Welcome
Whether it’s a fictional novel, real-life biography, or account of an event, there is so much to discover and learn about our local, national, and global history and heritage at the library. Fascinating stories of people, places and culture can be found among the collections.
In this month’s newsletter, our collections team has some recommendations to get you started on your journey of historical discovery. There is also a fascinating stories of local ANZAC's from the Coffs Coast Heritage blog.
Plus information about upcoming programs, new items, and more!!
Thank you
National Volunteer Week is this month, 16-22 May,
and Coffs Harbour Libraries would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Volunteers for their dedication and contribution to the library.
Our volunteers are important to support our public libraries and help make our library services even better by extending the programs and services that we provide to our communities.
Do you enjoy helping others?
Your library needs you! We are currently seeking multiple volunteer service delivery drivers.
You will gain satisfaction through helping us provide this much-appreciated community service. You will have social contact with staff, other library volunteers, and most importantly Home Library Service members for whom this service enhances their quality of life.
ALIA National Simultaneous Storytime 2022
Join us and thousands of others across the country for this year’s National Simultaneous Storytime. This fun event is happening, in-person, at 11.00am on Wednesday 25 May 2022 at Harry Bailey Memorial Library Coffs Harbour.
This year we will be reading Family Tree, a heartfelt celebration of family, community and the seasons of life, written by Josh Pyke and illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh. There will also be a variety of stories, songs and fun-filled activities on the day.
Dealing with NDIS service providers – what are my rights?
Legal Aid Solicitor Karen Fox will be presenting Dealing with NDIS Service Providers law week talk here at Harry Bailey Memorial Library - Coffs Harbour on Monday, 16 May 2022 at 10am - 11am.
Karen will provide useful information about consumer issues arising for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants.
Staff faves…
From fiction to fact our staff gives their personal reviews of books and resources they have read that relate to history and heritage. Toni recommends some fabulous Australian Fiction and if you want to know more about early Colonial History in Australia, Jo has recommended three excellent history books by three outstanding female historians!
All reviews are on resources available in our collections.
Yarn and Yack is back!!
And don’t forget our regular Storytime and Tech Savvy Seniors programs have started again this term.
Yarn & Yack is back! Join us at Harry Bailey Memorial Library on the first Tuesday of the month, starting in May, as we chat, hook, knit, purl and connect. Yarn & Yack is a social group where anyone can come along.
Storytime is an interactive program for children aged 2-5 years with stories, songs and activities that encourage exploration and imagination.
Tech Savvy Seniors program aims to help seniors with little or no digital experience develop skills and confidence in using technology.
Visit the What’s On page of the website for detailed information about each, including the dates, times and locations of all our programs.
History at your fingertips!
Whether you are interested in the modern history of the world, ancient history, historical fiction or the myths and legends like Cosmic war; Overdrive by Libby is a great free online app that can give you lots of information with colourful photographs to supplement the information.
Simply browse the collections, search by subject or keyword ‘History’ to find over a hundred results including eBooks, eAudio books and magazine titles.
For more serious reading, you might like to explore Gale In Context: World History
This database includes articles by academic subject experts on current political upheavals, international organisations, historic personalities, wars and conflicts, specific historic events, periods, cultural trends, civilizations as well as economics including oil production and international markets.
Genealogy, history and heritage
Traces Australia is a magazine for people passionate about Australia and New Zealand's genealogy, history and heritage.
Australia has an inspiring and, at times, bleak past that is always fascinating, the expert voices of historians, researchers, heritage professionals, genealogists, and journalists at Trace, uncover the fascinating characters and stories, from ancient Indigenous heritage to European settlement, local history, collectables and antiques, and genealogy. Featured international stories make Traces a well-rounded source of heritage news.
If you would like to discover your family history story or keep up with heritage news and developments around the country, Traces is a fabulous resource.
Traces magazine is housed in The Harry Bailey Memorial Library or you can find it online at Overdrive
Image: Original Postcard from the Crossingham Family Collection – 1916 Leonard Sydney — William Arthur — George Henry
Coffs Coast Heritage
There are lots of local stories to be found on the Coffs Coast Heritage blog. A couple of the most recent ones follow the stories of local ANZAC's, the first a story of the Serving sons of South Solitary Island Lightkeeper and another about two lighthouse keepers who both served as Signallers in WWI.
New Items
Our new items list is eagerly anticipated each month, but did you know that the items on this list are just a fraction of the new items we receive in the Library each month.
You can browse all the new titles on the home page of the catalogue.
May's new items list is available in hardcopy in the library or online now.
Coffs Harbour Family History Society Seminar
The Coffs Harbour Family History Society are holding a Full Day Seminar featuring speakers Kaye Vernon and Suzanne Voytas. They will be covering the topics of:
- plight of Children in early 19th and 20th Centuries
- looking for gold and finding gems
- Irish Ancestry
- Unusual tips for Family History Research.
If you would like to attend, visit their website where you can download the registration form.
Harry Bailey
Memorial Library
Cnr Coff & Duke Streets
Coffs Harbour
NSW 2450
Tel: (02) 6648 4900
Fax: (02) 6648 4906
Monday to Friday
10.00am to 6.00pm
Saturday
10.00am to 2.00pm
Toormina Library
Minorie Drive
Toormina NSW 2452
Tel: (02) 6648 4925
Fax: (02) 6658 2913
Monday to Friday
10.00am to 5.00pm
Saturday
10.00am to 12noon
Woolgoolga Library
Ganderton Street
Woolgoolga NSW 2456
Tel: (02) 6648 4902
Monday to Friday
10.00am to 5.00pm
Saturday
10.00am to 12noon
