Welcome to Central West Libraries

Central West Libraries is a regional library service with branches at Blayney, Canowindra, Cowra, Forbes, Manildra, Molong and Orange.

Our website gives you access to details of our services and our online resources 24/7. Its also the entry point to our catalogue. Enjoy!

Renew Our Libraries!

Central West Libraries Supports the campaign for increased government funding for public libraries in NSW. Click through to find more about the campaign and to sign the petition.

News for library members using rbdigital eAudiobooks, eBooks and eMagazines: more titles, one log in.

Register your new account to gain access to a wider range of downloadable audiobooks, books and magazines and use one log in for these titles. Enjoy.

Banjo Paterson Writing Awards

Congratulations to all those who entered this year’s Writing Awards. The 2018 winning entries can be read below by clicking on the links. The winners of the previous Banjo Paterson Writing Awards can be read on the Orange Wiki.

Short Story Winner

1^st – Stephen D’Arcy, Bellerave VIC, for Arthur Peters the Bard of Creswick, $2,000.

The judge said “the winning story presented the narrative as a series of letters from a very self-assured, but amateur ‘poet’ and his fiancé to a very diplomatic AB Paterson. Arthur Peters is seeking Banjo’s assistance and encouragement, while Banjo and his fiancée are less enthusiastic about Mr Peter’s poetic talents.”

“It is the subtle and wry humour of the story where its charm lays.”

“This is a thoroughly engaging and extremely well-written story on many levels and definitely a worthy winner of the Banjo Paterson Short Story writing award.”

Open Poetry Winner

1^st Roger Vickery, Freshwater, NSW for Jukurrpa on bark $2,000 and Varuna, the Writer’s House, Manuscript Consultation valued at $295.

The judge commented:

“Jukurrpa on bark is a powerful elegy for an indigenous artist. Intimate in tone, the poem’s meaning is enhanced through the poet’s keen sense of sound and rhythm. Like the dancing referred to in the opening stanza, the imagery and sense of spirituality throughout the poem are continually ‘circling and looping/coming home to go again’ – that sense of movement giving the reader a glimpse into the world of Jukurrpa. Succinct and compelling, the poem creates a strong sense of place, of loss, and of a spirituality that is open weaved, strong…always moving.”

ABC Central West Radio Children’s Awards

1^st  Miss Kodi Sawtell, 16, Coochin QLD, for her short story Ink, $200

2^nd Isabelle Back, 11, Clergate, near Orange, NSW for her poem Christmas in Australia, $100

3^rd Brooke Chapman, 10,  Fine Flower, NSW for her poem Bush Dance, $100.

News and events

To keep up to date with the latest library news and events please follow Central West Libraries on the blog, facebook , instagram or check Eventbrite.com for event listings.