Adelaide City Libraries

Did you know that play is crucial to building pathways or “neurons” in the brain?

Try this activity, under close adult supervision: Tummy time 👶

There’s nothing like getting down to your baby’s level and joining them for some tummy time. You could even set small challenges, like reaching for an object or rolling over, to create new connections in the mind and develop motor skills!



Image description: promotional image for Words Grow Minds for Tummy Time Play

Hey kids! What do you want to do this school holidays? Don’t get stuck just hanging around like these guys…

If you haven’t heard Adelaide City Libraries have loads of cool stuff happening and it’s all FREE. There’s zine-making and story time, 3D printing, robotics, virtual reality, crafts, board games and LEGO.

Or just pop in and borrow some books or steam loan kits (supplies are limited).

Going away? Don't worry - our Virtual Library has got you covered with eBooks, magazines, audiobooks, movies, and music that you can enjoy wherever you go.

Check out our website for all the info: https://tinyurl.com/2j6fswke

Have you been to our LEGO Club at the City Library? It’s on every Sunday, rain or shine, from 2pm! It’s free fun in the heart of the city for the whole family and suitable for ages 4 to 104. No need to bring anything - we’ve got plenty of LEGO for everyone. Grab your friends and family, conjure up some creative ideas, let’s see what amazing stuff we can build together this weekend! 💛

Play is an essential part of every child’s life and vital to the processes of human development. 🥳

It is essential for physical, emotional, cognitive and educational development, and acquiring social and behavioural skills.

Here is a simple activity:

Set up a special play space at home, indoors and outdoors. Make cubby houses, a special area for young babies to explore and practice motor skills such as sitting up, rolling and crawling! ⛺️

For more tips, visit wordsgrowminds.org.au.



Image description: Words Grow Minds promotional image

We are so excited to be hosting Dr. Verity Laughton at the City Library next Wednesday 11 September to divulge the creative process behind adapting Pip Williams's novel, The Dictionary of Lost Words, into a sensational play script for the State Theatre Company of South Australia!

Discover the creative journey behind this adaptation, which premiered to a sold-out season in 2023. Writers and literature enthusiasts will find inspiration and insight in this engaging discussion. Don't miss the chance to learn from the expertise of an acclaimed South Australian playwright.

Spots are nearly all gone, so book now via the link below:

https://tinyurl.com/4ycdrx3a

Image description: 'The Dictionary of Lost Words' by Pip Williams book cover

This Wednesday 4 September is Indigenous Literacy Day. It’s an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Stories, Cultures, and Languages.

Here at the Adelaide City Libraries, we take pride in our ever-growing Aboriginal Cultural Collection, curated in consultation with members of our Kaurna community. This year’s theme is “Be a Proud Voice for Country” so we invite you to explore and borrow First Nations' stories – there’s something for everyone – whether you want to read yourself, share with friends and family, or your community. From kids to teens to adults, there’s a wide range of formats and genres waiting for you.

Looking for a recommendation? Our library team has put together a list of five staff picks from this collection for CityMag. You can check them out here: https://tinyurl.com/c9ux9c8z

Tomorrow at City Library, you can join us for a film and livestream of storytelling and song direct from the Sydney Opera House from 10 am and at North Adelaide Library, join us from 10:30 for a Family Storytime with singing and First Nations' stories.

Image description: staff member holding up indigenous picture books

Soak up this beautiful Spring sunshine and drop by the North Adelaide Library and Community Centre at 176 Tynte Street. Inside you can pick up a free map for Fermoy on Foot, a 2.3km walking art trail featuring fourteen works from the David Roche Gallery's Fermoy collection. 🌞

Wander through the streets, laneways, and Park Lands of North Adelaide to discover hidden histories and connections in the area. Explore and learn more about this historic precinct with treasures waiting for you at the The David Roche Collection at TDRF Adelaide.

Feeling inspired after your walk and curious about The David Roche Foundation? You can borrow a copy of their guidebook from our libraries in either physical or eBook format. Happy exploring: https://tinyurl.com/3v8399hx

Babies and toddlers need time to practice new skills. The more words a child hears, the more they will know when they can understand and later use them.

It doesn’t always have to be an exercise in imagination, try our recommended talking activity:

What’s inside the fridge? ❄️

Opening the fridge and talking about the food that’s in there is a fun learning experience. Have a taste test too and talk about the flavours!

Image description: TALK promotional image for Words Grow Minds

We have our final session of this month’s Crafternoon, Beautiful Bookmarks, taking place this Friday at City Library from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm! There are still a few spaces left so be sure to head to the link below to book in now and get creative making your very own Beautiful Bookmark 🔖💖

https://tinyurl.com/msxn2nxa

Image descriptions: library customers making bookmarks

After a fantastic first session last month, we are hosting the next session of our monthly embroidery meet-up group at City Library this Tuesday 27 August from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm!

