Distance no object for Hawkesbury Time Travellers

A new online book club is being launched in the Hawkesbury to bring together residents who can’t always get to a physical book club meeting.

The Time Travellers Online Book Club is the brainchild of Hawkesbury Library Coordinator Joanne Russo and it will launch exclusively online via Zoom in December.

When the Covid pandemic struck, libraries, like all public spaces, had to think outside the square, but Ms Russo also had an eye on those residents who couldn’t always find it possible to get into Windsor or Richmond libraries for the more traditional book club where members sit and discuss what they’ve been reading.

“The Hawkesbury is such a large area, we thought it would be a wonderful way for people to be able to join a book club,” Ms Russo said.

Time Travellers Online Book Club, will be an historical themes book club run by facilitator Jo Henwood, a popular local story teller and avid reader.

“We decided on history because in April we carried out a survey on Facebook and it was the most popular genre,” Ms Russo told the Post. “The book clubs we have here in-house in the library tend to be more general, so it will be interesting to see how this online club is received.”

The initial planning meeting for the book club will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, 9 December, 7pm to 8pm and will give potential Time Traveller members the opportunity to find out more, and to help plan upcoming book club books and topics for 2021.

“You will also be able to hear about what role Hawkesbury Library Service will play. The book club will provide a fun and engaging discussion with the participants,” said Ms Russo.

From February 2021, The Time Travellers Book Club will meet monthly on the first Wednesday of the month, 7pm to 8pm via Zoom. Each month different books or themes will be read and interested participants will be able register for the session by visiting www.hawkesburylibrary.eventbrite.com or by calling the Library on 4560 4460 for more information.

The membership of the Time Travellers Book Club is free to all library members. Individual bookings for each month’s meeting will be essential.

And if you are not a library member yet, why not join by filling in a membership form at https://aurora.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/library/Join.aspx and you will be issued with an online only membership, which can also be upgraded to a full membership if you like, upon showing your identification when you visit in person.

You can visit either Hawkesbury Central Library at 300 George Street, Windsor or Richmond Branch Library at 29 West Market Street, Richmond to join in person.

Connect with Hawkesbury Library Service:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HawkesburyLibrary

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hawkesburylibrary

Website: www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/library

Phone: 4560 4460

Email: library@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au