The Trust has announced the six authors for the 2010 Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist. The shortlist features some of Australia's most established literary names alongside new and emerging authors, each showcasing Australian character and creativity. In deciding on a shortlist of six, longer than usual, the judges have acknowledged the quality of the works offered this year, and also their extreme diversity. Their sheer quality, what Miles Franklin would have termed their 'literary merit', makes pigeonholing them impossible. Notions of genre could not contain them. Ideas about specific audience  is this young adult or adult fiction?  proved irrelevant. And in their exposition of Australian life 'in any of its phases', the six shortlisted writers gave the judges an exhilarating sense of just how bewilderingly varied those phases of Australian life could be. It has been a fascinating and challenging year. The 2010 Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist is:
Lovesong by Alex Miller, The Bath Fugues by Brian Castro, Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey, The Book of Emmett by Deborah Forster, Truth by Peter Temple, and Butterfly by Sonya Hartnett. Congrats to all. And read what one of the shortlisted authors has to say to Kevin (our PM) about the award  it's a little controversial…..http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/miles-franklin-is-losing-relevance-says-prize-nominee-20100421-t0mb.html What do you think  is the award losing its relevance?

Almost everyone will, at some time in their life, have some experience with mental health episodes. You may have a friend, a colleague, a family member or a customer who is dealing with mental health issues and coping with this affects us all.
In consultation with library staff, the team from the Family & Carer Mental Health Program with Greater Western Area Health has selected and donated 18 books and 6 DVDs to the Library. There is also a stand of beyondblue practical guides on mental health issues. The resources are all listed online  www.cwl.nsw.gov.au & click on Catalogue:
Anxiety disorders DVD,
Back from the brink,
Back from the brink too,
The best of times, the worst of times,
The beyondblue guide for carers,
Bipolar disorder DVD,
Broken Open,
Carers' stories of hope and recovery DVD,
Depression DVD,
Families and mental illness DVD,
Helping someone with mental illness,
Hidden victims, hidden healers,
If only – personal stories of loss through suicide,
Mind Over Mood,
Resilience,
The SANE Guide to anxiety,
The SANE Guide to depression,
The SANE Guide to bipolar disorder,
The SANE Guide to families,
The SANE Guide to schizophrenia DVD,
The SANE guide to reducing stigma,
schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses DVD,
Take care of yourself and your family, and
Tell Me I'm here.
Read details of the donation in today's Central Western Daily:
http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-new-page-for-carers-of-people-with-mental-illness/1814523.aspx#

For the past three weeks, Charles Sturt University student Nyssa Wilcox has been completing a work placement at the Orange City Library. Nyssa is studying a Bachelor of Applied Science (Library and Information Management). Nyssa experienced a wide range of Library activities including working at the front desk, Holiday Activities with Lisa and children learning how to juggle, taking a trip with Peter on the Library Bus, assisting on the Homework Help desk answering student enquires about their assignments and behind the scenes with Technical and Branch Services. And here is what Nyssa had to say… “I have greatly enjoyed my three week placement at the Orange Library. All of the staff were extremely friendly and keen to assist me. The placement was extremely valuable to my studies and has made me look forward to my future career in Libraries and I loved the orange syrup cake on Friday!” (Nyssa is pictured sorting reservations for Inter Library Loans).

This Sunday is ANZAC Day  25th April and the 95th Anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli. Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries. Since ancient times the aromatic herb rosemary has been believed to have properties to improve the memory. Perhaps because of this, rosemary became an emblem of both fidelity and remembrance in literature and folklore. Traditionally, sprigs of rosemary are worn on ANZAC Day and sometimes on Remembrance Day, and are usually handed out by Legacy and the RSL. Rosemary has particular significance for Australians, as it is found growing wild on the Gallipoli peninsula. Read more about Anzac traditions at the Australian War Memorial website http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac/anzac_tradition.asp

Mark Twain (aka Samuel Lanhorne Clemens) was famous for saying “reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated” after his obituary was published in a US paper. But April 21st is the 100th anniversary of the death of this American author and he gets a mention here because he's the writer Cowra Classics Book Club is currently discussing. On Tuesday 27 April at 12.30pm at Cowra Library the group will talk about the life of Mark Twain and his visit to Australia during a world wide lecture tour to raise much needed funds. According to Ernest Hemingway, “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn . . . ,” and some would argue that it's still one of their best books. In addition to many books, he published hundreds of stories, essays, and nonfiction pieces. Here are some more classic quotes:
” “A discriminating irreverence is the creator and protector of human liberty.”
” “High & fine literature is wine, & mine is only water; but everybody likes water.”
” “They spell it Vinci and pronounce it Vinchy; foreigners always spell better than they pronounce.”