Can Your Fines! Library Fines Amnesty

Running from Tuesday the 4th of January to the 29th, Camden Council Library Services will be holding their annual fines amnesty.

This is a great opportunity to clear any outstanding overdue library fines. Just return your overdue items along with an item of non-perishable food, including packages or canned goods to Camden or Narellan branches.

These donations will be distributed to local young adults by Vinnies Youth Housing Macarthur.

Questions? For more information please contact Camden Council Library Services:

Camden Ph: 46457951
Narellan Ph: 46455039

Reading List: 10 most popular books for 2010

Our first reading list for the Camden Reads program.

Click the author to browse and reserve books available.

Did you like any of these titles? Or dislike them? Tell us what you thought and receive additional entries into the Camden Reads prize pool! Email reviews (100 words or more) to nlnlibrary@camden.nsw.gov.au.

10 most popular books for 2010

• Stieg Larsson - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo


• Stieg Larsson - The Girl who Played with Fire


• Stieg Larsson - The girl who kicked the hornet’s nest


• Elizabeth Gilbert – Eat, pray, love


• Li Cunxin – Mao’s last dancer


• Alice Sebold – The lovely bones


• Clive Cussler – The lost empire


• Michael Robotham – Bleed for me


• Monica McInerney – At home with the Templetons


• Ken Follett – Fall of giants

Do you want to win a great prize? Join our summer reading program!

Would you like the chance to win a pass to the Zoo? Perhaps you'd like to win a double pass to climb the Harbour Bridge? Or maybe a book or movie voucher is more your thing? These and other great prizes are up for grabs in Camden Libraries "Camden Reads: Summer reading program" Open to all ages, all you need to do to enter is come to Camden or Narellan Library and fill in a registration form then get reading. When you've read some books come to the library and we'll give you a ticket for every book you've read, so the more you read the more tickets you'll have in the draw. This is something the whole family can participate in this summer and it's not only books that can give you a chance of winning - talking books and magazines count to! So come and register and have a great summer reading.

A Big Little Life - by Dean Koontz

I knew I needed to read this biography when I read a review of it in a magazine. The book, which focuses on Author Dean Koontz's life after he adopts a former assistance dog called Trixie, was described as an uplifting book and very different to Koontz's fictional works. I haven't read many of his novels, but I always find it interesting when an artist of any kind produces multiple works of different tones. For the most part, I wasn't disappointed. A Big Little Life takes you through Trixie's life and the effect she has on the Koontz household, with particular emphasis on the inspiration she becomes for Dean's writing. Infact, the book probably tells us as much about Dean Koontz as it does about Trixie. Partly humorous, partly serious, and very philosophical about dogs and life in general, the only flaw I could see was that as the work was written thematically it was sometimes difficult to keep track of the order of events. All-in-all this was an interesting book filled wonder and instances that demonstrate how important animals are to the humans that care for them.

This book is available from Camden and Narellan Libraries.

Amanda

Because of Winn-Dixie: a treat for the whole family

Many films claim to be something the whole family can enjoy but in truth really only appeal to a portion of your family. This IS a film that is multigenerational. Because of Winn-Dixie is a film based on the book of the same title by Kate DiCamillo and follows the story of a lonely misfit named Opal and her new dog Winn-Dixie (named after the supermarket she finds him in). It is with Winn-Dixie's friendship that Opal is able to heal her relationship with her father, ask questions about her mother and get to know other isolated and eccentric individuals in the town.

This film has many layers and can be enjoyed as a simple story about a girl and her dog. For those who want more, it's a story about family, forgiveness, acceptance, and the power of friendship. Both the dvd and book are available from Camden or Narellan Libraries.

Amanda