Collections at your library!

Library Collections News, July 2026

Welcome to the latest edition of Library Collection News! 📚✨

Discover fresh titles, exciting resources, and the latest collection updates from Coffs Harbour Libraries.

In this edition:

  • Find your next favourite read with CloudLibrary 📖
  • Discover Active Minds Kits, a new collection designed to support cognitive wellbeing 🧠
  • Get ready for Library and Information Week with Open Doors, Open Books, Open Minds – Library Open Day 🎉
  • Meet your next favourite author with upcoming events at the library and online ✍️

Then, settle in and explore our latest books, resources, and reading recommendations - there's something for every reader at Coffs Harbour Libraries.

eResource of the Month
CloudLibrary

CloudLibrary

Find your favourite read with CloudLibrary!

Enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks for free with your library membership. Whether you're at home, driving to work, or on holiday, CloudLibrary lets you borrow, read, and listen anytime, anywhere. Simply download the app, sign in with your library card, and start exploring your next great read today.

Start reading
 

Collection Feature
Active Minds Kits

Active Minds Kits
Reserve now

Active Minds Kits have been created to support older Australians experiencing memory change, early-stage dementia or cognitive decline, while also engaging anyone wanting to stay mentally active and connected.

Designed for one-to-one or group use, each themed kit combines carefully selected books, puzzles and games that exercise the mind, strengthen congnitive function and spark meaningful shared experiences.

Themes include Faithful Friends, Art & Imagination, Lightbulb Moments, Timeless Civilisations, and so much more.

 

eCollection Feature
Happy Birthday Harry Potter

Harry Potter on Hoopla

Celebrate Harry Potter's Birthday with Hoopla! 

Celebrate Harry Potter's birthday on 31 July by revisiting the magic with Hoopla. The complete Harry Potter series is available to borrow as both eBooks and eAudiobooks, beautifully narrated by Stephen Fry.

With Hoopla, your library goes wherever you do. Borrow audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, TV shows, and music to enjoy on your computer, phone, tablet, smart TV, or even in the car. Best of all, all you need is your Coffs Harbour Libraries membership to get started.

Start reading
 

eCollection Feature
BorrowBox ePress

BorrowBox ePress

Introducing – BorrowBox ePress

Stay informed with BorrowBox's ePress, featuring a curated collection of Australian newspapers and popular national and international magazines.

Start reading
 

Trending New Titles
Adult Fiction 

Based on a true story by Sarah Vaughan

Based on a true story by Sarah Vaughan

A lavish 70th birthday party. A body found on a storm-lashed beach. And a secret that someone is dying to tell...

Read more
Broken dove by Dani Francis.

Broken dove by Dani Francis

The heart-pounding sequel to dystopian romance Silver Elite where lines will be crossed, loyalties will be tested, and the fight for the Continent is only just beginning as Wren Darlington finds herself caught in the middle of two wars: one for the fate of her home and another for the fate of her heart.

Read more
Dirtpickers by Edie May Hand

Dirtpickers by Edie May Hand

A haunting debut novel about survival, loyalty and the fragile bonds that turn strangers into family.

Read more
The endling by Keely Jobe

The endling by Keely Jobe

Vividly expressed, wildly funny, and wholly original, The Endling examines the volatile intersection of community and politics, exploring what happens when the borders we construct between species, between sexes, between self and world prove more porous than we imagine.

Read more
A farm in golden clouds by Leearna Shaw

A farm in golden clouds by Leearna Shaw

Widow, struggling farmer and self-help author Indi Carmichael finds herself staring down the barrel of her spiralling debt. Washed-up actor Ben Whittam worries about everything; controlling his life means he can control his grief, and he doesn't have to worry about any unscripted surprises. With Indi's future on the farm hanging by a thread and Ben's career on the line, is falling in love while their lives are falling apart really the best idea?

Read more
Last first kiss by Julian Winters

Last first kiss by Julian Winters

Sparks fly in this second chance rom-com when an unlucky-in-love event planner realises the man-of-honour at the high-profile wedding he's planning is the same man who broke his heart.

Read more
Maneater by Ellie Graves

Maneater by Ellie Graves

This "fem-gore" thriller explores female rage, corporate misogyny, and the terrifying price of ambition in haute cuisine.

