My little [300] ponies

Yep, Sparta meets My Little Pony... really would not mind seeing this as a full release at the local cinema. Trailer is rather good, wouldn't you agree?

Preincarnate

Reviewing Preincarnate is something of a challenge because I still have no idea what it was about. Anyone who's familiar with Shaun Micallef's work will know he has a very unique brand of humour. So if your sense of humor runs in a similar vein to Spike Milligan or Monty Pthyon you'll probably enjoy this. It has some very funny moments. but don't think too hard about the plot afterwards.

Stieg Larsson series now in large print

The best selling series by Stieg Larsson is now available in large print. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest have been on the best seller list for months. Now readers who need or just enjoy reading large print will not feel left out!

Cram for the HSC!

Our popular subject seminars are back!
Each seminar is led by a HSC expert who'll provide you with tips, hints and notes.

Get the edge in exams and nail those tricky topics. BOOK NOW!

When:

• 27 April 2011 - Economics
• 28 April 2011 - Legal Studies
• 4 May 2011 - Chemistry
• 5 May 2011 - Biology
• 10 May 2011 – English/Belonging
• 11 May 2011 – Business

Where: Hurstville City Library, Exhibition Area
Cost: $5
Time: 6-8pm
To book and for more details: go to the Information Desk, Hurstville City Library

Karoshi

On the way to work this morning with the autumn sun making Sydney shine its best, I was listening to FBi radio when a track from their album on the week came on. It was a lovely blissed out tune off the debut from Sydney producer Karoshi. Was a Sigur Rós meets Explosions in the Sky sonic moment. Caitlin Welsh caught up with yet another great Sydney bedroom producer, read the interview on the FBi blog.

For a sample of work, check out:
http://www.myspace.com/karoshimusic
http://www.facebook.com/karoshisydney

Tell us what you think? Something for our catalogue?

Getting ready to Begin-Again!

The final countdown is on until The Begin-Again and the excitement is building!

If you need reminding, The Begin-Again is a joint project by Hurstville City Council, C3West and Australian artist Angelica Mesiti. The Begin-Again was developed in response to Hurstville City Council’s Community Strategic Plan.

Over two nights, from sunset to midnight, Mesiti will bring the streets of Hurstville to life with four site specific video installations and a live performance that invoke the architecture of Hurstville as a backdrop to the stories of the area.

Hurstville City Council staff and staff from the Museum of Contemporary Art have been busy preparing for this marvellous event. Rehearsals have taken place; beautiful promotional material has been spread far and wide and an induction for event volunteers has been held so we’re almost set and ready to go.

We’ve been lucky enough to have a sneak peak at the films too and they are, well….amazing!
Whilst the event is not far off now (only three days to go!) check out our preview video.

For more information visit The Begin-Again webpage

The Begin-Again
Friday 1 & Saturday 2 April 2011
7.30pm - 12 midnight

Cracking the Footy Codes

It's that time of year when the days grow shorter and nights grow colder. And that can only mean one time. Yep, the footy season's back!



So, if you find yourself an outcast in your social circle because you don't know the difference between a Steeden and a Sherrin, or between a Swan, a Socceroo, a Dragon and a Wallaby (and exactly what was Cazaly doing "up there") then may I commend Mr Tony Squires excellent volume Cracking the Footy Codes: a beginners guide to AFL, League, Union and Football. Squires' is an eminent authority of these matters, being not only the main sports presenter on the Channel 7 news, but has also (according to the cover blurb) played footy, refereed footy, written, talked about and cried over footy (as a a fellow St. George tragic I have some sympathy with that last bit). This book explains in simple terms the four footballs codes in Australia and is full of all sorts of interesting trivia to impress your friends with.

Recommended for both novices and tragics alike.

Preschool Storytime now on Thursdays...

Preschoolers at the Hurstville Museum & Gallery
Originally uploaded by Hurstville City Library, Museum & Gallery

Come and join us at 10.00am at Hurstville City Library for themed Storytime sessions that include special visits to the Hurstville Museum & Gallery. The sessions are for children 3-5 years and run during the school term. We are always happy to see new faces!

HAM - Hurstville's Anime & Manga group

HAM - Hurstville's Anime & Manga interest group
Originally uploaded by Hurstville City Library, Museum & Gallery

Love Anime and Manga? Join HAM once a term to choose, chat, munch and borrow. Call Children's and Youth staff on 9330 6138 or 9330 6117 to be a part of it.

