It’s almost the end of the year! Please note Libraries Tasmania’s opening hours across the Christmas and New Year period.
Opening hours at Burnie, Devonport, Glenorchy, Hobart, Kingston, Launceston, Rosny, the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, and the State Library and Tasmanian Archives Reading Room:
Friday, 23 December 2022 – Normal hours
Saturday, 24 December 2022 – Normal hours
Sunday, 25 December 2022 – Closed as normal (Christmas Day)
Monday, 26 December 2022 – Closed (Boxing Day)
Tuesday, 27 December 2022 – Closed (Christmas Day Public Holiday)
Wednesday, 28 December 2022 – Restricted hours: Normal opening time – closed by 5:00 pm
Thursday, 29 December 2022 – Restricted hours: Normal opening time – closed by 5:00 pm
Friday, 30 December 2022 – Restricted hours: Normal opening time – closed by 5:00 pm
Saturday, 31 December 2022 – Normal opening and closing time (major libraries only)
Sunday, 1 January 2023 – Closed as normal (New Year’s Day)
Monday, 2 January 2023 – Closed (New Year’s Day Public Holiday)
Tuesday 3 January 2023 – Normal hours
Opening hours at all other locations:
These libraries will open until the regular closing time on Saturday, 24 December 2022 (if the library is normally open on a Saturday), and will remain closed until Tuesday, 3 January 2023, when normal hours resume.
Have a wonderful, safe and happy holiday break, from all of us at Libraries Tasmania!
Earlier this year, Sabine Cotte came to work in the Libraries Tasmania conservation lab on a very special project.
The Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts has a beautiful late nineteenth century English painted leather screen which has been on display in the Bedroom Museum Bay.
A few years ago, we noticed that there was old damage that was possibly getting worse, so we removed the screen from display and planned conservation treatment, using Allport conservation bequest funds.
Sabine Cotte is a painting conservator with extensive experience in France, working for UNESCO on the conservation of Himalayan paintings. She also has a PhD from the University of Melbourne.
Sabine came to Hobart to work on the screen for six days and, in that time, partly dismantled the screen from its wooden frame to access the torn panels and repaired and retouched the damaged areas. (A summary of the treatment follows.)
Painted folding screen before treatment.
Sabine carefully examined the screen, noting the nature of the materials and the condition, which included tight tension of the leather causing tearing, a thick varnish layer adding to a lack of flexibility and corroded tacks holding the leather edging and hinges.
Detail of damage before treatment.Facing applied to tear before treatment.
Lifting frame away from leather (left) and (right) we devised a way of supporting the frame with the separated leather panel flat on the table surface. Sabine had to work inside the tiny gap between the two panels!
The treatment involved facing the tears on the front during treatment to protect the surface, removal of the upholstery tacks, then gentle, partial lifting of the leather from the frame to allow repair.
Stabilising the tear from the back (left) and (right) tacking heat-set adhesive.
The tears were humidified and pressed, then small strips of Reemay and Plextol B500 adhesive supported the tear, followed by Bondina and Beva 371 adhesive film to line the tears.
We were on standby to assist with turning and supporting the screen for Sabine to move between the three panels (left) and (right) new upholstery tacks fitted.
The leather panels were remounted on the frame with new brass upholstery tacks in a way that reduced the tension on the panels.
Removing the protective facing.
Finally, the surface was cleaned with deionised water, the tears were infilled and in-painted followed with a light protective retouching varnish.
Returning the screen to the Bedroom Museum Bay in the Allport.The restored screen in the Bedroom Museum Bay.
There will be a second stage to the treatment of the screen where the yellowed varnish will be removed. For this we will need to send the screen to Melbourne in future.
The Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts is putting together an exhibition called Fancy dress: from tutus to cosplay at Libraries Tasmania next year… and we’d love to include YOUR costume experiences.
If you would like to be considered for inclusion in our exhibition, we invite you to submit a photo of yourself in your most amusing, creative or awkward costume. We welcome current images or classics from the past!
Send your image to AllportCurator@libraries.tas.gov.au – with your name, the year the photo was taken, and title of the costume. Please submit good-quality images suitable for showing on a large digital screen.
The deadline to submit your costume image is 31 January 2023.
Did you know that membership is free and open to everyone in Tasmania, even if you’re just visiting?
Becoming a member of Libraries Tasmania gives you the option to borrow from any of our 45 libraries around the State and access our huge eLibrary, from your own device.
Soak up the wide range of member benefits – all for free!
Get the most out of your public library membership. Use your library card to borrow and return at any public library in Tasmania. Borrow books, console games, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines and more!
Summer has arrived and we can hopefully look forward to long hours of sunshine and fun.
There are plenty of great activities at Libraries Tasmania for your children to enjoy during the break. Libraries Tasmania’s summer school holiday program is free and open to all children at their local library. Find activities at your local library on Eventbrite.
If you’re in southern Tasmania, the Southern Libraries School Holiday program will be available mid-December. Keep an eye on statewide activities for kids on Eventbrite. Please make sure to book, as demand is high.
Wondering how to keep your children reading during the holidays?
All Tasmanian Government school students can now borrow a wide range of eBooks for free through the Sora app.
Students can access eBooks, magazines, and graphic novels using the Sora app on their device. Items are specially selected and age appropriate for students from Prep to Year 12. Library membership is not required.
If you need help getting started, speak to your child’s teacher or school library staff member.
If your child goes to an independent or catholic school your child can access thousands of items in our eLibrary via the Libby App by using their Libraries Tasmania membership.
Thank you to all members and visitors to our libraries for exploring our programs, exhibitions and events this year. We’ve enjoyed sharing in your joy this year, discovering new ideas, learning new things, and making new connections!
Discover the library at your fingertips
It’s a busy time of year, and sometimes, it’s hard to make it into the library to borrow your next read. Listen, read or watch at your convenience by accessing our large collection of eBooks, eAudiobooks, films, documentaries and magazines, all available through the eLibrary! And don’t forget to tell your friends that if they are a library member, they get to borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks for free.
Do you want help getting set up with the eLibrary? Ask a friendly staff member at your local library.
Staff book review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Set during World War II, through a small-town lens in Germany, even the notion of books being the hero wasn’t enough to entice me beyond the cover. I finally decided to try to listen to this tragic tale merely to see how Death handled the narration. He did not disappoint, with his voice, taking the imagery and tenderness of this book to another level.
Warning! It took me several attempts to get to the sweet spot and I know of many avid readers who didn’t make it. It was the amazing imagery, “Next to the train line, footprints were sunken to their shins. Trees wore blankets of ice“, and characterization, “she occupied with soldierlike posture, a refrigerated voice, and even breath that smelled like “Heil Hitler!“‘ that encouraged me to persevere through the sadness of it all (I used at least one box of tissues) and I’m so glad I did.
Celebrate Christmas with Ben & Maya on Wednesday 14 December 2022, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm AEDT in the Overdrive Christmas special. Ben Hobson will be interviewing Maya Linnell on her new rural romance ‘Paperbark Hill’; Rebecca Noble, florist and host of podcast ‘Dish the Dirt’; and Kristi Brooks from Mount Gambier Library.
Register on Eventbrite here for Christmas with Ben & Maya.
Register for activities at your local library on Eventbrite:
