Remembering them: the ANZAC Centenary - explore our history with a book

Between 2014 and 2018 Australia will commemorate the Anzac Centenary, marking 100 years since this country's involvement in the First World War. In the last ten years alone over 150 books with the words Anzac or Gallipoli in their titles have been published. Many more are in the pipeline due for release as the Centenary gets underway. With advances over the years in research methods and easier access to previously inaccessible resources the range of books of interest not only to scholars and battle enthusiasts but to the general reader has flourished to the point where there really is ‘something for everyone’.

Previously neglected areas of research now getting attention include the role of women in the conflict, recently brought to life in the television series Anzac Girls, based on Anzac girls: the extraordinary story of our World War I nurses by Peter Rees (previously published as The Other Anzacs). Life on the home-front is explored in Michael McKernan’s, Australians at home: World War 1 in a new edition of one of the first books on this subject. Khaki Crims & Desperados by Russell Robinson tells the little known story of criminals with extensive police records who were among the thousands who enlisted.

Two new books take a fresh look at the life and work of one of Australia's most well-known war correspondents, Charles Bean in Charles Bean: if people really knew: one man's struggle to report the Great War and tell the truth by Ross Coulthart and Charles Bean's Gallipoli illustrated edited by Phillip Bradley.

The men behind the national legend are revealed in two recent books. Memoirs and letters, as well as poetry, reportage and prose have been edited by author and journalist Mark Dapin in From the Trenches: the best ANZAC writing of World War One to tell the personal stories of the Anzacs in their own words. Investigative journalist Ross Coulthart in The Lost Diggers tells the real life detective story behind the recent discovery in France of lost photographs taken by Louis and Antoinette Thullier of Australian diggers and other allied troops as they passed through the French town of Vignacourt on their way to Pozieres, Bullecourt, and the Somme. The images of young Australians are as moving as the story of their discovery is riveting.

For fans of popular history  two of Australia’s most prolific authors have recently published page turning accounts of the World War 1 conflict from the Australian perspective, Peter FitzSimons in Gallipoli and Paul Ham with 1914:The Year the World Ended.

Living in the Library

Hurstville City Library has a new resident this week. A living statue has made our Dora Street window her home between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon.She has taken up lodgings during Library Week and is a master of disguise adopting a different persona each day.

Visitors and onlookers have been amazed by the variety of costume choices from relaxed travel gear to lycra superhero clothes to a period gothic dress. She is surrounded by an assortment of books relating to the National Year of Reading monthly theme of Escape and can often be seen perusing their contents.

Rumor has it today is the last day she will appear. I wonder what her disguise will be?

Third Wednesday Book Club: New group for book lovers

Love to read?  Like to share your opinions and thoughts with other like-minded people? Then the Third Wednesday Book Club a new lunchtime book group that aims to provide an informal and friendly atmosphere for adults of all ages might be for you. If you live, work or shop in the Hurstville area keep a lunchtime free once a  month, bring along a sandwich and share a cup of tea or coffee with others and join in the discussion.

Book groups are a great way to meet new people and make new friends. They can give you a more focussed way of reading and can often help you discover a new author, genre or style of book you may never have considered before. A relaxed rather than academic atmosphere with no right or wrong way of reading or responding to a book and where all contributions are welcomed is encouraged. With the library being the central meeting place there is no need to travel to a new address each month.

At each meeting, a preselected book will be the topic for discussion and everyone is encouraged to join in. All members can suggest titles both fiction and nonfiction for discussion at future meetings.

Hurstville City Library

cnr Queens Rd & Dora St, Hurstville

Coming dates: May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19, October 17, November 21 @ 1pm

To register interest or to find out more contact

The Adult Collections Librarian,

9330 6142

Author Talk: Editor Anna Valdinger - HarperCollins Australia: A glimpse into the world of book publishing

Hurstville City Library
cnr Queens Rd & Dora St, Hurstville
Thursday 27th October @ 7pm
Bookings 9330 6142

