Radicals: Remembering the Sixties

Are you tired of watching online author talks by yourself? Want to meet with other book lovers and reminisce about the 1960’s?  We invite you to either watch at home or get your ‘groove on’ at our watch at the library event on Thursday 13 May at 1pm.

Join us at Parramatta Library at our Sixties gathering to watch the talk on our big screen. Enjoy our 60s themed décor and free light lunch inspired by the period. Did you know that the 1960’s saw the invention of Splice (1962), Tim Tams (1964) and the release of the first Margaret Fullton Cookbook (1968)?

Meredith Burgmann and Nadia Wheatley will be in conversation via Zoom with Melinda McNaughton from Wollondilly Library Service discussing Radicals: Remembering the Sixties with the support of NSW Public Libraries Association.

Register to attend our 60s themed ‘watch at the library’ event by calling Parramatta Library on 9806 5159 during opening hours. Each attendee for the on-site event will go into the draw for a chance to win a copy of the book in our lucky door prize. Get an extra entry into the draw by dressing up in Sixties themed clothing or accessories. Social distancing and covid19-safe restrictions will apply.

Unable to get to Parramatta Library but want to watch the talk?
To attend the event online via Zoom as an audience member – book here

The Sixties – an era of protest, free love, civil disobedience, duffel coats, flower power, giant afros and desert boots, all recorded on grainy black and white film footage – marked a turning point for change. Radicals found their voices and used them.  While the initial trigger for protest was opposition to the Vietnam War, this anger quickly escalated to include Aboriginal Land Rights, Women’s Liberation, Gay Liberation, Apartheid, Student Power and ‘workers’ control’. 

In Radicals some of the people doing the changing – including David Marr, Margret Road Knight, Gary Foley, Jozefa Sobski and Geoffrey Robertson – reflect on how the decade changed them and Australian society forever.

Our Most Borrowed Books January to March 2021

Ready, Set, Read!

2021 is certainly gearing up to be a great year for books, with so many great new titles hitting the shelves in the first three months.

Here, at City of Parramatta Libraries, we like nothing better than helping you; our readers, discover your great read. Whether that be a new author or revisiting an old favourite, we are here to help.

Below you will find a list of our, ‘Top Six’ most borrowed fiction, young adult, junior & picture book titles for January to March.

Have fun exploring! Remember placing a hold is free and you can pick it up from any one of our Libraries.

I have also snuck in my personal, ‘Top Six’ picks for books I have read over the past three months. Just to tempt you even more.

If you love reading and enjoy sharing what you are reading with other like-minded people, then follow Parra Reads on Goodreads or add us as friend.

Happy Reading,

Jody

Celebrating Women through Books

International Women’s Day celebrated every year on the 8th March is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. #ChooseToChallenge

To celebrate the amazing achievements of women writers around the world, we have put together a list of ‘Must-read’ books by women, as chosen by us!’

Happy Reading!

Jody

Dundas Library’s Great Display of Books!

Get Crafting

Did you know March is known as Craft Month? I didn’t, but what better timing for me to deliver on my promise to write a blog post about all the amazing craft books I keep borrowing from the Library!

If you are a crafter, what type are you? The type that works on one project at a time or the type that switches from one project to another one? Let me tell you, I am the latter, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I am not alone here at the library will my crafting obsession, we Librarians seem to be a creative lot! In fact, there are sometimes disagreements among us to see who gets to tidy the craft section in our shelf checking and tidying rotation.

Listed below are just some of the crafts we have been dabbling in:

Knitting – Crochet – Embroidery – Macramé – Weaving – Clay work – Candle making – Sashiko – Felting – Applique – English paper piecing – Quilting – Jewellery making – Punch Needle.

Last year I finished my first embroidery project, a cushion cover which I am still super excited about. I also managed to finally crochet a straight edge on a scarf, which I think was pretty impressive and earned me a “well done” from Sharni who is our resident crocheting expert.

Whether you are feeling inspired to try something new, or even re-discover an old favourite our extensive collection of craft books will surely keep you up all hours.

Happy Crafting!

Jody

P.S

I can’t wait to try punch needle & sashiko!

Parra Reads Online Book Club 2021

Welcome to another year of reading!

2020 was our first year of reading along together in an online environment, while COVID may have been the trigger it was an enjoyable experience for me. The ‘Parra Reads’ online book club proved to be an excellent way for me to connect, collaborate and read with my colleagues. City of Parramatta Libraries operates across seven branches and it is often hard for us book nerds to catch up and talk about books. The online book club has been one way for us to come together and share our love of reading with you all.

After much discussion we have decided to do things a little differently this year, in the hopes we can encourage more of you to read along with us.

So, what will 2021 look like for our ‘Parra Reads’ online book club? Well! For starters there will be more choices in regards to what title you read each month, we will be sharing more online via our blog, podcast, social media and in our Libraries.

If you are reading along with us and would like to participate and share your thoughts on what you have been reading, please do. You can share via Twitter, using the hashtag #parrareadsbookclub, or just comment on one of our tweets. Send an email to parrareads@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au and I will share any suitable book related comments on our blog and in the library, rest assured I will only share first names. If you are a Goodreads member and would like to join our Parra Reads Virtual Book Club, log in and send us through a request.

Don’t forget to check out our ePlatform & BorrowBox collections! We have a huge library of both eBooks & eAudiobooks available for you to download.

However you choose to read & share with us this year is up to you, our only wish is that you read!

Each month we will provide some great reading recommendations to help you along your way, look out for these online and at all our Libraries.

Here’s wishing 2021 is a great year for reading!

Jody

Parra Reads Online Book Club – Monthly Reading Themes for 2021

February – A book by an Australian Author – Aussie Authors Rule! Check out our recommended reads below.

March – Books to Screen – Do you prefer to watch then read? Or read then watch? For me it is definitely read first!

April – A Thriller or mystery book.

May – Prize Winners – With so many different book awards each year what better selection could a reader ask for. Personally I will be reading my way through as many of the ‘Miles Franklin’ longlist titles that I can manage before the shortlist is announced in June.

June – Second Chances – Read a book you have tried to read before but couldn’t finish! My nemesis is ‘Wolf Hall’ by Hilary Mantel; I have tired many times and still haven’t managed to get past the first chapter.

July – Memoir – What makes a memoir a great one? Is it the setting, person or subject?

August – Big Bang Books – Books that have made a big splash in the last 10/20 years! Literally an endless supply of choices with this one!

September – Banned Books – One for the rebels!

October – The first book in a series.

November – Hot of the printing press! With so many great books planned for publication in 2021, what better way to end the year.