What’s on in March!?

March 2023

Welcome to the Muswellbrook Shire Libraries eNewsletter – the best way to stay up to date with all the news and events from the Muswellbrook and Denman Branches. Don’t forget to follow us on our new Instagram or Facebook for ongoing news and events.

This month Muswellbrook and Denman Libraries are celebrating International Women’s Day and Harmony Week. We have some fantastic events for all ages. Be sure to check out what’s on below and contact your local branch for more information.

Be sure to check out else is happening at the library below and contact your local branch for more information.

LATEST NEWS

Muswellbrook Library Presents Mardi Gras 
February 1 – March 27

Visit the Muswellbrook Library to view an amazing collection of award winning Mardi Gras costumes designed and created by local resident Marc Donaldson.

Marc has been involved with the Sydney Mardi Gras since its inception 45 years ago and throughout the years has attended as both a costume designer and performer. He has won numerous awards for his designs including the Jacqui Award for Best Costume in the Parade and the Ron Muncaster Award for Best Costume in the Parade.
Marc’s exhibit is full of colour and history…one not to be missed!

Come in and check out this wonderful display, click here for our full opening hours.

Join Marcia Monterey (A.K.A. Marc) for a Q&A session at Muswellbrook Library on Wednesday 8 and 22 from 10:30am.

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International Women’s Day: Embrace Equity
Wednesday, March 8 2023.

For International Women’s Day and beyond, let’s all fully #EmbraceEquity.

Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have.
A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA.
And it’s critical to understand the difference between equity and equality.
We can all truly embrace equity.
It’s not just something we say. It’s not just something we write about.
It’s something we need to think about, know, and embrace.
It’s what we believe in, unconditionally. Equity means creating an inclusive world.

To celebrate, Denman Library will be hosting a themed Story Time on Thursday, March 9 at 10am.

Visit your local branch and check what we have on display! Click here to see our opening hours.

Click here to browse and reserve items from our Embrace Equity for Women reading list online today.

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Australian Reading Hour
Thursday, March 9 2023.

Australian Reading Hour was launched as part of the 2012 National Year of Reading and is now a much-loved highlight on Australia’s literary calendar.

For 2023, the Australian Reading Hour will bring together an inspiring program of reading events hosted by booksellers, libraries and schools across the country. There will be both online and in-person events in each state, featuring fantastic Australian authors and illustrators.

Take an hour to read, share, and enjoy books!
Visit the Muswellbrook or Denman branches on March 9^th and have a read! Tell us what you are reading on hour Australian Reading Hour bookmarks, available at Muswellbrook and Denman Libraries!

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Harmony Week 2023 
March 20 – 26

Harmony Week is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community.

Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world and we should celebrate this and work to maintain it.
Harmony Week is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.

To celebrate Harmony Week, Muswellbrook Library will be sharing a themed Baby Rhyme Time session on Monday, March 20 from 10am.
Muswellbrook and Denman Libraries will be hosting themed Story Time Session on Thursday March 23 from 10am.

Click here to browse our World Harmony reading list online and reserve items to pick up at your local branch.

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Reading Challenges on Beanstack

Dive into new reading challenges on Beanstack! We have reading challenges for everyone to get involved in.

Rising Readers: 1000 Books Before School

Growing Readers Challenge

10 to Try: Find your new favorite for 2023

Join Beanstack today and join in on these challenges and track your reading in 2023.

Download the Beanstack app to your phone or tablet or visit our Beanstack site and register for an account using your Muswellbrook Shire Libraries membership. Once registered, you can log your books or activities to earn digital badges! 

Click here to go to Beanstack. 

Click here for more information on how to sign up to Beanstack.

Need help? See our staff at Muswellbrook and Denman Libraries to help get you started.

WHAT’S ON FOR CHILDREN

STORY TIME AND BABY RHYME TIME

Join us weekly at our story time and rhyme sessions filled with stories, song and creativity.

MUSWELLBROOK LIBRARY’S SESSIONS

Baby Rhyme Time: Monday mornings at 10:00AM – 10:45AM

Story Time and Craft: Thursday mornings at 10:00AM – 11:00AM

STEM Story Time: The third Thursday of the month from 10:00AM-11:00AM

DENMAN LIBRARY’S SESSIONS

Story Time and Craft: Thursday mornings at 10:00AM – 10:30AM

Interested in attending a session but can’t make it to these times? We would love to hear from you! Contact us at Muswellbrook Library on 6543 1913.

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LEGO CLUB

Put your Lego building skills to the test at Muswellbrook and Denman Libraries with our monthly Lego Club!
Join in on challenges that will make you think outside the box and push your building skills to the limit.

MUSWELLBROOK LIBRARY’S SESSIONS

Muswellbrook Library’s Lego Club is held on the first and third Mondays of each month. This month’s sessions will be held on Monday, March 6 and 20 from 3:45pm to 4:45pm.

DENMAN LIBRARY’S SESSION

Denman Library’s Lego Club is held on the second Monday of each month. This month’s session will be held on Monday, March 13 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm.

Suitable for ages 6 – 12 years.
Children under the age of 13 must be supervised by an adult at all times.

WHAT’S ON FOR ADULTS

AUTHOR TALK: TODD ALEXANDER

MUSWELLBROOK LIBRARY WEDNESDAY 5 APRIL | 11AM

Join best selling Author Todd Alexander as he shares his latest book ‘Over The Hill & Up The Wall’.

