Come along to Book Club Buzz at Orange City Library, Byng Street, Orange on Wednesday 10 February from 5.30pm - 7.30pm to talk about what books, including any books to film, that created a real "buzz" in your book group. Is there a book that everyone wanted to talk about? For our Pageturners book club at Orange City Library The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas was the most controversial. If you wish to come along and tell others what was the most talked about book at your group, please call Orange City Library on: 6393 8132. Other members of your book club are most welcome to attend the event that will be "buzzing" with conversations about books as part of Slow Summer celebrations on Wednesday 10 February 2010 from 5.30pm - 7.30pm at Orange City Library, Byng Street, Orange RSVP: 6393 8132.

Storytime is a fun way to encourage children under the age of six to be interested in books and reading. Storytime returns to Orange City Library on Tuesday 2 February at 11am. It is held during schools terms on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays at 11am. Each session lasts about 45 mins. Pick a day you would like to come along, the same three stories and craft are usually repeated for each session so it doesn't matter which day you choose. Stories and craft are held in the Children's area of the library and there are also floor cushions and chairs. Preschool Storytime is free and helps prepare children for the school environment. And a reminder - reading to children at least 10 minutes a day helps with developing language and listening skills. Please note: As part of Slow Summer Celebrations Storytime will be held in Robertson Park from Tuesday to Thursday 9th - 11th February 9 - 11 at 11am. Meet at the bandstand. See you there!

You may have heard of slow food, now it's time to learn about slow gardening during a special event with leading garden design author – photographer Trisha Dixon on Friday 5 February at Borrodell on the Mount during Slow Summer celebrations.

Trisha will be the guest speaker at lunch from 12pm supported by Orange City Council and the Central West Writers' Centre. Tickets are $35 and include lunch and a glass of wine on arrival. For bookings call Orange City Council on 6393 8170 or purchase your ticket from Orange City Library.

The slow gardening concept is simply like the slow food one - as life gets crazier and busier, the garden needs to be a place of solace and relaxation, not another 'chore' to be done on the run ..... and who doesn't like the sound of that! See you there....

And Trisha's books include Little Book of Australian Gardens, Vision of Edna Walling and Under the Spell of the Ages: Australian Country Gardens.

On February 18, 1860, a group of residents gathered for the first meeting of the Orange Municipal Council. The meeting was held in the then Court House and was presided over by the Chairman, John Peisley with Councillors John Woodward, George McKay, William Dale, Dennis Hanrahan and William Tucker Evans in attendance. Crown Solicitor, George Colquhoun was appointed Council Clerk and James Dalton and Patrick Kenna were appointed auditors. A 2010 calendar marking 150 years of local government in Orange will be distributed to residents and is also available at the Library, Civic Centre, Visitor Information Centre and Neighbourhood Centre in Kite Street. Orange City Councillor Chris Gryllis said the calendar featured historic photos charting the development of the city, historic dates over the last 150 years, key dates for 2010 and council contact numbers. Council is also developing a Wiki to commemorate the 150 years of local government. The Wiki will mirror the calendar design. If anyone can identify people or has information about the photos in the calendar, they can contact Chris Stanger on 6393 8120 with the details. Each month the Central Western Daily newspaper will highlight a theme from the calendar and today's aritlce on page 11 described our Tourism history and was prepared by members of the Orange and District Historical Society. Pictured above is Chairman of the original Orange Municipal Council John Peisley (yes the street is named in his honour).

Now that Christmas is over thoughts of what to do during the school holidays arises. If you live in Cowra the Library is racing the rescue!

Every summer children and young people are encouraged to participate in the National Summer Reading Club. This year is no exception with a theme of "Read on the Wild Side". So for your chance to extend your horizons, drop into the Cowra Library and pick up some wild reads. Read on the Wild Side + Board Games will be held at the Cowra Library on Wednesday 13 January and again on Thursday 21 January from 11.00am to12noon. Read on the Wild Side + Jig-saw Puzzles will be held on Thursday 14 January and Wednesday 20 January from 11.00am to 12noon.

Storytime for younger readers will be held as usual during the holiday break. The 1st one will be on Thursday January 7th 11am sharp. Our story will be 'Where the Wild Things Are' plus Summer Reading Club and borrowing from our collected stash of wild reads.

