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Your One Stop Knowledge Shop
Collections
Fiction
Bestsellers, classics, science fiction, mysteries, thrillers - you name it, we've probably got it.
Romances
Paperbacks, including Harlequin Mills and Boons and Avon books are shelved seperately. This collection is maintained solely through donations of books in excellent condition.
Westerns
Books by such authors as Louis L'Amour, Max Brand and Grover Marshall are all collected together in the Western Fiction collection. This collection also includes Westerns that are printed in the large print format.
Talking books
Talking books are a special category of fiction. These are novels that have been read aloud and then made available for listening on audio cassettes. These talking books are a good alternative for people who have difficulty reading, either through a visual or other type of disability. Or perhaps you just simply prefer to be read to. They are fantastic for helping pass the time while driving, or even doing the ironing! Talking books held by the Monaro Regional Library and Information Service are all faithful readings of the original stories - not condensed versions. To see what's available, have a look at our talking book list.
Large print
As their name implies, these books are written in a type face that is much larger than normal. These books are ideal for those people whose eyesight isn't what it once was but they still want to read. As just because the type is big, it doesn't mean that the story is cut in any way - its exactly the way the author wrote it! Romances and mysteries are well represented in this collection, with other genres held as well. Large print western books are kept in the western fiction collection.
Non fiction
The non fiction collection gathers together factual information. We try to keep resources as accurate and up-to-date as possible. If you find something that isn't right, please let us know.
Biographies
The library has an excellent selection of biographies available for loan. Everyone from movie stars to politicians, inspirational figures to villains, sporting heroes to artists are included in our collection.
LIAC - Legal Infomation Access Centre
The Monaro Regional Library and Information Service is a member of the LIAC network that is based at the State Library of New South Wales.
LIAC provides free access to legal information. Most of the resources in the collection are written in plain, non-legal language. They cover all sorts of topics, from family law to contracts, tenancy to bankruptcy. Best of all, any book in the collection can be borrowed for up to two weeks, so that you can take the information home and read it at your leisure. To see what's available, have a look at our LIAC list.
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| Library staff have been specially trained to use the LIAC resources, so ask for help. If you are seeking advice, we'll refer you to the appropriate place. |
Reference
The reference collection is based in the Cooma Library, with a small collection in the Bombala Branch Library. Dictionaries, encyclopedias and various fact books are the core of this collection. Internet resources are also extensively used. Reference items may be used only within the library.
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| If you can't get into the Cooma Library and want to refer to a reference resource, contact the Cooma Library and we'll try our best to send the item to one of our other locations for you to use it there. |
Local studies
The local studies collection in the Cooma Library covers a wide range of topics pertaining to the Monaro and Snowy Mountains region. Works include histories, cemetery records, council documents, environmental impact studies, regional health reports - in fact, anything to do with the local area. There is also a collection of press clippings on local issues and events.
While the local studies collection is for use in the library only, many titles are duplicated and may be available for loan from the general collection.
Also based in the Cooma Library are the print, photographic, map and microfiche resources belonging to the Cooma-Monaro Historical Society. A member of the society is in the Cooma Library each Friday between 9:30 am and 12:00 pm to answer any queries and provide access to the collection. Although the collection is mainly for members of the society, members of the public are made welcome.
Family history
A collection of resources to assist family history researchers is kept in the Cooma Library. This includes material owned by the Snowy-Monaro Family History Group, which are available for loan to members of the group.
The family history collection has been supplemented by the Archives Resources Kit, donated by the State Records of New South Wales under the Access for All program. The kit is based on 595 reels of microfilm and 728 microfiche copies of early records, including convict, shipping, land and occupation records
A good range of births, deaths and marriages indexes are held. The majority of these are on cd-rom and bookings are advised to use them. Titles include:
- New South Wales Pioneers Index 1788 - 1918
- New South Wales Between the Wars Index 1919 - 1945
- The Western Australian Pioneers Index 1841-1905
- The Tasmanian Pioneers Index 1803 - 1899
- The Victorian Pioneers Index 1837-1888
- Federation Index : Victoria 1889 - 1901
- Edwardian Index : Victoria 1902 - 1913
- Great War Index : Victoria 1914 - 1920
- Death Index : Victoria 1921 - 1985
- South Australian Births Registrations 1842 to 1906
- South Australian Deaths Registrations 1842 to 1915
- Queensland Pioneers Index 1829 - 1889
The Genealogical Research Directory 1990-1999 on cd-rom is also available to assist researchers.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
The Monaro Regional Library and Information Service is a member of the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Library Extension Program. As part of this program, the library receives around 100 different ABS titles each year. As the ABS concentrates more on electronic publications available through the Internet, the printed versions will disappear from library shelves.
Children's
The range of children's resources includes picture books for sharing with adults, board books for toddlers, easy readers for those just learning to read and junior fiction for independent readers. There are also a variety of audio books and a good selection of cassette/book kits where children can listen to the story while reading the books.
These
Kits for Kits were purchased thanks to a State Library of New South
Wales grant.
Magazines
The library has a broad selection of current magazines covering a range of interests. Current affairs, home and garden, travel as well as craft and hobbies. Magazine issues are kept for a maximum of two years, with the exception of National Geographic, Geo Australasia and Australian Geographic.
Newspapers
Newspapers are available at the Cooma and Bombala Branch Libraries for use in the library.
The Cooma Library holds all issues of the local paper - the Cooma-Monaro Express. Issues prior to 1959 are retained on microfiche. Curent issues covering two months are held for the Sydney Morning Herald and the Canberra Times.
The Bombala Branch Library holds copies of its local paper - The Bombala Times.Newsletters
The Cooma Library holds a range of newsletters covering such diverse subjects as health, conservation, education and employment. Many of the titles are produced by government departments. The latest available copy is held for reading in the library.
Languages other than English
If you'd prefer to read something in a language other than English, please ask one of the staff. The library is able to tap into the resources of the State Library of New South Wales and bring a selection of these resources to your local library for you to borrow.
http://www.monaro.nsw.gov.au/collections.htm |
Last updated: January 2002 |
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© 2002 by Monaro Regional Library and Information Service |
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