Reading to your little one teaches them to recognise sounds and rhythm of language and is also a great bonding exercise. So why not join in Storytimes at Central West Libraries – they are lots of fun. We read and tell stories, sing songs, play games and do craft. They are held during school terms and cater for pre-school age children and their carers. Storytime is free and each session lasts about one hour.

Blayney sessions are held on the first Thursday of the month at 11am

Cowra sessions are held on the first Thursday of the month at 11am

Forbes sessions are held fortnightly on Fridays at 10.30am. The September sessions will be on 14th and 28th September. Enjoy Rhyme Time on the alternate Fridays.

Orange sessions are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 11am. Please book your place for Orange storytimes online through Eventbrite or call the Library on 6393 8132.  Bookings are not required at other libraries.

Meet author Jenny Old when she talks and shares photos from her book Back of Beyond at Orange and Forbes libraries.

“After falling in love with my husband Rick, I moved to a property called McAllister in the remote Gulf Country of far north Queensland, where I found myself living in a shed with a 44-gallon drum for my stove and a shower hose and a bucket in a tree for the bathroom!”

Surviving fires, floods, Cyclone Ted and the 1970s Beef Crash, this is one woman’s remarkable story of love, adventure, disasters and wonderful times in the Gulf Country.

You can hear Jenny’s story at Orange City Library on Thursday 12th July at 10.30am or  Forbes Library on Friday 3rd August at 2pm. Please book your place online through eventbrite or call your library.

Call Me Frank is a collection of 20 autobiographical stories of men over 50 telling it like it is at this stage of their lives. The stories are honest, sometimes confronting and always inspirational. Call Me Frank is the companion book to Feisty, Fabulous and 50+, a collection of 21 warts and all autobiographical stories of women navigating their way through their 50s and beyond.

Meet author Julie Ankers when she returns to one of these Central West Libraries:

 Forbes Library: Tuesday 19 June at 2pm

 Cowra Library: Wednesday 20 June at 2pm

 Orange City Library: Thursday 21^st June at 5.30pm. Bookings via Eventbrite.com.au

The community is invited to join in the shared story Hickory Dickory Dash written by Tony Wilson and illustrated by Laura Wood on Wednesday 23^rd May at 11am at Orange, Cowra, Molong, Forbes and Manildra Libraries. Now in its 18th successful year, it brings together thousands of children across the country to read the same picture book. The annual campaign aims to encourage more young Australians to read and enjoy books.

Enjoy the last 2017 Storytimes for pre-schoolers on Thursday 7 December at:

Blayney Library -11am

Cowra Library – 11am

Forbes Library – 10.30am

and Orange Library* at 11am.

*Orange Storytime will feature a Circus Storytime dress up theme and performance by the Orange High School Circus Troupe.

Storytimes will resume during the school term in the New Year. We wish all our pre-schoolers, parents and carers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.