Book lovers’ chance to reflect

THIS Valentine’s Day, libraries across the country are asking people to celebrate everything they love about the public spaces.

With the theme of Show the Love, this year’s Library Lovers’ Day offers a number of ways to get involved.

Goldfields Libraries are hosting several events across its six locations, including over 60s exercise, over 60s tai chi and a SisterWorks crafting class at Kangaroo Flat facility and a special display at Bendigo site.

Manager of Bendigo Library, Robin Pearson, said for this year’s day they decided to showcase fantasy literature.

“For this particular display we’re going to highlight fantasy and other realms books, fairy tales for adults, spooky stuff, a little bit of dark romance,” he said.

“We’ve had a staff member make this extraordinary collage of about 1500 pieces of paper and another put together an other-worldly display.

“Different Goldfields Libraries are all celebrating Library Lovers’ Day in their own way, we prefer to pick a genre out of the collection.”

Mr Pearson said the library planned to have a meet-the-author event with the editor of the collection of fairy tales for adults, South of the Sun: Australian Fairy Tales for the 21st Century, however it was postponed due to COVID-19 complications.

Library Lovers’ Day is designed for people to reflect on what it is they love most about their libraries, whether it’s discovering a new favourite book, researching a new passion, or engaging with one of many resources available.

“It’s not only to show appreciation to libraries and the work our librarians do, but also to appreciate the people of the Bendigo and Goldfields Libraries catchment area that support these venues,” Mr Pearson said.