For further information contact Cowra Library on 63402180.

Hands up if you made a New Year's Resolution (NYR). Keep your hand up if it was the same (or similar to) the one you made last year, and the year before, and the year before that! - I thought so, a sea of hands. Don't feel special, research demonstrates that we tend to make the same resolutions year in, year out and at best we'll stay on the straight and narrow until Valentine's Day (aka Library Lovers Day - 14 February). Investigations into NYR's also show that our good intentions tend to fall into 4 main areas. This year why not let the Library help you achieve your goals. How?

"This is the year I'll get fit" - OK how many of you have said this? The Library has a wide range of resources to help you get motivated and stay that way. These include books, magazines and DVDs and cover areas such as exercise, diet and motivation. Worried that the Library staff will twig to your plan at check out time (they would never say anything to you, or anyone else, professional 'cone of silence)? Remember you can always use the self check. "I'm going to learn something new" - Whatever the skill it's likely that we'll have something to help you; hobbies, languages, sports and pastimes we've got them covered. We're also a great place to pick up information about courses on offer in town as well as the programs we offer ourselves (eg internet, family history).

'Look out, I'm taking control of my life!" (why does this one sound soooo familiar to me?) - Whether you want to be more organised or take control of your finances check out what we have on offer. Remember too the fabulous range of online databases we subscribe to. You can access these from the Info @ Home button on our home page. "I'm going to read more" - Are we the place for you! Step on up to see the great range of titles we've got on offer. These come in all formats including audio books and yes, we're exploring e-book readers for you (our first one arrived just before Christmas, we'll report back soon). Come along to one of our author talks, writing seminars or join in with our book discussion groups.

To you all a very Happy New Year, we look forward to working with you.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year from the Library team and we look forward to seeing you in 2010!

English novelist Jane Austen was born on this day (16 December) in 1775, the seventh of eight children of a clergyman in a country village in Hampshire, England. Jane concealed her writing from most of her acquaintances, slipping her writing paper under a blotter when someone entered the room. Though she avoided society, she was charming, intelligent, and funny, and had several admirers. She actually accepted the marriage proposal of a well-off friend of her family's, but the next day withdrew her acceptance, having decided she could only marry for love. Her novels include Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1815). She died at age 42, of what may have been Addison's disease. She is one of a handful of authors to have found enduring popularity with both academic and popular readers. Here are some amusing Austen quotes in honour of the anniversary of her birthday:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

"You have delighted us long enough."

"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of."

"A woman, especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can."

"Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody."

A young girl signing the doctor's words for her deaf parents, the words of an Irish woman by her husband's side, a community in East Timor helping a cancer patient, a family wishing for their loved one to wake up and speak to them again and an African nurse hiding her tears from HIV/AIDS patients. Dr Frank Brennan's stories from around the globe resonated with compassion and humanity. Dr Brennan, a Palliative Care physician, who currently works in Sydney at Calvary Hospital, read from his work Standing on the Platform: Stories and Reflections from Palliative Care. His visit was organised by Clinical Nurse Consultant for Palliative and Supportive Care: Greater Western Area Health Service. (Southern and Eastern sectors) James Daley to raise awareness of Palliative Care. To read more about the evening go to: http://wavingnotdrowning1.blogspot.com/ Pictured above are Dr Frank Brennan and James Daley at the Stories from Palliative Care evening held at Orange City Library.

We are looking for community-minded people to join in our internet training sessions at Canowindra, Cowra and Blayney libraries at the following dates and times:

Canowindra on Wednesday 2 December at 10am – 12.30pm or 1pm - 3.30pm.

Cowra on Tuesday 8 December at 8.30am – 11am.

Blayney on Wednesday 9 December 10.30am – 1pm or 1.30pm – 3pm.

We are looking for people who want to improve their understanding of the internet who would then be able to pass on their knowledge through their community connections. The workshops cover an introduction to the Internet, using Internet Explorer, searching tips, favourites, links and toolbars, protecting your information on-line, using email and email attachments, an overview of social networking including Facebook and Twitter as well as on-line Library Services. The training is supported by an Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Learning Australia Grant. Please book your place at a workshop by calling Central West Libraries on 6393 8120.