We are delighted that 2012 is the National Year of Reading, where Australian libraries are linking together all the great things that already happen around books, reading and literacy.
We have a ton of exciting events and activities coming up – check some of them out below.
Literature Lane
Our Lord Mayor - NYoR ambassador
National Simultaneous Storytime
Cafe Poet
Staff recommended reads
Read like a Demon
The Hanging of Minnie Thwaites
Write a review
Literature Lane
Melbourne will become home to a new literary landmark when Literature Lane comes to life… literally.
An unnamed lane in the city, off Little LaTrobe Street, is to be named Literature Lane. Melbourne’s newest lane name will be launched at 10.00am on Monday, 21 May by Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle.
Literature Lane will be a lasting legacy of the National Year of Reading as well as a celebration of Melbourne’s UNESCO City of Literature status.
Melbourne has a proud tradition of literature, culture and the arts. In 2008, Melbourne was awarded UNESCO City of Literature status, as part of the creative cities network. Our laneways are uniquely Melbourne. Literature Lane will join other famous Melbourne lanes, including AC/DC Lane and Dame Edna Place.
When: Monday 21 May
Where: Literature Lane
Back to top
Our Lord Mayor – NYoR ambassador
Former English teacher, Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle has a great passion for reading, books and all things literacy. He’s embraced his role as ambassador for the National Year of Reading and we’re thrilled that he’s offered to tell us a bit about what he loves to read.
Find out more...
Back to top
National Simultaneous Storytime
Read by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle
Melbourne Library Service will join organisations from Broome to Hobart, reading the picture book The Very Cranky Bear to more than 170,000 children across Australia.
This year, East Melbourne Library will be hosting National Simultaneous Storytime with special guest, Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, who will be reading in his very fine voice The Very Cranky Bear. Children attending this special storytime are requested to bring their favourite bear and/or wear something ‘bear-y’ special, how about a bear t-shirt? Bear slippers? Would you believe bear pyjamas?
When: Wednesday 23 May, 11am
Where: East Melbourne Library
More information: National Simultaneous Storytime
Back to top
Free poetry workshops
Our resident Cafe Poet, Alia Gabres, will host a free slam poetry workshop each month at City Library. Budding poets and writers are welcome to attend to share and develop their work, ideas and performance skills with Alia and each other.
This series of sessions will build towards a public performance poetry event in the Gallery at City Library at the end of her residency, where those who have worked with Alia will be able to perform their work in a supportive environment.
Workshop #3
When: Tuesday 12 June, 6pm to 7.30pm
Where: Gallery @ City Library
Bookings essential: 9658 9500
More info on our resident Cafe Poet
Back to top
Staff recommended reads
To celebrate the National Year of Reading we asked City of Melbourne staff to tell us about some books they have enjoyed recently. The results certainly inspired our reading hunger! We’re hoping it will do the same for you. Throughout the year, we’ll be featuring a series of short booklists compiled from these recommendations.
Keep an eye out – you might discover a new favourite book!
Back to top
Read like a Demon
Read Like a Demon is a literacy program that offers school students an opportunity to participate in reading and writing workshops with the Melbourne Football Club and the schools’ local library. The aim of the program is to celebrate children’s literacy and to encourage children to read more.This year, we are hand-balling kids from the Melbourne City School a passion for reading by giving them the opportunity to participate in the program.
More info...
Back to top
The Hanging of Minnie Thwaites
The sordid tale of Melbourne’s past comes to life when Judith Rodriguez recounts in vivid verse and lyrics the bleak tragedy of Minnie Thwaites, a woman trying to make good during the 1890s Depression. As the Brunswick baby farmer, Minnie Thwaites eked out a precarious existence by taking in the unwanted babies of other women. But there is something shocking about her business that has ramifications long after her death. Join us when author Judith Rodriguez discusses her true crime work at North Melbourne Library.
When: Wednesday 27 June, 6pm
Where: North Melbourne Library
Bookings essential: 9658 9500
Back to top
Write a review
We invite you to write a review of one or more of the titles you have borrowed from Melbourne Library Service.
All you have to do is log in to the library catalogue using your library barcode or alias and your PIN, search for the title, click Write a review, write your comments and it is done.
Back to top