Doctor Who: The Movie

In the middle of what Doctor Who fans have come to know as "The Wilderness Year" (the period from 1989 when the original series ended to 2005 when it returned) came this glimmer of hope. The BBC had gone into a co-production arrangement with Universal Television in an attempt to re-launch the good Doctor in the US on the Fox Network. So how did this strange clash of cultures fare?

There is a lot to like about Doctor Who: The Movie. Paul McGann, in what turned out to be his only outing at the eighth Doctor, is excellent. In the short screen time he had he makes the role his own. Daphne Ashbrook as the companion, Dr Grace Holloway, is also good and a blueprint for future companions (no tripping unconvincingly and screaming at anything that moves here) and Eric Roberts hams it up as The Master. The production values are amazing (and the TARDIS interior has never looked so good!) but the production's biggest let down is the script. It attempts to please two masters (the long time viewer and new ones) and fails miserably at both. Still, it was good to have the Doctor back, even if it was only for one night.

There is an interesting post-script to the movie. In 2000 the producer Philip David Segal published a book entitled Doctor Who: Regeneration describing the long and tortured process of bringing Doctor Who back which makes for very interesting reading. While Hurstville LMG doesn't hold a copy of this book, if you're interested in reading it the library can get it for you on inter-library loan. Just ask the staff for more details.

Seniors and New Technologies

In response to the blog "Rise in Technology" - as part of Seniors Week, the library held a New Technologies class for Seniors on Tuesday 22 March to demonstrate how to download titles from our elibrary and to show a variety of ebook readers to people who may be interested in purchasing one.

We are finding a growing number of Seniors who are very interested in keeping up with new technologies and in learning to use the current ones better! Digital camera classes, using your Mobile phone and now ebooks readers and downloads have all proved very popular.

It may be futile to try and 'keep up' as the consumer society continually offers us new and better things to buy. But to use and enjoy the technology we have is very important.

Rise in Technology: are we falling behind?

As part of his five days of work experience at Hurstville City Library, Aaron Li wrote us the following blog entry..

Technology is all around us. And with mankind’s intelligence and ingenious prowess, we are coming to an era where technology has become so advanced that amazing and cool inventions we have today (such as the I-Phone) would soon become objects of no significance or value (I wonder why people with first gen I-Phones are so quiet nowadays...).

Just when you thought one thing is impossible, an invention comes along that proves you wrong. And you sigh and tell yourself, well, it's possible after all (and yea, you lose the five dollars that you bet your friend with...). I mean, who knew it can actually be done, right? In addition all the available technology around us, with every machine constantly perfected by skilled individuals, anything can be possible... (right?).

Technology has impressed us and it continues to do so with each day. It leaves us thinking, what's next? As a new near-impossible invention has been made, what else will they come up with next? The world has already been remade by great technologies, and taken to the next level by inventions that have made the lives of many much more convenient.

What could possibly be next?

Sydney Technical High School – Celebrating the School Centenary

Hurstville City Library often plays host to secondary school kids who are participating in work experience. As part of his five days here, Kevin Qiao wrote this blog entry detailing the Centenary of Sydney Technical High School..

Sydney Tech was founded in 1911 and has undergone many changes, including fifteen years in Sydney Technical College in Ultimo, thirty years in Albion Street, Paddington, and fifty-five years at the present site in Forest Road, Bexley. This year celebrates the centenary of Sydney Tech and will be held on Friday 1st April, Saturday 2nd April, Monday 4th April and Friday 8th April for ex-students, staff members and special guests (Visit http://www.sths.nsw.edu.au/downloads/centenary.pdf for more information). There are also events held for students (students log onto the school intranet and click ‘Centenary News’ in the top left corner)
A book of the school history, “The Story and Times of Sydney Technical High School” by J.F.Morrison is for sale for $110. (Visit http://www.sths.nsw.edu.au/downloads/centenary.pdf for more information - LIMITED COPIES).

Friday.

Sometimes we need someone to remind us that tomorrow is Saturday and after that comes Sunday! That person? Rebecca Black. Tell me Rebecca, which seat should I sit in?



Ah yes, friiiiday, friiiiiday!

