ReadOn: your monthly dose of library news 📚

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Hello library member,

Welcome to the December edition of ReadOn, your monthly eNewsletter from Moonee Valley Libraries.

Top reads for 2025

Discover the books our library team loved the most this year. Find the full list on our website.

What's On: Adults

So you want to write a play

Got a story to tell? Award-winning playwright Dan Giovannoni will deliver a hands-on workshop that dives into the magic of writing for the stage. Through playful exercises and creative prompts, you’ll explore how to turn your ideas, experiences, and inspirations into powerful dramatic moments. All skill levels welcome.

Flemington Library

Saturday 6 December, 11am–1pm

Bookings

Festive ornament workshop

Get crafty this festive season. Learn how to turn old ornaments into fresh, fabulous decorations using recycled materials. Bring your pre-loved pieces and give them a glow-up. Guided by Amanda, a Melbourne fashion designer with 20+ years of sewing experience, you’ll discover fun, creative ways to breathe new life into your holiday crafts. It’s hands-on, eco-friendly, and full of festive flair!

Makerspace

Avondale Heights Library & Learning Centre

Monday 8 December, 6pm–7.30pm

Bookings

Create your own Christmas decal

Create a festive decal using design software and a smart-cutter. Staff will assist with customising your design, and you’ll see the cutting process in action before taking your sticker home.

Makerspace

Avondale Heights Library & Learning Centre

Wednesday 10 December,10am–11.30am

Bookings

Laser-cut Christmas decorations

Customise a laser-cut Christmas decoration using festive design templates and design software. Staff will assist with personalisation, and you’ll see the laser cutter in action as it creates your piece.

Makerspace

Avondale Heights Library & Learning Centre
Wednesday 10 December,1.30pm–3pm

Bookings

Sustainable Food Festival Day: Preserving your seasonal harvest

Maria from My Green Garden will show you how to preserve your seasonal harvest with safe techniques like bottling, pickling and jam-making. Learn using everyday kitchen tools and garden-fresh ingredients. Come for tastings and be inspired to try out recipes yourself.

Avondale Heights Library & Learning Centre
Saturday 6 December, 1.30pm–3pm

You can also join us on the day for a

Produce Swap & Seed Saving Workshop

View series

Neighbourhood history walk: Flemington

Uncover Flemington’s past, big and small. This guided walk will uncover some of the fascinating stories hidden in plain (and not-so-plain) sight.

Flemington Library

Friday 5 December, 10am–11.30am

Bookings

Neighbourhood history walk: Niddrie

Step into Niddrie’s past on this guided walk. We will uncover some of the stories, characters, and events that have shaped the area.

Niddrie Library

Thursday 11 December, 10am–11.30am

Bookings

Centrelink Q&As

Do you have a question about Centrelink services like payments, Aged Care or myGov? Book a 30-minute one-on-one session with an expert from Services Australia who can point you in the right direction.

Sam Merrifield Library

Tuesday 2 December,10am–12pm

Bookings

My Aged Care info session

Got questions about My Aged Care? Come along to this free info session with Council’s Aged Care Navigation Officer and get the answers you need. Learn about services, support options, and how to access them.

Call (03) 9243 1940 to book if you cannot do so online.

Niddrie Library
Thursday 4 December, 10.30am–12.30pm

Bookings

Cuppa & eSafety: connecting to others

Want to feel safer and more confident online? Discover how to stay in touch with loved ones, no matter where they are. Settle in with a cuppa, watch a webinar hosted by the eSafety Commissioner, and learn practical ways to connect online.

Niddrie Library

Tuesday 9 December, 3pm–4pm

Bookings

Cuppa & eSafety: apps for smarter travel

Learn how to use apps that make getting around easier, safer, and more efficient. Enjoy a cuppa, watch a webinar hosted by the eSafety Commissioner, and explore digital tools that support confident travel.

Sam Merrifield Library
Tuesday 11 December, 3pm–4pm

Bookings

Get your summer reading on the go!

Take your holiday reading along for the ride with eBooks, audiobooks and digital magazines on the BorrowBox and Libby apps. Simply download the app on your smartphone or tablet. Sign in with your Moonee Valley Libraries barcode number and PIN, and you’ll be ready to enjoy a world of reading without extra weight in your luggage.

