If you’ve ever wondered about where your family comes from, or have gaps in your family tree that you would like to investigate, Ancestry.com is a good place to search across millions of records. Normally this site requires you to join up for a subscription fee, but if you visit the library you can access it for free! This site has many extra features which make researching family history much easier, including different charts and documents to help you record the information you find about your family. Your research can be as simple or as in depth as you like, with a quick search possibly leading to more clues about family origins, places, occupations and dates. With help guides and tips on how to explore your family’s past, Ancestry is well worth a look. Make a booking to use this resource on one of the computers at Wellington Library today by calling 6845 2156.

What to read next

Don’t let confusion about what to read next stop you from finding that un-put-down-able book that will have you turning pages into the early morning. The library is here to help, with book marks you can take home listing various titles in categories such as Fantasy, Romance, Travel, Military Stories and even books similar to the ‘Twilight’ series or ‘The Fault in Our Stars’. You can always use the catalogue to find out what is new to the library or see suggested titles when you search on a book you know you love. Or for those who prefer to come into the library and talk about what they would like in a book, why not chat to the friendly staff who love to match people up with new authors and help you in your search for good reading.

A bit Graphic for you

Scattered throughout the Youth Fiction section are the Graphic Novels. These sometimes overlooked gems have often been turned into films and can be a really fun way of reading for people who prefer to look at something visual. Superman, Batman and the Marvel superheroes are not the only comic legends featured at Wellington Library. There are Japanese Manga comics as well as ‘The Walking Dead’, ’Claymore’, ‘The Twilight Zone’ and most recently a newly shelved edition of ‘Planet of the Apes: Cataclysm Volume 1’. Graphic Novels read like a storyboard for films or television, so there is often a lot of crossover between these genres and it can be an underestimated way of helping people who don’t necessarily enjoy books to read. A lot of the Graphic Novels do contain mature content, so parental guidance is recommended.

Jandamarra

One of the books shortlisted for this year’s Australian Children’s Book Award was ‘Jandamarra’ by Mark Greenwood with illustrations by Terry Denton. This is the story of legendary Bunuba warrior, Jandamarra and his battle against settlers in the Kimberley region of Australia. This book contains a fair amount of cartoon violence and bloodshed so may not be suitable for younger readers. It is an emotional and moving story about conflict and spiritual journey which is quite haunting to read. It has been written with the permission of the custodians of the Jandamarra story, the Bunuba people.

Macquarie Regional Library, Wellington Branch, is located on the corner of Maughan and Percy Streets, Wellington.

Phone: 6845 2156

Website: www.mrl.nsw.gov.au