Library Lovers' Day

Valentine's Day has been renamed Library Lovers' Day. The boxes of chocolates, bouquets of flowers and soppy sentimental Hallmark cards were replaced with laughter, flirtatious comments and fun at Aldinga Library. Borrowers were encouraged to choose a blind date on Library Lovers' Day.

The process involved staff choosing books, photocopying the barcode and gift wrapping the books (with the barcode attached to the gift tag). The blind dates were then displayed. Only a handful of blind dates were left single.

The roses are dying,
the violets are dead.
We hope you enjoyed
the blind date you read.

Beaded Mandalas

Mandalas are usually circular designs symbolising the universe. They are used in Hinduism and Buddhism as a focus for meditation.

Weellll .... some people may have needed to practise some meditation after the first beaded mandala session. Cool, calm and collected was replaced with hot, bothered and frustrated. However, knots in the thread, eye strain and things just not going to plan were soon sorted out.

Fishing line, brick stitch, felt, beads, tea, coffee, biscuits and lots of laughter were shared during the beading workshops. Here's a sample of the beautiful beaded mandalas as works in progress and finished pieces of jewellery.

The dog ate it ...

People's tastes vary when it comes to reading. Some times they will imbibe fantasy and other times information. It seems animals have a taste for books too.

Quite often books are returned by shamefaced people. "The puppy got out and did this to the book ... you should have seen what it did to the lounge ... " Incidents similar to those in Marley and me by John Grogan.

This one is quite unique. Borrower alleged that a sulphur-crested cockatoo had been stalking him. Aforesaid bird gained entry to his premises and allegedly damaged a library book and radio. Borrower tried to fend feathered fiend off with a cushion.

Crestfallen cockatoo fled scene, no doubt still peckish. Library Officers are keen to apprehend this jailbird.

A day in the life of a Library Officer ...

Hmm ... what's going on here? Library staff outside? Why aren't they like melting or turning to dust?

Maybe it's a junket?

A what?

You know a day out ... supposedly to learn something.

There aren't any books outside so what good would a junket be.

Well, it looks like someone is reading a plaque. Maybe they're visiting places of interest in the area.

'spose so. You mean like the Star of Greece?

Yeah! There are heaps of places ... the Station Master's Cottage, Waverley Homestead, the rose garden, Red Poles. I bet they went to the Willunga Bakery for lunch too.

It looks like they had great weather for it. Too bad for the others stuck back in the library working.

Your vote does count!

Yes, the votes have been tallied and Aldinga Library now has a digital photo frame. Plasma screen, you say?? So last year dahling.

Don't judge a book by its cover

An elderly gentleman was borrowing several CD books and the young staff member commented on how good they were. She mentioned listening to them while travelling interstate and how they passed the time doing mundane tasks such as housework.

The gentleman responded that he preferred the CD format too. He downloaded them to his Ipod and listened to them later.

Libraries are a great place to work. It's a dynamic place. Something different everyday. Being a part of a community, helping people and seeing their gratitude for the time you've spent with them. People express their thanks in many ways and we certainly appreciate it. A smile, a wave, a bunch of flowers ... and then there's this ...

Mmmmmmmmmmm ........ caaaaaaaaaaaake

It warms the heart, wards off the hunger and ignites a spark of creativity in some:

There once was a guy named Peter,
who was one heck of a geezer.
He sat in his chair,
saying, "'Tis only fair,
that I eat the whole sponge cake."


Okay, needs a bit of tweaking ...

There once was a guy named Peter,
who was one heck of a geezer.
He sat in his chair,
saying, "'Tis only fair,
that I am a champion cake eater."

.... almost there .....

There once was a bloke called Peter

Who was a very big eater

He ate all the cake

Which was a mistake

Coz it didn't make him any sweeter

... that's it!