Bumper : the life and legend of Frank "Bumper" Farrell

You can't say that Frank "Bumper" Farrell had a boring life. Not only did he play 250 first grade games for the Newtown Rugby League Club, he was also captain of their 1943 premiership winning side (ironically against North Sydney), as well as playing in 21 representative games for both New South Wales and Australia. He was also served in the police force from 1938-1976 and was possibly Sydney's most well known and feared police officer.

Larry Writer's very readable biography of Bumper covers all aspects of his life. From family man to football player to policeman. It includes some very colourful tales from Bumper's life including the infamous ear biting incident from 1945 when he was accused of biting off a large portion of a St. George player's ear, his dealings with the Sydney underworld including Kate Leigh, Tilly Devine and the razors gangs and the time he arrested the future Duke of Edinburgh for urinating in a public place (I kid you not!).

Not only does the LMG hold a number of books by Larry Writer - including Razor which will be the subject of the next Underbelly TV series - but he will also be speaking at Hurstville Library on Friday 8 April at 7pm. Bookings can be made on 9330 6142.

Just like Jodi Picoult

I love reading Jodi Picoult. I have read and reread all her novels. Unfortunately Jodi cannot write a novel as quick as I can read them, so in the end I run out. Impatient for more novels, I discovered some authors that write in a similar vein to Jodi Picoult.

Hurstville City Library currently has this on display.

Don't delay come in and check it out.You may be pleasantly surprised!

The Begin-Again - Sites and performaces

View The Begin-Again in a larger map or download the event flyer [PDF 1.08MB]


1. OLD MAN RIVER
Memorial Square, Forest Road
Bathed in a blue light, local tenor Vince Lemon performs a rendition of the song ‘Old Man River’ as the starting point for The Begin-Again. The video is inspired by an image of Aboriginal elder, Albert, who lived along the shores of Kogarah Bay in the 1880s and 90s, and was known as ‘Albert King of the George’s River’.
The piece refers to the enduring elements in the natural environment as well as the elders of the community. Here the old stories, Indigenous and colonial, are treated as ever-flowing and essential.

2. TRAINS APPROACHING
Bus Interchange, Forest Road
Nestled in the bus interchange, this video presents a narrative of early settlement. A group of local children dressed in historical costumes stage the construction of the first train line; an image of Hurstville in its infancy.
The introduction of the train line in the 1880s marked a shift from rural outpost to commercial hub for Hurstville, and a graduation to an evolving city. The measured drumming that accompanies the video underscores Hurstville’s steady approach to development and echoes the reliance on public transport.

3. DANCE HALL
Diment Way
In the channel that connects Forest Road to Humphrey’s Lane, Mesiti presents a dream-like version of an exaggerated city skyline. This handcrafted version of Hurstville has been constructed by local children, and forms the set for a majestic performance of an Old Time Waltz by members of a local senior citizen dance group.
The elegance, grace and skill of these mature performers waltzing through the latern-like buildings create a lyrical meditation on the past and the future of these city spaces.

4. WATER SLEEVES
Humphrey’s Lane
Projected into a building facing Humphrey’s Lane is the image of a traditional Chinese Dance. Caught in a cinematic display of artistry, the seductive imagery of the work summons rich cultural traditions.
As an image if tradition and beauty, the video reflects the Chinese community’s rich cultural complexity, while also referring to their history in the area, in particular, the contribution to the social and economic fabric of the city since early settlement.

5. PAKRING LOT DRAGON
Westfield Rooftop Car Park
With a view of the surrounding high-rise cityscape, the Westfield rooftop car park is the stage for a live performance that highlights symbols from the community to address possible futures. These include the dragon, which figures in Chinese mythology, as well as a mascot in local council and sporting teams.
Scattered throughout the lot are idling, customised cars that appear to be glowing, shrouded in dramatic lighting and smoke. Once an hour this mystic landscape is invigorated by the blaring bass of the cars’ stereos and stir the sinuous dance of a Chinese New Year Dragon.
As a cultural remix of local traditions and subcultures, the performance is a fitting climax for The Begin-Again. With intensity of colour and movements, the performance transforms the concerns of local communities into images of striking beauty.
Performance times:
8.30, 9.30, 10.30, 11.30 pm

Video tour of Hurstville city library

We know that libraries can be a little overwhelming, particularly for first time visitors who want to have a look around and join up. Hurstville Library in particular is so packed with awesome books, dvds, cds and free services that your body may end up feeling like its going to explode at the sight of it all.

