Join Paul Brunton, Senior Curator, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW as he reveals the fascinating history of longitude. Learn about English clockmaker John Harrison who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time allowing navigators to accurately pin-point a ship's position. See three rare books published in 1763, 1765 and 1767 tracing Harrison's battles to have his amazing invention accepted. These books have been recently purchased by the State Library of NSW and go on public display for the first time.

Orange City Library
Thurs 26 February
12pm-1pm
BYO Lunch
Refreshments served

Orange City Library
Thurs 26 February
5.30pm for 6pm-7pm
Refreshments served

Please RSVP to 6393 8132.

Cowra Library
Friday 27 February
12pm  1pm
BYO lunch
Refreshments served
Please RSVP to 6340 2180.

Can you name the item pictured? It is a chronometer – John Harrison's invention.

Andrew Barton “Banjo” Paterson was born on February 17, 1864 and to celebrate his birthday Orange City Council, Central West Libraries, Central West Writers' Centre supported by The Central Western Daily and ABC Central West Radio announce the call for entries to the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. It is important to note that entries into the Prose (Short Story), Open Poetry and Children's Writing Awards categories of the competition do not have to be in the style of Banjo's writing. Entry forms can be downloaded from this website and are available from Orange City Library, by phoning 6393 8120, email: [email protected] Entry is $10 for adults and $5 for children per entry. The competition closes on Friday 17 April 2009 and winners will be contacted by phone on Monday 15 June 2009. There are cash prizes to be won and the winning Prose (Short Story) entry will be published in the Central Western Daily.

Dedicated Pageturners and some Classics book club members braved the sudden change of cold weather and blustering winds to dine in Robertson Park for Slow Summer Read. Actually the wind was turning the pages for us. There was tasty morsels of picnic food including a delicious eggplant ratatouille, yummy green lentil salad, wrapped vine leaves, savoury fetta and sun dried tomato muffins and refreshments. Music by Ben McGarity was terrific but the weather managed to win out and we retired earlier than planned. But we still managed to chat about books and here are some of the suggested Holiday Reading titles:

Robber Bride Book by Margaret Attwood
“Interesting structure. Four very well drawn characters. Elegant language.”

The Resurrectionist by James Bradley
“Interesting concept, liked the way it was written, short train of thought chapters. Ended too soon and too long in the middle.”

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirosky
“Many people had talked about this, it's certainly worth reading even it the subject and author's experiences are tragic.

Books by Fred Vargas
“Mysteries written by a French female, wonderful eccentric characters and glimpses of Paris.”

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
“The book introduced me to Ursula Le Guin and I was not interested in Science fiction until now. Also interested in reading other authors mentioned plus I love Jane Austen so it was good to hear and see (watched the DVD) people talk about her books.

Hotel Albatross by Debra Adelaide
“A look at Orange from behind the scenes of The Hotel Canobolas. Some great character portraits, dramas in the hotel with staff and patrons and enjoyed reading about places near Orange  Ophir, Blayney, Millthorpe and recognised a few characters too.”

Other authors included Eva Ibbotson, Lillian Bradshaw and Helen Hollick.

And the next Pageturners meeting will be on Wednesday 11 March, upstairs in Orange City Library from 5.30pm  7pm to discuss The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas. This comment on the book comes from JennyReadingblog: “The title of this book is very apt. It hits you in the face with a sharp sting that seems to linger for days afterwards.” Well put.

For centuries February 14 has been known as Valentine's Day, a time beloved of romantics and now Library Lovers everywhere are claiming the day for the objects of their special affection – Australia's libraries. People are devoted to their library and not just on one day of the year. Millions of library lovers across Australia must be right! Visit your library on Saturday and fall in love with a new book, CD, DVD………Check out today's newspaper article where we are asking people to write on a love heart note what they love most about their library: http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-novel-approach-to-valentines-day/1432946.aspx

Lively conversations abound in our Classics Book Club meetings especially while we have been discussing the Brontes and here are some comments on Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte  a classic tale of heartache and mystery:

“it is about passion and obsessive love”

” the narration is good, really enjoyed it”

“Catherine had a good life and she wanted everything to herself”

“How could anyone love Heathcliff?”

“I call it “withering depths” and hated it at high school and still can't get past the first 20 pages”.

As you can see there is lots to talk about.

The next round of Classic Book Club meetings catch up with Charlotte Bronte on Tuesday 17 February at Blayney to discuss Vilette, Thursday 19 February Orange Day group to talk about The Professor, the Evening Group chat about Jane Eyre and the Cowra Day Group meet on Tuesday 24 February to discuss The Professor.