News Archive
Debbie Spillane - a woman who knows her sport
The gutsy broad’ who became the ABC's first full-time female sports broadcaster will visit Maitland on Friday 19 June as a guest presenter in the popular Look Who’s Talking programme. Regarded as a trailblazer for women, Debbie Spillane was running a record shop and singing in a band when she was hired in 1983 as a rookie sports reporter at 2GB. Best known both as sideline reporter on ABC-TV's rugby league and for her role as Sportsbitch in the iconic Live and Sweaty, Spillane is also well known as a former Triple J personality and media manager for the Bulldogs. In her book, Where Do You Think You're Goin' Lady, Spillane shares an extraordinary range of incredible sporting moments. With funny and fascinating tales of sports media, athletes and officials, she takes us behind the scenes at the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, and into individual sports, including athletics, basketball, cricket and rugby league.
Debbie Spillane is a woman who is passionate about sport”, said City Librarian, Keryl Collard. “She has conveyed her passion to avid listeners and viewers for over 20 years. We are very excited to bring her to Maitland, where she has many local fans.”Spillane grew up in a family where sport was king - from babyhood she accompanied her father to their weekly religious attendance of the rugby league match of the day at the Sydney Cricket Ground, by primary school she was sharing her grandfather's obsession with horseracing, and in high school she became a qualified cricket umpire and acquired a rugby league coaching certificate.
She has also worked as a sports columnist and currently works on ABC NewsRadio as a sport and occasional news presenter.
Debbie Spillane is presented by Maitland City Library. She will appear Friday 19 June at the Belmore Hotel.
April 2009
Kids Holiday Fun- Take a Trip Around the Globe
Kids are invited to take a trip around the globe these holidays whilst staying at home in Maitland! From the Emerald Isle to Africa, Mexico to the Orient, Brazil to the Middle East - the diverse and rich cultures of distant places will be explored through music, dance, puppetry, storytelling, art and craft. Maitland City Library, Maitland Region Art Gallery and Maitland Heritage Mall have put together a bumper holiday programme with a multicultural flavour for local kids during April.
There will be lots of musical activities on offer at a range of locations across Maitland. Kids can get groovy with The Samba Experience, a carnival style Brazilian drumming workshop at Rutherford and East Maitland Libraries that gives kids hands-on practice with Brazilian instruments and rhythms. Just like to listen or like something a little more laid back? The Heritage Mall will play host to a range of musical performers, from the Andalusian music of Pachakamak and the Latin rhythms of Claudio.
Expert storyteller, Bronwyn Vaughan will take kids on a magical journey through other worlds and cultures at Maitland and Thornton Libraries. The diversity of migrant cultures in the Australian community are brought to life through the ancient art of storytelling in When Camels Could Fly. The Library’s own expert storytellers will explore the customs of other countries through a range of special storytimes and craft workshops focusing on multicultural themes.
If dancing is more your style, kids can learn how to belly dance at East Maitland Library or check out the Eastern Spirit Belly Dance Group performing in the Heritage Mall.
Creative kids will lots of opportunities to get involved, as Maitland Region Art Gallery takes to the road to deliver the Pipsqueak program at Library branches. Young kids can get to know our City’s art works and create their own cute and quirky art projects ;High school aged students have the chance to win a a nano ipod in the Art Gallery’s Mixed Bag drawing challenge ;Get some inspiration from practicing artists and interesting subjects, from Elvis impersonators and more, all in Maitland’s Heritage Mall.
Lots of events are free, but bookings will be required for workshops. Check out our programme of activities or contact any Maitland City Library branch, Maitland Regional Art Galley or email programmes@maitland.nsw.gov.au.
March 2009
Library Opening Hours
Libraries at Maitland, East Maitland, Rutherford and Thornton are great places for internet, homework, DVDs, music, reading and much more.
You can help us improve the library service simply by telling us the library hours which best suit your needs.
This survey is open to members and non members alike.
Which branch would you prefer to use?
If the library had extended hours, what time would you visit?
Would you visit on a particular day or evening?
And would the weekend be more convenient for you?
Your input is valued and appreciated to ensure Maitland City Library offers the services and hours to Connect to Our Community.
Antony Loewenstein appering for Look Who's Talking
Antony Loewenstein, freelance journalist, political commentator, author and blogger, will visit Maitland on Thursday 2 April as the next guest on the popular Look Who’s Talking programme.
