Your library loves you 24/7. Unconditionally (well maybe don't steal all the books!) wherever you go and whatever your goals. Every day Libraries offer spaces, activities, freebies, access to information and entertainment and friendly help for whatever you need.
So, on 14 February we celebrate Library Lovers’ Day. This is a time to show your library how much you appreciate the service - love notes are encouraged! And an opportunity to embrace things the library offers that you may not usually do. We have hijacked Valentines Day but don't fret we aren't forcing you to try a trashy romance or erotica (though you are welcome to). We want you to celebrate a different kind of love, a love for something you may take for granted that has more to offer than you realise.
You may love your library? You may borrow lots of books but are you getting the most out of your library membership?
Well, here's 5 days of activities that we guarantee will have you loving your library even more and sending lovey-dovey vibes out into the world.
Day 1
Friday 10 February
Origami Love Notes: fold love notes for your favourite people with a special message inside.
Day 2
Monday 13 February
Discover your Ancestors' Love Stories: An introduction to accessing birth, death and marriage records and uncover your ancestors' love stories. Learn about how marriage certificates link two branches of your family tree and provide valuable information to help your research. There has never been a better time to explore your family history.
Day 3
Tuesday 14 February
Chai to Love: Enjoy a delicious chai tea and learn how to blend your own. Bring along a jar so you can take home your chai blend to enjoy with a good book.
Sharing Our Love Poetry: Bring your favourite poetry and share it with the group: whether it's a love poem, haiku, sonnet, or bush poetry.
Craft, Relax, Chill: Craft, mindfulness colouring, watercolour painting, macrame, paper art, magazines and tea or coffee.
Local Authors Book Chat: Want to know more about our local writers? Join Sarah Schmidt and Lynne Siejka as they discuss our wonderful, often surprising local authors, and explore the range of great books you can read.
Love your eLibrary: Find love online with our digital collection, and learn how to borrow eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines in this practical session.
Spine Poetry: Create a short poem by stacking books so the words on the spine form the poem.
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden: Enjoy some love-inspired food creations. Explore our kitchen garden through food education. Learn about how our food grows with hands-on gardening activities, and see how it gets to the plate with some fun cooking.
Day 4
Wednesday 15 February
Zine Making Workshop: Zines can contain art, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, comics and everything in between. Learn to make and distribute your own zines in this hands-on workshop.
Day 5
Saturday 18 February
Introduction to Printmaking: Local artist Irianna Kanellopoulou will guide you to create prints that capture the essence of leaves and blooms around us. Explore and share the symbolic beauty of the natural world in its connection to love, storytelling and connection.
And if all that those lovely activities are too exciting for you, you could instead go on a blind date with a book or write some library love affirmations.
We look forward to sharing the love with you.