Regardless of your skill level we invite you to come along to 'Embroiderers Assemble'and meet other like-minded creatives to share tips and chat about projects. Bring along your own machine or share the library's embroidery machine.

To find out more or book in before spots run out, head to the link below and we'll see you there 🪡🥰

https://tinyurl.com/3e263jwy

Image description: spools of thread

It’s DIY or bust from The Gruffalo and The Lorax here at the Adelaide City Libraries.

We see you. It’s Children’s Book Week and we know it’s been a stressful but fun time for parents, carers, caregivers, and teachers everywhere.

Whether you have stayed up late at the sewing machine, burnt yourself with the glue gun, pricked yourself with a sewing needle, or just throwing something together from the dress up box - we’ve got your back. If you need some last-minute Book Week ideas, come in and see us and we’ll help you find the perfect book for your family. ❤️

Showing until September 20 after a fantastic launch earlier this month, Adelaide City Libraries are proud to exhibit 'Memory Palace 5000' for SALA 2024 by emerging curator Stavroula Adameitis aka Frida Las Vegas.

This group exhibition asks a variety of South Australian artists to reflect and reanimate their own personal 'Memory Palaces' across mediums including printmaking, sculpture, ceramics and textiles. Which buildings or structures have left an indelible mark and why? Where were they located? What is it about certain kinds of architecture that manage to live rent-free forever in someone's mind? And how do artists parse the high-speed rate of urban renewal in postcode 5000 and surroundings?

The exhibition is available to view during library opening hours. For more information and to see what exhibitions are showing at our other centres, head to the link below:

https://tinyurl.com/y76tuj2k

Image descriptions: Memory Palace launch at Adelaide City Libraries

❤🧪🧬 Join us this Saturday at City Library for the last of our STEMM in Your Future Workshops for girls and gender diverse youth ❤🧪🧬

Explore your inner geneticist in this hands-on workshop where you’ll get to learn about DNA structures! Not only will you make your own DNA model, but you’ll also explore genes to build your own alien!

Find out more via the link below:

https://tinyurl.com/3pfchduc

Image description: girl looking through microscope

“Up There Cazaly!”

Showdown at the Adelaide Oval or Slowdown at the Adelaide City Libraries this weekend? Why not do both?

Check out this corker of a photograph we found in our History Hub - a college football game on Adelaide Oval back in 1908. You can check out more amazing photographs like this in our Adelaide Picture Collection, all digitised images from the City of Adelaide Archives.

Whether you’re backing the Adelaide Crows, Port Power or simply can’t be bothered, everyone’s welcome at Adelaide City Libraries where we’re all about breaking down barriers and offering something for everyone. 🏉

Printing, scanning, and photocopying is currently unavailable at our City Library branch until further notice.

These services will continue to remain available at our other centres at Hutt Street Library and North Adelaide Library. We apologise for the inconvenience and are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Looking for your next read and not sure where to start? Why not look at some of the special collections that we have to offer at our library branches, ranging from Classics to Awards to books in other languages 📚✨ Head to the link below to learn all about books and reading in the Adelaide City Library and get borrowing today!

https://tinyurl.com/3nbck8rr

Image description: Awards and Classics bookshelf

Join us this Saturday at City Library from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm for our fourth workshop in our STEMM series for girls and gender diverse youth ❤️〽️❤️

Explore your inner mathematician in this hands-on workshop where you’ll get to make some friends while learning about how unique you are! Not only will you learn about surveys and data collection, but you’ll also find out how Adelaide's statistics compare to the rest of the world! Book now via the link below:

https://tinyurl.com/3pfchduc

Image description: woman and child doing a science experiment

Talking with your baby is widely considered one of the most important things a parent can do with their child. 📣

To date, it has been shown that back-and-forth conversation is important for brain structure and function, reading skills, socioemotional and language development, and IQ scores in middle school! Here’s a simple activity that you can do: Talk about what you are doing and thinking - turn daily routines into opportunities for talk. 🗣

For more tips, visit wordsgrowminds.org.au.



Image description: Words Grow Minds promotional image for talk

Join us this Saturday at City Library from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm for our third workshop in our STEMM series for girls and gender diverse youth!

Explore your inner engineer in this hands-on workshop where you’ll make and test out paper planes! Not only will you learn about how to create different types of planes, but you’ll also get to create a launch pad to send your plane flying! Book now via the link below:

https://tinyurl.com/3pfchduc

Image description: STEMM in your future event at city library