Loewenstein is a forthright controversial commentator. His 2006 book, My Israel Question, was nominated for the NSW Premier's Literary Award, and generated a huge amount of controversy. He writes opinion pieces for a variety of Australian and international publications, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian, The Guardian, The Washington Post and Haaretz.
His latest book, The Blogging Revolution, took him to China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Syria and Egypt – all countries with restricted freedoms. His interviews with bloggers reveal a fascinating counter-culture - bloggers who are often risking their lives in order to share their views on their country’s rulers and their opinions on Western democracy. Loewenstein calls for the right of all citizens to access, distribute and discuss information without persecution.
“Antony Loewenstein has generated a wave of controversy with his forthright opinions on the war in the Middle East and western political systems”, said Keryl Collard, City Librarian. “He is an interesting, intense writer with strong views.”
A board member of Macquarie University’s Centre for Middle East and North African Studies, Loewenstein is also an Honorary Associate at Macquarie University’s Department of Politics and International Relations. He is the co-founder of advocacy group Independent Australian Jewish Voices and appears regularly on radio, TV, in public and at universities discussing current affairs and politics.
Antony Loewenstein will appear at the Belmore Hotel, Maitland on Thursday 2 April, 6.00 pm– 8.00 pm. This Look Who’s Talking event includes an Italian banquet. Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning Maitland City Library on 4933 6952. Information about the Look Who’s Talking program may be obtained from any Maitland City Library.
February 2009
Book clubs in our community
Date: 10 February 2009
Do you enjoy reading? Are you interested in exploring authors, ideas and differing viewpoints? Why not join one of our local book clubs?
You are invited to ‘create a reading community’ with one of the book clubs operating from Maitland City Library branches. Currently, there are 4 book clubs meeting monthly at Library branches, including morning, afternoon and evening options. The following times are available:
First Monday Lunchtime 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm Meets Maitland Library
First Monday Evening 6.30 pm – 8.00 pm Meets Maitland Library
First Tuesday Morning 10.00 am – 11.30 am Meets East Maitland Library
First Tuesday Afternoon 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm Meets East Maitland Library
Titles are generally selected in advance by book club members and include a diverse range of authors and titles. Titles selected for 2009 range from Joe Cinque’s Consolation, Helen Garner’s best-selling take on death, grief and the law to the classic Exodus by Leon Uris and People of the Book by the Pulitzer Prize winning author, Geraldine Brooks.
Discussions are facilitated on a rotating basis by book club members, who also prepare questions for discussion and locate book reviews and information about the author. Discussion focuses on plot development, character development, language and setting.
“Book clubs are a great opportunity to explore different experiences and perspectives”, said City Librarian, Keryl Collard. “They challenge our reading habits and encourage us to think more deeply about why we like or don’t like a particular book.”
Additionally, a book club especially for kids happens on the first Saturday of each month at East Maitland Library 11.00 am – 12.00 pm. The Kids Book Club focuses on popular children’s authors and themes, and is designed to compliment and deepen children’s understanding of popular works. The target age range for the Kids Book Club is 6-12 year olds.
“We are very fortunate to have the assistance of the Friends of Maitland City Library in coordinating the Kids Book Club and 3 of the book clubs for adults”, said Keryl. “The Friends’ efforts in maintaining the book clubs are very much appreciated by the Library.”
If you are interested in joining a local book club, contact Maitland City Library on phone 4933 6952 or access our website for details at www.maitland.nsw.gov.au/Library/reading/bookclubs
Love is in the air
On 14 February Maitland City Library will join with other public libraries across Australia to share the love on national Library Lovers' Day.
"Library Lovers Day is a national event supported by the Australian Library and Information Association and Public Libraries Australia" said City Librarian , Keryl Collard. "It's a fun way of celebrating the enduring relationship between communities and their library."
For many years, Australians have been known to prefer libraries, art galleries and museums for recreational and leisure activities. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that over 6 million people visit libraries at least once each year and that 25% of those people visit the library more than 10 times each year. Additionally, libraries are the second most frequently attended cultural venue, after cinemas.
At Maitland City Library, readers will be tempted to venture outside their comfort zone and embark on a mystery date with a book. From 9-14 February, readers will be encouraged to discover new authors by taking home one of the carefully selected and wrapped 'mystery books' available at any Maitland City Library branch. This is an opportunity to dive intot he unknown!
Visit library branches at Maitland, East Maitland, Rutherford or Thornton to borrow a 'mystery book'
“