Read more
The name game by Beth O'Leary

The name game by Beth O'Leary

A mind-bending, heart-mending love story about second chances becoming new beginnings and about love finding us in the most secluded of places.

Read more
The very secretive and passionate Stella Miles Franklin by Alexandra Lapierre

The very secretive and passionate Stella Miles Franklin by Alexandra Lapierre

A biographical novel about the trailblazing Australian author. It chronicles her 1901 publishing triumph, My Brilliant Career, the ensuing fallout from using a male pseudonym, and her subsequent reinvention across three continents as a feminist and activist.

Read more
Warlord of Britannia by Simon Scarrow and T.J. Andrews.

Warlord of Britannia by Simon Scarrow and T.J. Andrews

The enthralling new drama in the epic story of Caratacus: the barbarian king who led the tribes of Britannia against mighty Rome.

Read more

Trending New Titles
Adult Non-fiction 

Angertainment by Ed Coper
Aphrodisia by Jean Menzies
Australian queer screens by Rob Cover
Celebrating Your Intercultural Marriage by Louise & Les Isaac
Defiant resistance by Marlene Longbottom
Exploring nature through citizen science by Erin Roger, Cameron Slatyer and Thomas Mesaglio
GLP-1 meals made easy by Aliza Olive, MD and Kellie Bader, PharmD
How to raise rich kid$ by Sarah Megginson
In the weeds by Sonia Graham
 

Reading Radar
What our community are reading...

 
Ironwood by Michael Connelly

Ironwood by Michael Connelly

A well told, easy to follow plot. Some realistic twists and turns. Some worthwhile topics & good development of the two main themes. A little character development. Well-structured chapters and sentences. Some interesting ideas and good developments. Worth your time in reading it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read now
 
The others by Sheena Kalayil

The others by Sheena Kalayil

Excellent story. Set in a very interesting time in history.

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read now
 
The things we never say by Elizabeth Strout

The things we never say by Elizabeth Strout

So enjoyed this book. Inciteful, probing and made me really ponder what this could teach me about people & life! Thoroughly recommend it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read now
 
Three reasons for revenge by Dervla McTiernan

Three reasons for revenge by Dervla McTiernan

Her best book ever. Hard to put down!!

Read now
 

Our Community Reads Project

2026, All Year Program

What does home mean to you? Pick a book that speaks to this theme, whether it’s a place, a feeling, a memory, or a sense of belonging, and join the conversation through book clubs, events, and shared stories all year.

Get involved

Explore our recommended Junior ‘Home’ suggested reads:

Animal habitats by Annabel Griffin
August and Jones by Pip Harry
Charlie's war by Vicki Bennett
The house that was Eureka by Nadia Wheatley
The little refugee by Anh Do
The lost library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Storm boy by Colin Thiele
Who am I? by Anita Heiss
 
Open doors, open books, open minds

Open Doors, Open Books, Open Minds -
Library Open Day 2026

On Thursday 30 July 2026, public libraries across New South Wales will participate in Open Doors, Open Books, Open Minds, a statewide Library Open Day during Library and Information Week. 

The initiative, led by the NSW Public Libraries Association in partnership with the State Library of NSW, celebrates the vital role public libraries play in strengthening communities. From literacy and lifelong learning to digital inclusion, creativity, local history and community connection, libraries provide opportunities that enrich the lives of people of all ages. 

Coffs Harbour Library is inviting residents to visit the library, discover its services and collections, meet staff and enjoy a range of special activities, including behind the scenes tours, Little Bookworms storytelling, Baby Rhyme Time and open access to the Digital Studio. 

Whether you're already a library member or visiting for the first time, Open Doors is an opportunity to discover everything your local library has to offer—and perhaps leave with a library card in your pocket. 

Behind-the-scenes Library Tours 

When: Thurs 30 July, 11am and 2pm
Where: Harry Bailey Memorial Library, Yarrila Place

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at your library? Step beyond the public shelves and uncover the hidden workings of our library on this special guided tour. Visit our Cataloguing and Home Library Service areas, delve into the treasures of our Local History and Memory Room, and discover the creative possibilities of our Digital Studio.
 

