Where does all my money go?

No matter who you are, whether you’re at school or a retiree, improved financial knowledge and understanding can increase your choices and help you get more out of life!

Know where your money goes, take control of your money, learn how to handle your money, and money for your retirement. Come along to one of our learning circles to discuss these topics:

• 10am-12pm Tuesday 2 September at Dickson Library


• 1pm-3pm Thursday 4 September at Kippax Library


• 10am-12pm Saturday 6 September at Tuggeranong Library

For bookings or more information: phone 6205 9000.

This program is being run in partnership with Adult Learning Australia. For more information about Adult Learners' Week visit the official web site.

Writing workshop for budding journalists

Why wait till you grow up? Learn how to make your own newspaper! Children's author Ingrid Jonach will show you how to conduct an interview and write a news article just like her character from The Frank Frankie and Frankie Goes To France.

Join a session at Erindale Library on

• Wednesday 20 August from 4.30-6pm OR
• Saturday 23 August from 10.30am-12pm

Suitable for ages 8-12. For bookings or more information, phone 62059000.

What makes an award winning book for kids?

Come along to Woden Library at 4.30pm on Tuesday 19 August to learn how the Children's Book of the year Awards are chosen. Michael Janssen-Gibson is a judge for the Children's Book Council and will talk about why the books on this year's shortlist were chosen.

Suitable for adults and children aged 7 and up. For bookings or more information, phone the libray on 62059000.

Recommended - Dear Charlie: letters to a lost daughter

Dear Charlie: letters to a lost daughter by Reg Thompson



To those of you who have lost a loved one this book is a compelling read. It expresses the feelings one has after a loss of a loved one, where the idea of living without them is excruciatingly painful. The weight of grief crushes the family with individual members of the family reacting differently.

Charlie and her school friend were killed by a train in Essex on December 3, 2005.
Charlie’s father begins writing a series of remarkable letters to his lost daughter. His letters are his way of continuing to talk to Charlie, of keeping her close to him after her death. It is inevitable to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder symptoms such as recurrent nightmares, no desire to go out and no enthusiasm for life. Time does heal but one never forgets.

This is a story of a family struggling to survive tragedy and the challenges of daily life in a world that will never be the same again. It is a sad and an honest story, but at the same time it is also about the healing process one must go through.

Recommended - The Denniston rose

The Denniston rose by Jenny Pattrick

Damn Denniston
Damn the track
Damn the way both there and back
Damn the wind and damn the weather
God damn Denniston altogether
from J.T Ward.'Recollections of a Lifetime on the West Coast of the South Island' Westport News 21/9/1884



Set in the bleak coal mining settlement of Denniston in the 1880's this is an atmospheric account of a bleak chapter in New Zealand's history. It is the story of Rose, an indomitable young girl left to fend for herself in a tough and aggressive community and how, under these appalling conditions she manages to remain a survivor.


A wonderfully evocative story, providing romance, tragedy and adventure and an insight into the life style on the early coalfields.

2008 Children's Book Awards announced

The Children's Book Council of Australia today announced the winners of the 2008 Children's Book of the Year Awards.

• Older Readers Book of the Year - The Ghost's Child by Sonya Hartnett
• Younger Readers Book of the Year - Dragon Moon by Carole Wilkinson
• Early Childhood Book of the Year - Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey
• Picture Book of the Year - Requiem for a Beast by Matt Ottley
• Eve Pownall Book of the Year - Parsley Rabbit's Book About Books by Frances Watts and David Legge

A full list of the award winners and honour books is available on the CBCA web site.

Recommended - The Elysium Commission

The Elysium Commission by L.E Modesitt, Jr.

Blaine Donne is a Private Investigator who is given a commission to investigate a series of seemingly unrelated events, which arise after the arrival of a mystery woman, who appears to have no present or past. Is the whole new future world on the brink of destruction?

A good solid read

Recommended - Endure my heart

Endure my heart by Joan Smith

The picture of innocence, Miss Anderson inadvertently finds herself the leader of the local smuggling gang. But a local government agent Sir Stamford Wicklow is sent to the town to uncover the leader's identity and imprison them.

A Regency Romance and one of the best by this author that I have read.

Dance Workshop: Our Best So Far

A unique and innovative hip hop dance session for family groups. Bring your moves and creativity!

Saturday 16 August 10:30am – 12:00pm
Gungahlin Library

JoJo Azurin is a freelance fitness instructor and teaches fitness/dance classes to the Canberra community. In this workshop, JoJo will also talk about the rigours involved in dance training.

Suitable for family groups ages 10+.

More information and bookings phone 6205 9000

Australian schoolyard astronomy

As part of Science Week, the National Library presents an evening of fun ideas for the classroom with Dr Ragbir Bhathal, author of Australian Backyard Astronomy. The publication offers activities for children to learn more about the night sky, including first references to Aboriginal Australian astronomy and mythology in ever published.

Dr Ragbir Bhathal will demonstrate the knowledge and ideas behind his book, and demonstrate for teachers extension activities for the classroom. View colourful and rare star maps from the Library’s Maps Collection, and explore the night sky with telescopes courtesy of the Canberra Astronomy Society. Learn up to date information about the Australian night sky and discover some milky way marvels to share with your students!

Tuesday 19 August from 4.30pm
Ferguson Room - National Library of Australia
Cost: $5 includes refreshments
Further enquiries: telephone 6262 1271
Bookings: bookings@nla.gov.au