic: Any comic, single issue, strip, or collection - online and/or off, put out in 2011. [Note: This category was originally limited to just Graphic Novel collections.]
• Best Book Cover: Must be a book cover, as you’re taking design and typography into account here along with the art. Standalone art (like that which adorns Tor.com’s original fiction) is often pretty pretty pretty, but not eligible

Nominations close this Friday, so get over there ASAP.

Scott

Get more from the catalogue

Saved lists etc

Because we are occasionally asked about the ways you can save or bookmark searches or get updates, here's several options.

Saved lists
When you're logged in to the catalogue and have a page of searches you want to return to later, you can select the Save Selection button above your results.

Saved lists can be accessed from the website My SavedList link at the bottom of the catalogue's Home page when you are logged in. Here's you'll find an option to email your saved list too. Saved lists last 24 hours.

Bookmark
You can bookmark searches made through the basic Search box on the website. When you next click on the bookmarked search, a fresh search will be made and give you updated results. Bookmarks don't work from Advanced Search.

Read Alerts
If you are wanting updates for particular searches, you can create a Read Alert to receive an email whenever new items matching your search are added to the catalogue. You can make Read Alerts for authors, subjects and collections.

What's new for loan
The Library's New books, CDs and DVDs page gives you catalogue, blog, email and RSS options for discovering new additions to the Library's catalogue by collection. The catalogue search covers the current and previous month.

RSS
All catalogue search result pages feature an RSS button. This means that you can create your own search and whenever new matching items are added to the catalogue you'll get an alert via your RSS reader. RSS readers can be website based like Google Reader, feature in your web browser or be a smartphone app.

If you have any questions about these services, please don't hesitate to ask.

harps

Are your loans due Australia Day?

Well, now they're not!

There has been a system error made with holiday dates and items have been issued with a due date of 26th January 2012.

These items have all now been changed to a due date staggered over the week after Australia Day, i.e. somewhere between 27th January - 3rd February 2012. If you have a receipt with a 26 January due date, please check online or with us to confirm your new due date.

Please do not attempt to return any items on Australia Day, 26 January, as the libraries, returns chutes and Council customer service centres will all be closed.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

harps

#NYR2012 #MoP12

A month of poetry

#MoP12 is a blog and Twitter challenge to write a poem, of whatever style, everyday in January.

If you find poetry difficult, that's probably because you've been exposed to more classical styles, but what's interesting with #MoP12 is that amateur poets often write more accessible verse.

Why not follow #MoP12 as part of a #NYR12 challenge?

harps

#NYR2012 Goodreads challenge

Set your own goal

Goodreads, a social networking site for readers, has a 2012 reading challenge that asks you to set your own reading goal.

What's surprising is that some people have already completed their goals.

harps

#NYR2012 Aussie Author Challenge

Read local

Not read enough Australian authors? This is the year to rectify your oversight and indulge in the literary delights this broad brown land has to offer. From Di Morrissey to Les Carlyon, Mem Fox or Andy Griffith, there's a wide range of Aussie writers to choose from.

The 2012 Aussie Author Challenge comes in two sizes; the Tourist for casual visitors to Aussie author land and the Dinki-Di for those more committed to this patriotic venture.

At the Library, Australian books have a red kangaroo sticker on their spine.

harps

#NYR2012 Eclectic Reader Challenge

Read widely

The Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge prompts you to read up to 12 books outside your comfort zone this year, then share your review/thoughts online if you so desire.

It's good for you.

harps

#NYR12 : Happy National Year of Reading 2012

A year to celebrate reading

2012 is set to be a momentous year. For some, 2012 is the year that the current Mayan calendar ends, resulting in theories ranging from the dawn of the New Age, the re-appearance of Atlantis to the end of it all. For others, it's the Year of the Dragon.

For libraries and our readers, 2012 is the National Year of Reading (NYR2012). Throughout the year, you'll see reference to NYR2012 in national, state and local reading related projects and programs.

For more information, please visit the NYR2012 website, Like their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter (and use #NYR12 when Twittering about books and reading - and join the monthly Twitter book reading group).

harps

Your mission if you choose to accept it

Australian Women Writers
2012 challenge

The Objective: To challenge the male gender bias in reviewing and social media newsfeeds about books and writing.

The Goal: To read (and review or otherwise share and make mention of) books by Australian women writers. Use Facebook, Twitter, blogs, newsletters etc.

The Timescale: You have all of 2012.

For more info: Check out the challenge website.

 

harps