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Hindmarsh Shire Libraries hosts a number of Inhouse and Outreach programs for literacy engagement and development, facilitating social connection and- most importantly- for FUN!
See below for an overview of all the programs on offer, including regularly occurring programs as well as specialty or feature events.
All upcoming events and activities are listed in the Upcoming Events section of our website.
Hindmarsh Shire Libraries holds Story Time sessions on Fridays, these sessions include stories and songs, and sometimes a craft activity, and all are welcome to attend! What a fun way to learn with literacy! Dimboola Story Time is held each week at 10:00am. Nhill Story Time is held every second week at 11:00am.
Join us at your local Hindmarsh Shire Library for a free morning or afternoon tea and chat. It's a comfortable, safe place to meet new people and catch up with old friends. Cuppa Connections are held each week: Dimboola Library Thursdays 10am - 12noon Nhill Library Thursdays 10am - 12noon Jeparit Library Wednesdays 10am - 12noon Rainbow Library Wednesdays 2pm - 4pm We hope to see you there!
The Creation Station is a crafty, creative program with sessions running every second Wednesday from 3:30-4:30pm in our Dimboola Library, during school term.
These sessions will see participants using their imagination and working on projects that span the entire month. For school kids aged 10+.
Jigsaw Clubs run in Nhill and Rainbow libraries on a Friday afternoon each week, and in Jeparit on Monday afternoon. With a selection of puzzles to try and conquer, bring a friend or pop down yourself for some interactive fun. Rainbow Library from 1:30pm Nhill Library from 2:00pm Jeparit Library from 2:00pm
Playgroup caters for children from birth to school age, creating a space where parents and children can come together every week to encourage a positive environment to learn, explore, grow and nurture children’s talents.
A supported playgroup has a professional facilitator and sessions include play for children as well as parenting strategies for families from the smalltalk program. Information and support is provided to families in a setting that allows their children to play and interact with other children. These playgroups are facilitated by Hindmarsh Shire Council at no cost to families, however eligibility criteria applies.
For further information, visit our Early Years page.
Join us at the Nhill Library for Nhill Kids Craft Club FREE of charge!
It will be held on the third Wednesday of each month from 3:30pm during school terms.
Grab those knitting needles or crochet hooks and pop down to the Rainbow Library for a yarn with yarners!
Bring your current crochet or knitting project and work alongside like-minded crafters from 9:30am each Friday. Some tea, coffee and hot chocolate provided.
This is for those who wish for a set time and place to work on their writing, talk with other writers or perhaps get another set of eyes on pieces of their work. The library is closed to the general public during this time to allow you the opportunity to focus on your writing as well as discuss it with other writers.
Writing Hour occurs between 1:00-2:00pm at the Nhill Library on the third Thursday of every month.
Join us at the Dimboola Library for Book Chat! Chatters are encouraged to bring along a current or favourite read, share reviews with each other and discuss their books in depth over a cuppa and biscuits. Book Chat occurs every third Friday of the month at 2:30pm.
Enjoy crafting/creating and socialising?
Come along to Get Creative at Nhill Library, where you can have a chat and enjoy the company of others whilst working on your latest creation; or maybe get inspiration to begin your next project!
These sessions are ‘BYO project’ to work on. The library has a number of sewing machines available for use. Every second Friday from 1:00-2:00pm. Note: this is held while the library is closed to the general public.
Hindmarsh Shire Libraries is proud to be a part of delivering School Holiday Program activities during the breaks between Terms 1,2 and 3. With a large and continually changing program, be sure to keep an eye out for key details in the lead up to the holidays!
The National Gallery of Victoria comes to you through NGV Kids on Tour! Enjoy free art-making activities for the whole family and enjoy a creative day out. Designed to ignite the imagination and encourage creativity, NGV collaborates with artists and designers to create a range of workshops for children and families.
NGV Kids on Tour usually occurs annually and details relating to the program schedule will be publicised in Upcoming Events, on our social media platforms and e-news letters.
Hindmarsh Shire Libraries strives to bring published authors to our library service, to speak about their work and to network with our community. Engaging with authors who are willing to travel to the regional Wimmera can sometimes be a challenge, so we are always excited and grateful when we have the opportunity to host such important members of the literary community. Any upcoming Author Talks will be promoted on our social media pages, in our newsletters and on our Events Page.
Each year, Warm Winter Read campaign aims to inspire adult readers to make more time for reading over winter. By engaging with your library community, this shared reading initiative promotes reading as vital to a healthier, happier and more connected nation. The Warm Winter Read campaign occurs between 1 June - 31 August, with promotional information available via our social media platforms and e-newsletters during this period.
Research has identified a phenomenon known as the ‘summer slide’, which refers to the loss of literacy skills over the summer holidays when children do not read.
Library services across the state participate in the BIG Summer Read each year, between 1 December - 31 January. The campaign aims to increase library loans, engage young people in reading for pleasure and support literacy development- aiming to slow the summer slide!
The Premier's Reading Challenge encourages children and students to read a set number of books over the year from a select list and record their efforts online. Since the Challenge first began in 2005, more than 4.3 million students have read over 60 million books. Hindmarsh Shire Libraries receives funding to help provide titles and items from the selected list to our library community. Details for The Premier's Reading Challenge will be publicised via our social media platforms and in our e-newsletters whilst the Challenge is underway.