Read On: your monthly dose of library news 📚

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Hello library member,

Welcome to the September edition of Read On, your monthly eNews from Moonee Valley Libraries.

Youth Fest: Nonfiction Picks

This September, Victorian Youth Fest shines a light on the interests and creativity of young people. We're proud to support young people as they learn and grow, with a curated collection of nonfiction titles covering everything from identity and wellbeing to creativity, food, money skills and navigating life as a young adult. Browse the full list of titles on our website.

Blush: contemporary makeup artists, by Linda Evangelista

Haircare: The ultimate guide, by Anabel Kingsley

Public holiday hours

Moonee Valley Libraries will be closed on Friday 25 September. Return chutes will remain open. Audiobooks, eBooks and other online resources are available 24/7. All branches will be open as usual from Saturday 26 September.

What's On: Adults

The secret lives of Australian fungi

Are you interested in beautiful and rarely documented fungi? Come and learn about Australian macrofungi biodiversity and why that knowledge is so limited with Jeremy Hegge, citizen scientist, mushroom educator, amateur mycologist and photographer.

Free. Bookings required.

Niddrie Library
Tuesday 1 September, 6pm–7.30pm

Bookings

Moreno Giovannoni, The Immigrants

Award-winning author Moreno Giovannoni will be in conversation with author Antoni Jach, to discuss his new novel The Immigrants, exploring migration, identity, and the search for belonging in regional Australia.

Winner of The Age Book of the Year
Award and the NSW Literary Award for Fiction, Moreno reflects on the experiences that shaped this powerful and deeply human novel.

Free. Bookings required.

Sam Merrifield Library
Monday 14 September, 7pm–8pm

Bookings

Preserving family recipes with Jaclyn Crupi

Do you have a special family recipe? This writing workshop, hosted by author Jaclyn Crupi, will teach you how to record those memories and celebrate your family history.

Free. Bookings required.

Ascot Vale Library
Saturday 12 September, 2pm–4pm

Bookings

Small space veggie gardening

This spring-focused gardening session helps backyard gardeners make the most of spring growth and small spaces. Find out what to plant now, how to prepare soil after the cooler months, and simple strategies for dealing with weeds, pests and changing weather as you plant your spring crop.

Free. Bookings required.

Ascot Vale Library
Monday 21 September, 6pm–7pm

Bookings

Metro Trains rail safety for seniors

Join Metro Trains Community Education facilitators to gain confidence in using Metro Trains with tips on Myki use, accessibility, journey planning and safety.

Free. Bookings required.

Niddrie Library
Wednesday 23 September, 1pm–2.30pm

Bookings

Ambulance Victoria: Call Push Shock

This CPR and awareness session breaks down barriers to helping in a cardiac emergency. Learn when to Call triple zero (000), how to perform Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Push on the patient’s chest, and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to Shock the heart.

Free. Bookings required.

Avondale Heights Library and Learning Centre
Thursday 17 September, 10am–11.30am

Bookings

Local history at the library

The first ever Ferguson Plarre, the Niddrie Quarry, a parrot at the Doutta Galla hotel. If you’ve ever wondered about local history, the answer could be at the library. This workshop will show you how to discover the stories of people and places in Moonee Valley.

Free. Bookings required.

Ascot Vale Library

Friday 18 September, 11am–12pm

Bookings

Film screenings at the library

Enjoy free films at your library this September, including the classic Kind Hearts and Coronets, plus special R U OK? Day screenings of The Last Journey and Safe Spaces.

Free. Bookings required.

Screenings

Did you know we have a Vietnamese language collection?

For our Vietnamese-speaking community members, we offer Vietnamese collections of adult fiction, nonfiction, and children’s picture books at the Flemington and Avondale Heights Libraries. DVDs in Vietnamese can also be found at these branches, along with the Sam Merrifield Library, while a selection of Vietnamese magazines are available at the Flemington Library. Digital magazines and films in Vietnamese are available through digital library platforms PressReader and Kanopy. Additionally, families can also enjoy children’s stories read in Vietnamese online through LOTE4Kids. All these resources are available free with your library membership.

