CURRENT LIBRARY OPENING HOURS

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:30 am - 5 pm
Tuesday, Thursday: 9.30 am - 9 pm
Saturdays: 9.30 am - 3 pm
Sundays: 1 pm - 5 pm

For those members of the community who are not yet fully vaccinated or are still wanting contactless pick-up, we are continuing to offer the ever popular Grab n Go service.

HALLOWEEN FOR KIDS

Dust off those costumes or put more spiders’ webs on them, whichever the case may be, and Trick or Treat yourself to our Halloween treat bags. Celebrate the library’s reopening by heading to the children’s desk and picking up a treat bag for your kids and a spooky read or two from our Halloween book display. These are available this Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st  during opening hours.

If you prefer to stay home, we have put together some seriously scary (but not TOO scary) stories online in our Halloween Story Box Library Playlist. Just log in using your library card, select ‘My Playlists’, then ‘Halloween’. We also have Halloween activity sheets available to download from the library website.

SPICE APPRECIATION MASTER CLASS
Wednesday 3 November, 12 - 1 pm via Zoom

Where did the spice trade start from? Was it the silk route, or was it with the discovery of the shores of the Malabar coast? Spices have travelled with empires, conquests and voyages, making their home in lots of different cultures and countries. Join Himanshi Munshaw Luhar for a spice appreciation master class. Book online FREE at Eventbrite.

MULTICULTURAL COOKING CLASS
Fridays fortnightly 11 am - 12 noon, next session 5 November via Zoom

Welcome to this culinary extravaganza - a fun, informal, hands-on cooking class. Each class will be dedicated to one of the world's cuisines. Together in our next class we will be making a Vegetable Biryani, an Indian dish to celebrate Diwali, a festival of lights. Book online at Eventbrite.

LIFE ON THE GANGES

Along the river embankment are boatmen who row tourists up and down the Ganges during Dev Diwali, a festival celebrated 15 days after the national holiday of Diwali. The boat rides are part of the spiritual experience on this holy day, and the film introduces the audience to the river, this auspicious event, and one particular boatman, whose main source of strength and survival comes from the Ganges. Click here to watch.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS BY RINA SINGH

During Diwali, Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains celebrate the legends and stories that describe the triumph of good over evil and justice over oppression. Critically acclaimed author Rina Singh explores her Indian roots as she tells Diwali stories, which remind us that eventually the light will prevail over darkness. Click here to read.

THE LUNCHBOX

Trying to add some spice to her marriage, Ila prepares a special lunchbox for her husband at work. Unbeknownst to her it is mistakenly delivered to another worker, Saajan. Curious about the lack of reaction from her husband, Ila puts a note in the next day's lunchbox. This begins a series of lunchbox notes between Saajan and Ila, and the communication soon evolves into an unexpected friendship. Click here to reserve.

BOLLYWOOD ON BONDI

The inaugural Bollywood on Bondi festival was held as part of Sydney's Carnivale in 2002. A three-day extravaganza of film, seminars, and guest speakers the festival culminated in a dance party complete with guest performers the Spiced Tingle Bollywood Dancers (pictured). Film screenings included Ashutosh Gowarikar's Lagaan, Guru Dutt's Sahib Bibi our Gulam and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 1942: A Love Story. The festival was designed to explore 'why Indian Cinema remains Hollywood's greatest rival, what it means to be a star in a country of almost a billion people, and what those song and dance sequences are really all about'. Bondi's Bollywood affair continued, though, with Siddharth Annan's War filming a chase sequence at Bondi Beach in 2019.

AUTHOR TALK: TARA WELLS ON THE BONDI TO MANLY WALK
Wednesday 10 November, 6 - 7 pm via Zoom

A spectacular 80-kilometre track connects the iconic beaches of Bondi and Manly, and has you winding through secluded bays, protected bushland and our glittering harbour city along the way. Tara Wells will also give you tips about highlighted short walks: Bronte to Bondi, The Rocks and Sydney Harbour Bridge, Hermitage Foreshore Walk near Rose Bay and much more. Book online at Eventbrite.

AUTHOR TALK: KRISTA VANE-TEMPEST ON EDITH BLAKE’S WAR
Thursday 18 November, 6 - 7 pm via Zoom

Krista Vane-Tempest shares the incredible story of Edith Blake, the only Australian nurse killed in action during the First World War. In the early hours of 26 February 1918, the British hospital ship Glenart Castle steamed into the Bristol Channel, heading for France to pick up wounded men from the killing fields of the Western Front. Onboard was 32-year-old Australian nurse, Edith Blake. Book online at Eventbrite.

HISTORY EXTENSION SEMINAR: THE PROJECT
Thursday 11 November, 9 am - 2:15 pm

These sessions offer students embarking on their own History Project insights into historiography, guidance on developing their research skills and invaluable advice, resources and inspiration. Book online at Eventbrite.

WORD EXPRESS ENGLISH EXTENSION 2 SEMINAR
Friday 19 November, 9 am - 2:30 pm

This highly interactive online experience will equip students with the tools, advice and confidence to embark on their major project. Book online at Eventbrite.