Library News for Australian and New Zealand Information Professionals

Lead Story

OverDrive statistics suggest major increase in ebook usage in libraries

2011 year-end statistics released by OverDrive in the US this week highlight a substantial increase in ebook usage in libraries.

Happy Australia Day

Due to the Australia Day holiday you are receiving this week's Library News a day early. We trust you'll have a happy Australia Day and enjoy the edition.

North Sydney Boys to build new library

North Sydney Boys’ School in Crows Nest has plans to start constructing a new $2.5 million school library this year.

City of Perth Library is moving

The City of Perth library is relocating from the basement of the Law Chambers Building in Hay Street to new premises at 140 William Street.

Mt Isa Library to remain closed for months

Mt Isa Mayor John Molony has told local press that it could take more than seven months before any action can be taken in regards to the weather-damaged Mt Isa Library.

‘Footpath library’ proposed for homeless in Gold Coast

David Power, mayoral candidate for the Gold Coast, has proposed to start a mobile library for homeless people. Power says the idea is based on a project that has run in Sydney for about ten years.

What's On

Events coming up include:

Love2Read Cafe
20 January - 26 February
Free cafe featuring reading material, comfy chairs, beanbags and a program events.
State Library of Western Australia

Love and Devotion exhibition
9 March -1 July 2012
Persian manuscripts from the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
State Library of Victoria

Handwritten exhibition
26 November-18 March 2012
Ten centuries of manuscript treasures from staatsbibliothek zu berlin
National Library of Australia

Feature

Finalists in 2011 Australian Romance Reader Awards announced

The finalists in the 2011 Australian Romance Reader Awards were announced on 16 January.

In Brief

Library cat passes away

East Melbourne library staff and users have sadly farewelled their resident cat. Hercules was ‘possibly the closest thing to a “library cat” that we have ever had’, said staff on the library's Facebook page. The big ginger cat was often stationed in the elevated garden located nearby the library. Hercules

International In Brief

Shell donates books to University library in Qatar

Carnegie Mellon University library in Qatar has received 40 books on the oil and gas industry from Shell in Qatar. The move aims to recognise the importance of the links between education and the energy sector. The university and Shell have partnered on various programs and research projects in the

Classifieds

Jobs

Product Administrator, DA Information Services, Mitcham, Victoria

DA Information Services is Australia's largest full-service academic, professional and specialist library supplier. We are seeking a Product Administrator to provide specialist support and customer service for a portfolio of products, mainly electronic and online, for a number of major international publishers represented by DA in Australia and New Zealand.