Now in its ninth successful year National Simultaneous Story time took place on Wednesday morning at the Cowra Library(and across Australia) with a crowd of 80 enthusiastic pre-schoolers who had made the long trip from two of the local child care centres. As they patiently awaited the guest reader for the day – newly appointed Library Ambassador, Bruce Miller, they were entertained by silly sheep stories like Steve Smallmann's The lamb who came to Dinner and Mem Fox's Where is the green Sheep? Obviously favourites, the crowd wriggled and chattered until finally Bruce emerged at 11am to read Pete the Sheep by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley. Libraries across Australia reverberated with baas and giggles as the story unfolded of Shaun the shearer who doesn't have a sheep dog but he does have Pete- one amazing sheep that does things a little differently….

Many thanks must go to the teachers who bravely read to such a big gathering and to Bruce (pictured) for wearing his farmer's hat and putting on some amazing facial expressions.

The books read out loud on the day and a collection of Jackie French's best reads are all available for loan at the Library. So if you are in need of good laughs for all ages come on in and borrow a great read or two.

Canadian writer Alice Munro is the winner of the third Man Booker International Prize announced today. The Man Booker International Prize is worth

All together now – say Baa. Join in with thousands of people at more than 850 locations around Australia at 11am on Wednesday 27 May for a simultaneous read of Pete the Sheep written by Jackie French. It is a wonderful story of Shaun the shearer and his sheep Pete. Come along to Cowra, Manildra, Molong and Orange branches for the reading and craft time. Read more about it in the Central Western Daily:
http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/flocking-to-read-pete-the-sheep/1522828.aspx

Orange City Library began Australian Library and Information Week with a live broadcast by ABC Central West Radio. Morning Show host Janice McGilchrist set up residence at the Homework Help Desk and interviewed Central West Libraries Manager and ALIA President, Jan Richards on the valuable role libraries play in our communities, Technical Services Librarian Ros Dorsman about Internet and email classes, Reading and Writing Coordinator Jasmine Vidler about how to write a book review, Local Studies Librarian Peter Douglass on the local studies collection and popularity of family history research and Orange City Librarian Elizabeth Barry discussed Storytime. It was a fantastic opportunity to highlight Central West Libraries services and talk about this year's theme: Libraries – your passport to discovery. Patrons visiting the Library were curious to see what went on behind the scenes of an on-air radio program and many received ABC stickers and magazines. It was also a learning experience for the Library team to be radio “stars” for a little while. Pictured is Morning Show host Janice McGilchrist interviewing Jan Richards.

Nothing in the Library world is bigger than Australian Library and Information Week (25 – 31 May) and Orange City Library is celebrating with a live broadcast by ABC's Local Radio team from 10am – 11am. Morning Show host Janice McGilchrist is taking up residence at the homework help desk surrounded by books, magazines, newspapers, dvds, audio books and computers to see what really goes on in a busy regional library and who's who behind the scenes. So come along and check it out or tune your radio dial to 549 AM for all the latest in the world of libraries.