Ever wondered what it takes to get published?
Why do some authors end up on bestsellers lists?
What are publishers looking for?
What is the role of an editor?
Anna Valdinger Commissoning Editor of Australian commercial fiction authors for HarperCollins Australia will take us behind the scenes of the book publishing world. Anna is responsible for looking after and building up a stable of Australian commercial fiction authors and helping to develop their careers from book to book particularly in the genres of crime, thrillers, sagas, women's fiction both contemporary and historic.
Anna will share her insights and experience and looks forward to answering all those questions you may have about the publishing scene.
Star authors with HarperCollins include;
Colleen McCullough, Tara Moss, Nikki Gemmell and Belinda Alexandra.
Anna also looks after international authors such as Paullina Simons, Paulo Coelho, Daniel Silva and Michael Crichton, as well as some of the Avon romance authors including Stephanie Laurens and Anna Campbell.
With experience in the publishing world both in London and Sydney this evening promises to be a real treat for all avid readers and aspiring writers.

Colleen McCullough

Personal libraries - Karl Lagerfeld

Best known as the current head designer and creative director for fashion empire Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld is a man of many faces. Well, not really. The same dark-bespectacled eyes and white hair have dominated the fashion industry since the 1980's. However, Lagerfeld is well known for one of his other great loves, books.




This mish-mash of titles may be lacking in any organisation (Ever heard of the Dewey Decimal system, Karl?)however it seems to make the books even more striking and beautiful!
Have you seen pictures of your favourite celebs personal library? Who's is it and why is it your fave?

Back open.

Hurstville City Library has officially reopened after our carpet installation! Check out these photos that one of our librarians snapped of the first Saturday back open..

Doctor Who : The Writer's Tale

The blurb on the cover calls it "The definitive story of the BBC series" and that it is.

Containing email correspondence between head writer Russell T. Davies and journalist Benjamin Cook, the first half of the book concentrates on the production of the 4th series of Doctor Who's rebirth. The second half concentrates on David Tennant's last year as the Doctor leading up to his final episodes. Along the way you get a glimpse of storylines that didn't make it to production (including Penny, the companion who never was), find out the day-to-day dramas of bringing Doctor Who to the screen, learn about the politics of the BBC and experience David Tennant's final days on set. You also get Russell's muses on life, the state of television in the UK and everything.

Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale is a must. Not just for Doctor Who fans, but for anyone with an interest in television production.

Carpet installation - Week 2.

The second week of the carpet installation has begun at the library. You can check out all the latest photos on our flickr but here's a sneak peek of what's going on..

Reader's Book Club - Forest Rd, Hurstville

The Reader's Book Club was a local service where residents paid a small fee to join. This allowed them to borrow books at threepence each.

Our local Reader's Book Club was located on Forest Rd, next to Barter's store. Barter's was located at the bottom of the Forest Rd entrance to Hurstville Station.

Were you a member of the Reader's Book Club?

Do you remember when this service ceased?

If so, please let us know by leaving a comment below or emailing museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au

Mr. Bean in the Library

Oh bless the English, for not only have they brought us colonisation and Jordan, but they also offer up the quietly hilarious and entirely endearing Mr. Bean




Where would we be without his blundering antics to amuse and delight us?

Just make sure you treat Hurstville Library's books a bit better!

Dianne Blacklock Guest Author at Hurstville City Library

Hurstville City Library

cnr Queens Rd & Dora St

Wednesday 10th November, 2010

12.15pm Exhibition Area

Free Event: Bookings 9330 6142

One of Hurstville Library's most popular authors, Dianne Blacklock will be speaking about her writing and her new book The Right Time

Dianne says of her new book, "It's about that unconditional love you only find in families. The four Beckett sisters can be annoying, resentful and drive each other crazy, but when it really matters, they are there for each other in a heartbeat. I hope you enjoy their journey; I certainly enjoyed taking it with them."

Dianne's visit will be a treat for lovers of her works or for fans of books that explore family relationships, men-women relationships, love and friendship.

Other Dianne Blacklock books held by the library include:

Almost Perfect Call Waiting Crossing Paths

False Advertising Three's a Crowd Wife for Hire

Matthew Reilly

Matthew Reilly is one of Australia's most beloved authors. His books have sold over 3.5 million copies worlwide and have been published in more than 20 countries.