Book now

Baby Rhyme Time

When: Thurs 30 July, 10.30-11am
Where: Story Space, Ground Floor, Harry Bailey Memorial Library

Join us for this fun, interactive program. Baby Rhyme Time introduces babies and their carers to the magic of books and language through sharing rhymes, songs, finger-plays, action verse and simple stories.

Suitable for children 0-2 years. 
 

Learn more

Open Digital Studio


When: Thurs 30 July, 10-3pm (Drop-In)
Where: Digital Studio, Level 1, Yarrila Place

The Digital Studio is your home for creativity, ideas and experimentation! Unleash your creativity with pro-level tools, come and discover what you can create.

• Recording Booth • Mac and PC with Industry Software • Green Screen • Photography Backdrop • Studio Lights • Stop-Motion Rig • Podcasting Studio • Instruments • Workshop Hire Space

Learn more

Little Bookworms

When: Thurs 30 July, 3.45pm
Where: Story Space, Ground Floor, Harry Bailey Memorial Library

Join us for stories, laughter, and imagination as we explore the wonderful world of books together. Afterwards children can create and design their very own personalized bookmark to take home and enjoy with their next great read.

Suitable for children 5-8 years

Book here
 

Upcoming Events

David Baldacci event image

Online Author Event: An evening with David Baldacci

Tuesday 21 July, 7pm

Don’t miss the award-winning author of the Walter Nash, Travis Devine, Amos Decker and Aloysius Archer series, as he discusses his pulse-pounding books, followed by a live audience Q&A, hosted by BorrowBox.

Register here
Libby Reads with Ben Hobson
History Month event image
Book now

Local History Month Special with Dorrigo Author Sarah Smith

Saturday 1 August, 10:30am

Join us for a History Month special event as Dorrigo author Sarah Smith explores the real people, places and stories that inspired The Sawmiller's Daughter, a powerful tale of resilience, ambition and courage set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and World War II.

Petronella McGovern event image
Book now

Author Event: Petronella McGovern in Conversation with local author Judi Morison

Thursday 6 August, 6pm

Join bestselling thriller author Petronella McGovern in conversation with Judi Morison as they delve into Every Time She Wakes—a suspense-filled new novel of time loops, family secrets and impossible choices where every decision could mean the difference between life and death.

Australian Poetry Slam Workshop

Poetry Workshop

Monday 10 August, 5.30pm
Learning Lab, Level 2, Harry Bailey Memorial Library

Whether you’re a quiet dreamer or an outspoken wordsmith, this poetry workshop empowers you to do more than stream other people’s creativity.  This is your chance to make your stories matter; to transform your introspective ideas into crowd roars and finger clicks.

Write new stuff or re-shape your existing work with award-winning spoken word artist, Miles Merrill.
 

Book now
Australian Poetry Slam Heat

Coffs Harbour Poetry Slam Heat

Tuesday 11 August, 6pm
River Oak Room, Yarrila Place


Whether you're performing or joining the live audience Yarrila Place is the place to be on Tuesday 11 August. Experience the thrill of competition and powerful performances. You've got to be in it to win it and experience it.  

Calling All Poets! Have you ever wanted to change the world with your words? You are invited to rip those scrawled leaves of passion from your notebook and ignite them on stage.

Book now
 

Acknowledgement of Country

Coffs Harbour Libraries is on the land of the Gumbaynggirr people, who we recognise as the traditional custodians of the land and who have cared for the land since time immemorial. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and commit ourselves to a future with reconciliation and renewal at its heart.

Harry Bailey
Memorial Library

Yarrila Place
27 Gordon Street
Coffs Harbour
NSW 2452

Tel: (02) 6648 4900

Monday to Friday
10.00am to 6.00pm

Saturday & Sunday
10am to 2pm

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Toormina Library

Minorie Drive
Toormina NSW 2452
Tel: (02) 6648 4925

Monday to Friday
10.00am to 5.00pm

Saturday
10am to 12noon

Woolgoolga Library

Ganderton Street
Woolgoolga NSW 2456
Tel: (02) 6648 4902

Monday to Friday
10.00am to 5.00pm

Saturday
10am to 12noon

 
 
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Coffs Harbour Libraries
Locked Bag 155 Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

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