About the Book:

A heart-warming journey with parents of a certain age and a son who thinks he knows best.
When do we stop being our parents’ child and become their parent? After all, they did pretty well on their own for decades – why do they need our intervention now? And that tendency for them to drive us up the wall…could it be because we are entering middle age and starting to recognise some of those traits in ourselves?

‘Over the Hill and Up the Wall’ is an affectionate, funny look at the frictions of taking a more active role in our elders’ lives.

About the Author:

Todd is the successful author of multiple books including his best selling memoir ‘Thirty Thousand Bottles of Wine and a Pig Called Helga’.
He has contributed articles for publications such as Nourish Magazine, The Guardian, African Safari Magazine and Home Beautiful.
Todd currently lives in the Hunter Valley with his partner Jeff where they renovate houses and rescue farm animals.

Bookings are essential for this event. Contact the Muswellbrook Library on 6543 1913 to register.

Copies of Todd’s books will be available for sale at this event.

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BOOK CLUB AT THE LIBRARY

Joining a book club can be a fun and interesting way to meet people as well as indulging your love of reading.
Muswellbrook and Denman Libraries host monthly book clubs that you can join to discuss this month’s read with a cuppa in hand.

DENMAN LIBRARY BOOK CLUB

The Denman Library book club is held the first Tuesday of each month. This month’s session will be held on Tuesday, March 7 from 1:15PM.

MUSWELLBROOK LIBRARY BOOK CLUB

The Muswellbrook Library book club is held the second Tuesday of each month. This month’s session will be held on Tuesday, March 14 from 2:00PM.

Bookings essential, please contact Muswellbrook library on 6543-1913 or Denman Library on 6547-2208 to register.

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SENIORS RIGHTS SERVICES POP UP AT MUSWELLBROOK LIBRARY

Seniors rights service will be hosting pop up events Muswellbrook Library. Seniors Rights Service provides information and support to people using or seeking to access, in-home and residential aged care services. This service is free, independent and confidential. No appointment necessary.

Seniors Rights Service will be hosting monthly pop-ups on the first Friday of each month from 10am – 1pm.

This month’s session will be on March 3 from 10am – 1pm

Find out more about their free and confidential services at: www.seniorsrightsservice.org.au/

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BRAIN TRAINING AT THE LIBRARY

Train your brain at Muswellbrook Library.
Join us and get ready to challenge your mind and exercise your mental agility. Each session will run for approximately an hour. Stay around for a cuppa and a chat following the session.

MUSWELLBROOK LIBRARY’S SESSION

This months session will be held on Friday, March 3 from 10:00AM for a special Paint Brain Training Session.
These sessions will be held on the second Friday of each month.

Please contact Muswellbrook library on 6543-1913 to register.

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COFFEE AND CRAFT AT THE LIBRARY

Come along to Denman Library for coffee and craft, bring along your current work in progress or something new to work on while having a chat and a cuppa with other crafty people.

DENMAN LIBRARY’S SESSION

This months session will be held on Tuesday, March 21 from 1:15PM
These sessions will be held on the third Tuesday of each month.

Please contact Denman Library on 6547-2208 to register.

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CRAFT GROUP AT MUSWELLBROOK LIBRARY

Join our friendly craft group 10AM Tuesday mornings each fortnight at Muswellbrook Library. Bring along your current project or start something new while having a chat and sharing inspiration and ideas!

Sessions this month will be held on March 14 and 28 from 10AM.

Want to host your group meetings at the library? We have many different spaces to suit your needs, give your local branch a call!

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UPPER HUNTER WRITERS COLLECTIVE MEETING

Join the Upper Hunter Writers Collective at the Muswellbrook Library each month for motivation, support and feedback from others who have a passion for writing. Even if you don’t plan on sending work out to publishers, but just enjoy writing as a hobby, this group is a way of sharing your love of the written word.

This month’s meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 21 from 4:00PM – 5:00PM
This group will be meeting the third Tuesday of each month.

Please contact Muswellbrook Library on 6543-1913 to register your interest.

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BEN’S BOOK CLUB

Join bestselling author Chris Hammer as he swaps seats with Ben Hobson to discuss Ben’s new novel ‘The Death of John Lacey’.

This month’s meeting will be held on March 28, at 7:30PM AEDT.

This group will be meeting on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

During this digital book club, guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, interact with the authors, and enjoy a well-rounded bookish discussion.

Visit Libby by Overdrive to download this month’s title and more.

Click here to visit Libby.

Reserve a copy from the library here.

To register for this month’s meeting follow this link here: Ben’s Book Club featuring Ben Hobson

OUR SERVICES

HOME LIBRARY SERVICE

Did you know we run a free home library service to housebound members of the Muswellbrook and Denman Communities? We can pick for you, or you can use our online catalogue to make a selection of books, DVDs, CDs and Audio books that pique your interest. We also have audio readers available for members with low to no vision.

Deliveries will be made on February 14 and 28.

For full details or to register visit our website.

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CLICK AND COLLECT

Our FREE Click and Collect services are now available at Muswellbrook and Denman Branches to eligible library members. Reserve things you are interested in or let us make selections for you.

For full details or to register visit our website.

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TECH HELP

These BYO device sessions are designed to help you get started on library digital collections, learn how to use your device and general tech assistance.

These sessions can be booked one-on-one for a maximum of half an hour.

Please contact Muswellbrook Library on 6543 1913 to register your interest.