Explore Community Languages

What's On: Young people

Explore our school holiday activities made for teens

School holiday teen movie: 'Wicked for Good'

Join us at the library for a movie screening. Bring a friend and your favourite snacks and we’ll provide the popcorn. Branded the Wicked Witch of the West, can Elphaba stop the Wizard’s corruption? And can she and Galinda reconcile to change Oz for good? 137 mins. Rated PG. Ages 12–18.

Free. Bookings required.

Ascot Vale Library

Thursday 24 September, 1.30pm–3.45pm

Sam Merrifield Library
Friday 2 October, 1.30pm–3.45pm

Bookings

Game Off!

Test your skills in a Nintendo Switch 2 tournament featuring Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Compete for a shot at glory. Challenge your friends and show what you can do. Sign up now and get ready to race, battle, and rise to the top. All games rated PG. Ages 12–18.

Free. Bookings required.

Avondale Heights Library & Learning Centre
Thursday 24 September, 1pm–5pm

Bookings

DIY bag charms

Create a custom bag charm using colourful beads, ribbons and fun decorative pieces. You’ll leave with a one-of-a-kind accessory for your bag, keys or pencil case. Ages 12–18.

Free. Bookings required.

Flemington Library
Tuesday 29 September, 2.30pm–3.30pm

Bookings

Kids Corner

Discover our great range of school holiday activities. Bookings are required and open at 10am on Monday 14 September.

Build a dinosaur

Encourage your child to get creative and explore the prehistoric world by designing and building their own dinosaur! We’ll provide a variety of materials, including everyday recyclables you might find at home, to inspire their imagination.
Ages 5–12.

Free. Bookings required.

Ascot Vale Library
Monday 21 September, 10.30am–11.30am

Bookings

Hands-on fun: printmaking workshop

Children will discover the art of printmaking in this hands-on workshop. They’ll engrave their own design onto a foam plate, use colourful, washable inks to create a unique print, and take their artwork home. Ages 5–12.

Free. Bookings required.

Sam Merrifield Library
Monday 21 September, 2pm–3pm

Bookings

Moon Festival

Join us for a hands-on Moon Festival activity at the library. Your child will make their own lantern and discover the traditions behind this special celebration. Ages 5–12.

Free. Bookings required.

Flemington Library
Tuesday 22 September, 3pm–4pm

Avondale Heights Library and Learning Centre
Wednesday 23 September, 10.30am–11.30am

Bookings

Family movie screenings

Join us for some family fun at the library. Our seats may not recline, but we have a decent sized screen, and kids get a bag of popcorn! Free. Bookings required.

All screenings 10.30am

Goat (2026)
100 mins. Rated PG.

Ages 5–12.

The SpongeBob movie: Search for SquarePants (2025)

88 mins. Rated PG.

Ages 5–12.

View Screenings

There’s lots more happening these school holidays. Explore the full program on our events page.

Discover your family history with Ancestry and Find My Past, two valuable online resources available to patrons free of charge at Moonee Valley Libraries. Ancestry provides access to an extensive collection of family history records from around the world, while Find My Past is particularly useful for researching British and Irish family history. Both databases can only be accessed from within a Moonee Valley Libraries branch.

Not sure where to begin? Consider booking into one of our Family History Programs for tips, guidance, and workshops to help you uncover your family’s story and make the most of the library’s resources.

Visit Research & Learning

News from Moonee Valley City Council

Moonee Valley after dark: projection tours

Illuminate the night with two special projection events that bring our streets, parks and creeks to life after the sun sets.

The tours will showcase the work of local artists and school students, with animated projections shown along paths, streets and creeks. Light, colour, music, place and nature come together to tell a fascinating story that connect the audience to the Earth After Dark.

Free. Bookings required.

Airport West Walking Tour
Friday 2 October, 7pm–8.30pm

Maribyrnong Bike Tour
Friday 9 October, 8pm–9.30pm

More details

DUST

Winner of Adelaide Festival’s 2025 inSPACE Fringe Award for best original premiere, this one-man performance is based on a true story and infused with Northern British humour, heart and grit. Dust is one man’s unforgettable journey, examining generational trauma, resilience, and survival against the backdrop of post-World War II England.

Clocktower Centre

Saturday 3 October, 7.30pm

*Post-show Q&A for Director’s Circle Members

More details

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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