To help you (because that is just how we roll) we made a little video tour of Hurstville city library. Sit back, crack some popcorn and marvel at the wonder that is, Hurstville city Library.

Larry Writer guest author at Hurstville LMG

Friday 8th April @ 7pm
Hurstville City Library

cnr Queens Rd & Dora St, Hurstville
Bookings 9330 6142

Enter the rough and tumble of Sydney's criminal underworld with Larry Writer Hurstville City Library's next guest author. Hear Larry introduce his new book Bumper The Life & Times of Frank 'Bumper' Farrell, the most feared and revered policeman in Australia's history.

Frank 'Bumper' Farrell was a legendary policeman and former Newtown footballer who worked the mean streets of Sydney in the wild days of Razor gangs, wartime and the ferocious '50s. His ruthless tactics put the fear of God into even the most hardened criminals. At notorious brothelkeeper Tilly Devine's 50th birtday party, she plunged the carving knife into the roast pork remarking, "I wish this 'ere pig was Bumper Farrell."

Among the books Larry has written or co-written are:

Razor (the Ned Kelly Award-winning account of Tilly Devine and soon to be the next Underbelly series)

Pleasure and Pain (the biography of Chrissy Amphlett)

The Australian Book of Heroism: Stories of Courage and Sacrifice

The Australian Book of True Crime

Fine Thanks Mate: John 'Bomber' Peard: League, Life and Second Chances

First Blood: Australia's Finest Great Sea Battle

The Moose that Roared (a biography of Rex Mossop)

Never Before, Never Again (the story of those players who played Rugby League for St George winning 11 premierships in a row from 1956-1966)

No One's Indestructible: Surviving Strokes and How to Avoid Them (with John Newcombe)

Sunshine & Shadow: a Brothers' Story (with Stephen Dack, the story of two brothers coping with the death of their mother from cancer)

He has worked in Sydney, London and New York as an editor, bureau chief and writer.

The Begin-Again

Angelica Mesiti
Trains Approaching (still) 2010
single-channel video installation
photograph: Jamie North
© the artist

Welcome to The Begin-Again, a joint project by C3West and Hurstville City Council by Australian artist Angelica Mesiti

1 & 2 APRIL 2011

7:30PM - 12 MIDNIGHT

Welcome to The Begin-Again, a joint project by C3West and Hurstville City Council by Australian artist Angelica Mesiti. C3West is a long term collaborative project that develops new ways of working between cultural institutions, artists, businesses and communities in Greater Sydney. The Begin-Again was developed in response to Hurstville City Council’s Community Strategic Plan.

Over two nights, from sunset to midnight, Mesiti brings the streets of Hurstville to life with four site specific video installations and a live performance that invoke the architecture of Hurstville as a backdrop to the stories of the area.

Responding to concerns such as the increase in highrise development, traffic congestion and increased population, Mesiti’s project is a poetic and visually arresting response to how these concerns affect Hurstville’s sense of connectedness. Through her lens, Mesiti allows us to view Hurstville’s anxieties in alternate ways and meditate on transformation and renewal.

Cr Philip Sansom / Mayor of Hurstville

Elizabeth Ann Macgregor / Director, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney

The Begin-Again

The Begin-Again is coming..

Nigel Marsh : from Overworked and Underlaid to work-life balance nirvana

Marsh is a British expatriate living in Sydney and working a high-profile job. Like any hard-working man with a family, he finds himself struggling with that old chestnut of work-life balance.
Marsh first recounts how he re-discovers himself in Fat, Forty & Fired and goes on to share more snippets of his life in Observations of a Very Short Man. Now in the follow-up book Overworked and Underlaid he tackles head-on the challenges of juggling his commitments to work and family.

His books are unlike the garden-variety self-help books. They are memoirs of contemporary life from a male point-of-view with ideas and inspirations distilled from personal encounters and innermost feelings. Marsh is also a guest motivational speaker. In the same vein, he punctuates his flowing narrative style with wit, humour and insights which make his books quick, easy and so enjoyable to read.

Nigel Marsh: How to make work-life balance work