Wednesday, May 15, 2019

The end of the road.


As the originator and organiser of Biblio Turismo I advise that it has ceased to function.

Biblio Turismo was started in 2006 as a marketing exercise to help publicise public libraries to their local area.

Over the years Biblio Turismo was sponsored by Gosford city Council, Libraries Alive! And Keith Ainsworth. Each year we printed limited quantity t shirts to celebrate each ride which were distributed for free to visiting library staff. I thank the sponsors for their support. I would like to particularly give special mention to Ian and Sherrey McCallum, Pam and Brian Young , Richard and Helen Zobec and Alan  Arnold, Lon Alvaloine and  Ross Balharrie.

Biblio Turismo would not have been the success it was without the support of the staff at the then Gosford City Library which I was proud to be the City librarian.

More than thirty librarians on motorbikes joined me on our odyssey over the fourteen years we operated. We rode in rain, high winds, searing heat and even snow. We covered over twelve thousand kilometres and visited over ninety public library buildings in NSW several more in the ACT and Victoria. We have been welcomed at the National Library of Australia and the Federal Parliament Library

There has been articles in numerous newspapers, TV and radio interviews and coverage on social media. Coverage has even extended to the USA.

Biblio Turismo has most probably been the longest running marketing program for public libraries in New South Wales.

My two Ducatis have also been in more public libraries than any other vehicle possibly in the world.
Finally thank you to all the public librarians who greeted us with open arms, fed us refreshments and showed us what is meant by Country hospitality.

Safe Travels.

Alan Anthony Flores

Thursday, November 22, 2018

On Friday, seven librarians on their motorbikes dropped by the Bega and Tura Marrang libraries as part of their 13th annual tour. Of the 350-odd public libraries in the state, Biblio Turismo has visited about half during their time on the road.

Team leader Alan Flores said it was initially a fun ride around the state, but has turned into a marketing exercise for public libraries.

“We’re hoping to encourage younger people to see librarians in a different light,” Mr Flores said.

“And it’s about raising the profile of country public libraries and their important place in the communities they serve.”

As an interesting aside, Mr Flores said he was the first librarian for the Bega Valley Shire, helping to set up the initial library service in 1975.  From Bega, the riders were heading up the mountain to Bombala and Dalgety.










 Members of Biblio Turismo in the Bega library on Friday are Alan Flores, Sherry Quinn, Pam and Brian Young, Helena Zobec, Ian McCallum and Richard Marson. Picture: Ben Smyth


Wednesday, November 14, 2018

THE 2018 BT CREW WERE IAN, SHERREY, PAM, BRIAN, HELEN, RICHARD AND ALAN

COOMA LIBRARY


TURA BEACH LIBRARY


HELEN, IAN, SHERREY, PAM


HELEN, RICHARD, SHERREY, PAM


SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2018


PICTURES OF COOMA  AND OF GUNDAGAI RAIL STATIONS AND DALGETY

GUNDAGAI

COOMA


GUNDAGAI


GUNDAGAI


GUNDAGAI


GUNDAGAI


GUNDAGAI




COOMA


COOMA


COOMA


NIMMITABLE


DALGETY


DALGETY


DALGETY


DALGETY


COOMA


GUNDAGAI


DALGETY


Friday 9th November,2018


The crew rugged up and saddled up and headed along the highway to Nimmitable. Thirty kms of sun and freezing cold. It was five degrees when we left Cooma and a bit less at Nimmitable. Breakfast of egg rolls and coffee warmed us up and it was then on to Bombala. Great road with wide curves, if only it could get warmer and I could actually feel my fingers.


Bombala library was where we left it many years ago but has since had a makeover and is a credit to the Council and community. Cups of tea and cream buns and a tour of the library and then it was down the mountain to Pambula and through Merimbula and on to Tura Beach.

 

Tura Beach shopping Centre once boasted a tavern. Now we were to spend the night at a hotel in Dalgety that has been in operation for over a hundred years. This tavern lasted only a few years and the Council has now leased the building and turned it into one of the nicest libraries in the State.

Great toilets as Ian noted. Beer garden now a great reading area and a view of the ocean.

 

Again we were off and heading to Bega, a library I set up in 1976. Ducati into the library, pictures, interview with a journo from the local paper and another with a journo on Facebook.

 

Away we go again, out of town, past the Bega Cheese factory, up the highway turn left up the mountain to the Bombala turnoff. On the same road we took earlier that day.  Turn right after twenty kilometres and then a sign which tells me Dalgety is another fifty kilometres, it was now cold and windy. I perceived and soon arrived at the Dalgety pub. Brian handed me a beer and somehow all was well with the world.  

BOMBALA LIBRARY


BOMBALA LIBRARY


LYN GOUCHER, LIBRARY MANAGER  AND ALAN FLORES AT BOMBALA LIBRARY


BRANCH LIBRARIAN, BOMBALA LIBRARY


BRANCH LIBRARIAN, TURA BEACH LIBRARY


BRIAN'S APRILLA



TURA BEACH LIBRARY

TURA BEACH LIBRARY MALE TOILETS


HELEN, RICHARD, SHERREY AND PAM AT BEGA LIBRARY


ALAN'S 600SS DUCATI AT BEGA


BEGA LIBRARY




Tuesday, November 13, 2018

There were now seven of us on five bikes. The departure from Tumut was sunny and smooth. No wind and about fifteen degrees. We then started up the mountain and to our right was a scenic lake though concentrating on the winding road left little time for sight seeing.


We hit the roof of Australia and passed brumbies, lots of brumbies, and yellow road markings to remind us it snowed up here and then the cold. Sunny but cold. Only bringing summer gloves was not such a great idea.


A stop at Adaminaby  and then off to Cooma to our lodging. Now you would think that a Motel called "Swiss" would be similar to its namesake country, so wrong. The overweight concierge in his shorts and stained shirt was a good indication of the quality of the rooms. having a angled loose gravel parking area did not help.

 

The Cooma library put on a birthday cake to celebrate Richard and Ian's birthday and I gave a talk on "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance". We mingled, took pictures and soon on our way. Our first day was a success, three libraries and 216 kilometres covered. Short trip by our standards.



A cuppa after the talk


Alan's23 year old  Ducati 600ss


COOMA LIBRARY




That night the Lebanese food was great, the company even better.

The Tumut Library was awaiting our arrival. Moms and dads and children in the courtyard.  Ian helping children and parents and staff to sit on his bike and have their picture taken. Later a storytime inside the library. Lunch down the road then saddling up for the big ride over the hill to Cooma. Pam and Brian had now joined the fray. The librarians from Snowy River were on their way.

Budding future librarian



Broke the leg coming around that tight corner just out of town


Tumut library


I just love storytime



Later Boss, I am on my way to Cooma


Monday, November 12, 2018

It was Tuesday and the weather report for Wednesday was for rain. Fraser's had not fixed my Monster so the 600 Super Sport was to be my stead. The ride thrugh Sydney traffic was horrible as always but soon i was on the road to Canberra and to spend some time with Ian and Sherrey

 
 
 












Wednesday was bleak and a day was spent watching the rain come down and at 3.30 we decided to ride through the rain to Gundagai. Cold and wet we arrived at the motel, Ian to find that his new waterproof jacket wasn't. 


Early morning Thursday the rain had stopped and after breakfast we went over to the Gundagai library.  Some nice BSAs outside and the Ducati inside.  Storytime was restricted to adults and I gave a fine rendition.

Soon we were off to Tumut. Some took the high road and others the low road. The sweeping corners were being straightened by the road improvements. Cold but a nice ride.