Explore Digital Library

Kids Corner

Big Summer Read: Launch

Big Summer Read is alomost here! Join us for the launch and kick off the summer fun.

Bring your child to Ascot Vale Library to sign up for the Big Summer Read and take part in a creative craft activity. Everyone who registers on the day will receive a special goodie bag to take home. For 3–12 years.

Big Summer Read runs from 1 December to 31 January. Encourage your child to read for fun this summer. By reading five books or engaging in reading for five days, they'll have a chance to win great prizes. Visit readbooks.com.au/bsr

Ascot Vale Library

Monday 1 December, 4pm–5pm

Bookings

Starting school Storytime

Support your child’s transition into school or kinder with a special Storytime celebrating first days, making friends, and learning new things. It’s a gentle way to build excitement and confidence for what’s ahead. Ages 3–5.

Session times 10.30am–11.15am.

Sam Merrifield Library
Monday 1 December

Niddrie Library
Tuesday 2 December

Avondale Heights Library & Learning Centre
Wednesday 3 December

Ascot Vale Library
Thursday 4 December

Flemington Library
Friday 5 December

No bookings required.

Christmas Storytime

Celebrate the season with our final Storytime sessions for 2025. Wear your favourite Christmas t-shirt or hat and enjoy festive stories, songs and craft. Special guest appearance by a famous person in red. Ages 3–5.

Session times 10.30am–11.15am.

Sam Merrifield Library
Monday 8 December

Niddrie Library
Tuesday 9 December

Avondale Heights Library & Learning Centre
Wednesday 10 December

Ascot Vale Library
Thursday 11 December

Flemington Library
Friday 12 December

No bookings required.

Make a calendar

Encourage your child to welcome the new year with creativity. They’ll decorate a nature-inspired wall calendar to take home and enjoy throughout 2026. Ages 5–12.

Session times 4pm–4.45pm.

Sam Merrifield Library
Monday 1 December

Niddrie Library
Tuesday 2 December

Avondale Heights Library & Learning Centre
Wednesday 3 December

Ascot Vale Library
Thursday 4 December

Flemington Library
Friday 5 December

Bookings

DIY Christmas crafts

Get into the festive spirit with a hands-on activity. Kids can create their own Christmas decoration to take home. Ages 5–12.

Session times 4pm–4.45pm.

Sam Merrifield Library
Monday 8 December

Niddrie Library
Tuesday 9 December

Ascot Vale Library
Thursday 11 December

Flemington Library
Friday 12 December

Bookings

Christmas tree decorating

Bring your child to the library to help decorate our Christmas tree with handmade creations. They’ll also get to make a special decoration to take home. Ages 5–12.

Avondale Heights Library & Learning Centre
Wednesday 10 December, 4pm–4.45pm

Bookings

Did you know we have a Greek language collection?

Find our Greek collection online and browse our range of books for children and adults, DVDs, eBooks, audiobooks, physical magazines, and digital magazines and newspapers. You can also see which branches have a physical Greek newspaper for you to read. Just click the language button at the top of the page to switch between Greek and English to help you navigate.

If you’re interested in another language, visit our Community Languages webpage and start exploring.

Explore Community Languages

News from Moonee Valley City Council

Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with a free evening of carols, children’s activities and festive cheer in Queens Park.Gather your family and friends, pack a picnic and experience the magic of the festive season with some of your favourite carols!

Candles, food and refreshments will all be available for purchase. We also recommend bringing a picnic blanket to relax on and enjoy the beautiful evening.

Saturday 6 December

Free children's activities from 4.30pm

Carols concert from 6.30pm

Queens Park, Moonee Ponds.

For more details please visit: Carols in Queens Park 2025 - Moonee Valley City Council

To view a full list of upcoming library events and programs, visit our events page.

Thanks for reading.

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Moonee Valley City Council respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which Moonee Valley is located – the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People of the Kulin Nation; and we pay respect to their Spirits, Ancestors, Elders and their Community members past and present. Council also extends this respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples who call Moonee Valley home.

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Moonee Valley Libraries
483 Keilor Road Niddrie Victoria Australia 3042
Phone: +61 3 9243 1900