One of the favourites here at the LMG is his Jack West series, starting with The Seven Ancient Wonders. The series continues to include The Six Sacred Stones and lastly The Five Greatest Warriors. These fast paced, action packed novels are a favourite of both young and old.

Come into the LMG today and check one out!

Recycled books

In the back of every cupboard amongst the mis-matched socks and clouds of dust there is an old book or two. Okay, admit it, there's about 30. They're all books that you bought, maybe read once, and then decided you didn't particularly like. But you're yet to donate these unloved members of the literacy world to your local library (which is what you should be doing. Right now.)

Perhaps you're a hoarder. Perhaps you're keeping them there until you can give them away as a birthday present to someone you don't particularly care for. Whatever the reason behind your accumulation of abandoned books, there's always someone somewhere else in the world that could be reading and loving those books that you use as a door stop.

And even if you don't feel like giving those books to a library and being a wonderful human being, there's always other ways of recycling these literary orphans...

How about this recycled book chandelier by Lula Dot Studio?

Maybe turn them into pot plants, like Italian designer GartenKulter.

But perhaps the best of all, a recycled book library information desk! Brilliance!

Treasures from the Reference Collection now available for loan

Ever browsed through Hurstville Library's reference collection and wished you could borrow that special book? Now many titles from the collection have been transferred to the lending collection and are available for loan. Check out some of the titles now on the display stands when next you visit. Many more titles will be available in the coming months for you to borrow and read in the comfort of your own home. A few are listed below:

A History of the Islamic World
Entertaining and informative, with over 70 illustrations, photos, and maps this is a stimulating depiction of the world's second-largest religion, with over one billion adherents.






How I Write The Secret Lives of Authors

Where do writers get their ideas? How do they deal with writer's block? What do they do all day?
Find out the answers from the authors themselves. Original contributions are from well known authors including Jonathan Franzen, Joyce Carol Oates, Will Self and A. S. Byatt. Letters, photographs, drawings, illustrations, and other scattered mementos make up this book.



Oxford Guide to Style
Contains 16 topic-based chapters
offering advice on how to present
the written word.

Fighting Talk
Stirring speeches and battle cries
from history's greatest warriors and
revolutionaries.

Australia's Quarter Acre
A spirited defence of the home garden, includes explanations of how Australia became the world's first great suburban nation, how the layout of the back and front yard has changed over time and why manicured lawns and productive vegetable gardens have declined. The hidden meanings of the ordinary garden are explored along with fascinating insights into everything from fruit trees, woodsheds, rotrary clotheslines and illuminated Santas.

Sneakers: The Complete Collectors' Guide
This book comprises over 550 specially taken colour photographs; over 180 sneaker designs from 11 leading brands chosen for the mark they have made on sneaker culture worldwide, brand histories and information on creating and caring for your collection.Encyclopedic in scope it is a delight for both the novice and hard core aficionado of all things sneaker.

It's a book

From children's author Lane Smith comes this book trailer (and how awesome is that, a book trailer!).



Genius! Think I'll put in a suggestion for purchase...

Prime Minister's Literary Awards Shortlisted Books at Hurstville Library, Museum & Gallery

The Prime Minister's Literary Awards are held annually to celebrate the contribution of literature to Australia's cultural and intellectual life. Recently those fiction and non-fiction titles in contention were narrowed down to a short list. Most are available from Hurstville City Library, or are on order - try one, see if you agree with the judges!


Non-fiction shortlist
The Water Dreamers: The Remarkable History of Our Dry Continent by Michael Cathcart
Strange Places: A Memoir of Mental Illness by Will Elliott
The Colony: A History of Early Sydney by Grace Karskens
The Life and Death of Democracy by John Keane
The Blue Plateau: A Landscape Memoir by Mark Tredinnick
The Ghost at the Wedding by Shirley Walker

Fiction shortlist
Summertime by J.M. Coetzee
The Book of Emmett by Deborah Forster
The Lakewoman by Alan Gould
Dog Boy by Eva Hornung
Ransom by David Malouf
Lovesong by Alex Miller
As the Earth Turns Silver by Alison Wong

Prime Minister's Literary Awards website for more information