A big congratulations to Canowindra Library who were finalists in the 2009 “Best Business in Cabonne” section of the Cabonne Daroo Awards 2009.

This isn't the first time that Canowindra Library has been so honoured so it's well done Alan yet again!

If you haven't been to our Canowindra Library it's worth a visit situated as it is in Gaskell Street among the shops (a great temptation for those of us visiting from Orange). Take time to explore the town while you're there.

Did you know that alcohol is the most widely used drug in Australia? That alcohol kills more Australians under the age of 35 than any other drug? or, that the annual cost of alcohol-related absenteeism to the Australian economy is 7.5 million working days? This week is national Drug Action Week, we are highlighting our drug info @ your library resources. Drug info @ your library, a partnership between the State Library of NSW and NSW Health, provides access to the latest and most reliable information about alcohol and other drugs through a dedicated website www.druginfo.sl.nsw.gov.au and maintains, throughout NSW Public Libraries, collections of drug and alcohol books, pamphlets and fact sheets, designed to raise awareness of the harm caused by misuse and the enormous cost to the community.
In keeping with the Drug Action Week theme – Alcohol is a drug TOO! – the Library's display focuses on safe alcohol consumption and safe drinking practices. Come in and check it out.

Calling all poets, hip-hop artists, storytellers and other outspoken wordsmiths to speak, scream, howl, whisper or sing your original poem at the Australian Poetry Slam Regional NSW heat — an electric live event where the audience is the judge! The heat will be held at
Cowra Library
Darling Street, Cowra on
Friday 3 July 5.30pm.
Performers sign up from 5pm.
All contestants are given a mic, a live audience and just two minutes to impress the judges (selected at random from the audience) with their spoken word, poetry, hip hop, monologues and stories. Talented spoken word artist Miles Merrill will be the MC. This event is supported by the State Library of NSW and Central West Libraries. So come along and have your say.

Winner of the 2009 Miles Franklin Literary Award is Tim Winton for his work Breath (published by Penguin). On his win, Tim Winton said that this award has tried to do its part over time to stiffen the resolve and bolster the confidence of Australian writers and by honouring local stories and voices it's contributed to the success our literary culture has enjoyed in recent years.
Commenting on the winner's novel, the Judging Panel wrote: “Breath is a searing document about masculinity, about risk, and about young people's desire to push the limits. Winton is at the height of his powers as a novelist, and this is his greatest love letter yet to the sea, to the coast of West Australia, and a compelling testimony to the role of surfing in Australian culture. Written in Winton's own distinctive voice, we can sense that it is also a homage to some of his favourite writers: Salinger, Faulkner, Melville and Hemingway. But as we are drawn in by the elemental currents of its narrative and the compelling, wave-like force of events, Breath raises disturbing questions about desire and 'the damage done'. What lines are crossed during rite's passage? What ethical constraints affect relations between different generations of men and women? Throughout the novel we hear the scream of wind and storm waves and the distant, siren call of the bombora  surf breaking far out at sea. After 'so much damage, too much shame', can there be a going back?” To read more about the author and awards go to the Miles Franklin Trust website http://www.trust.com.au/awards/miles_franklin/

Central West Libraries Manager Jan Richards said environment and relationship themes emerged across all the sections during the judging process in the 2009 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. The Awards recognise Orange's literary history and further encourages writers to develop their craft. Congratulations to all the entrants and here are the winners:

Prose/ Short Story:
Peter W. Bishop, of Scone, NSW for “Lukey”; Panagiotis Papathanasiou, of Hackett, ACT, for “The Lure”:
Sarah Michell from Lithgow, NSW for “Going Without”.

Open Poetry:
Judy Johnson, Cardiff, NSW for “The Bushranger's Bible”;
Mark Miller, of Shoalhaven Heads, NSW for “Small-Town Journal”;
Jo Mills, of Darlington, WA for “Ledge Beach”.

Bush Poetry:
Ron Stevens, of Dubbo for “The Shame of Staying Put”;
Ellis Campbell, of Dubbo, NSW, for “Eulogy of Crows”;
Kristen Martin, of West Beach SA, for “Memories by the Murray”.

Children's Writing Awards:
Isaac Bath, of Duramana NSW for his poem “Bushfire”;
Samuel Bath, of Duramana, NSW for his poem “Ducks of the Wild”;
Rebekah Ritchie, of Forest Reefs, NSW for her story “The Climbing Experts”.

The Yvonne Zola Encouragement Award goes to Lachlan Fenemor, Orange for his story “Doggie Adventure”.