Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Engadine: the beginning!



By the time I reached Engadine it was 9am and the rain had not stopped. We were now three and it was so wet that I brought my Ducati into the library for a photo shoot. Not an easy task to get a fully loaded bike up the ramp through the auto sliding doors and past the security checkout to the circulation desk. What the customers thought of this I have no idea. But the warm welcome of the library manager and her staff, a councilor, the local press and media officer made it all worthwhile.

Speech at send off of Biblio Turismo 2007 by councillor from Sutherland Clr McDonell .

Welcome to the second annual Biblio Turismo
Sutherland shire council is proud to be host to this years Turismo.
We ask our messengers to carry the good wishes of Sutherland Shire to all the municipalities and Shires that will be visited over the next four days as they travel hundred's of kilometres across this great state and visit public libraries big and small.

It has been said that people interact more with local government through public libraries than through any other service. There is a need to make sure that councils are aware of libraries potential and to bring libraries more into mainstream local government operations rather than working alongside local government I hope that this Tour helps in this regard as you meet councillors and library staff on your journey.

I would like to end with a quote from Dylan Thomas as good literature always stirs the soul and makes for good travelling and it is what public libraries are all about.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night




A welcome cup of coffee and a croissant and two of us left for Corrimal. The other Turista hurt her hand and could not ride.

Engadine staff prepare to shelve the Ducati!

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