The City of Ballarat acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we live, work, learn and play on. Within our Council boundaries, the Wadawurrung People are the Traditional Owners south of the Great Dividing Range and to the north the Dja Dja Wurrung People are the Traditional Owners. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their respective Elders past, present and emerging and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
The City of Ballarat Libraries also acknowledges and respects the rich history of tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and storytelling.
We are committed to providing culturally safe public spaces and services in the City of Ballarat Libraries for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and we recognise and understand our responsibility in relation to the sensitivity and significance of some of our collection materials.
Plan your summer of fun at Ballarat Libraries. Join us for a wonderful range of free activities that will keep the whole family entertained these school holidays.
LEARN AND PLAY TOGETHER
Enjoy exploring and discovering together. All sessions for children under 12 are designed to be co-learning activities where parents and carers participate as core support for their child. Age ranges are given as an indication of program suitability and safety, please check prior to booking.
1 December – 31 January Join.
If you are aged 0-18, join the BIG Summer Read for your chance to WIN!
Take part in the state-wide competition and be in the draw to win some fantastic prizes or take part in our local Big Summer Read competition for your chance to win, and to be nominated Ballarat’s Biggest Reader!
Register online or collect a paper reading journal at your closest library.
Register here readbooks.com.au/bsr
The competition starts on 1 December 2024 and closes on 31 January 2025.
Please select Central Highlands Libraries as your local library.
Please note to be eligible for the statewide competition participants must be registered online.
Terms and conditions can be found on libraries.ballarat.vic.gov.au
Winners and their nominated Library Service will be notified via email. Terms and Conditions can be found at plv.org.au/projects/big-summer-read/
ALL AGES
Early Years Games and Puzzles
Drop in, get comfy with the family and enjoy a special games afternoon together. Enjoy an additional mixture of games and puzzles over the Summer School Holiday period that is sure to please the younger ones in the family.
Monday 13 January to Friday 24 January, during library opening hours
Co-Lab at Ballarat Library Drop in, no bookings required.
Creative Mindfulness
Need some time out to practice mindfulness? Join one of our Youth Facilitators to make your very own glitter mindfulness jar, rock or a scribble art collage or all 3!
Tuesday 14 January 10-11.30am
Lucas Outreach
Bookings required
First Nations Cultural Session
Jane is a Noongar Yamatji woman who loves sharing her Culture as an Aboriginal woman. Come along to this interactive, educational session. It will include storytelling, artifacts, art and Wayapa.
Thursday 16 January
10.30-11.30am
Ballarat Library Bookings required
Monday 20 January
10.30-11.30am
Djila-tjarriu Community Hub Bookings required
Family Movie Screening – Paddington
Time to take a break from the summer heat! Bring the family to the Ballarat Library, share some popcorn, get cosy and settle in for a fun filled screening of the movie Paddington.
Wednesday 22 January 4.30-6.30pm
Atrium at Ballarat Library
Bookings required
Big Dinosaur on the Wall
Let’s have a roaring, stomping good time while we collage, draw, colour the library dinosaur on the wall. Hear a dinosaur story and get dinosaur creative. You might like to design your own dinosaur.
Friday 17 January
10.30-11.30am
Friday 24 January
10.30-11.30am
Wendouree Library
Bookings required
Let’s make Fruit Salad
Prepare a healthy fresh fruit snack that is simple and delicious. Suitable for beginner chefs with assistance from their parents/carers.
Friday 17 January
1.30pm-2.30pm
Sebastopol Library
Bookings required
Tuesday 21 January 11am-12pm
Co-Lab at Ballarat Library
Bookings required
Makedo
Ignite your imagination and be inspired to create, learn and have BIG fun building a wonderful world of upcycled creations. Use Makedo to cut, fold and connect forts, costumes, robots and more.
Please note: Completed Makedo constructions cannot be taken home.
This session is designed to be a co-learning activity where parents and carers (over the age of 18) participate as core support for their child.
Ages 5+
Wednesday 22 January 10am-4pm
Thursday 23 January 1-7pm
Sebastopol Library
Drop in, no bookings required.
AGES 4-7
AGES
Nethervoid Adventures
Nethervoid Adventures is an introductory program to the world of role-playing games. Using the award-winning Hero Kids games system designed for primary aged adventurers, participants will become the heroes of a thrilling fantasy story.
Monday 13 January
2-3.30pm
Monday 20 January
2-3.30pm
Wendouree Library
Bookings required
Step into Slime
Are you ready to slime? Then come make your own at the library and explore a fun, hands-on experiment.
Tuesday 14 January
10.30am-11.30am
Tuesday 21 January 10.30am-11.30am
Wendouree Library
Bookings required
Holey Moley Guacamole
Using fresh ingredients, we will work together to create a simple Mexican inspired dish - guacamole with salsa and corn chips. Assistance and supervision required from the accompanying parent/carer.
Monday 20 January 11am-12.30pm
Sebastopol Library
Bookings required for all children attending
Friendship bracelets
Whether you’ve been swept away by Swiftmania or you’ve shaken the whole thing off, there’s one thing we can all agree on: friendship bracelets are the BEST! Come along and add a little charm to your (and your BFFs) arm this summer. We will have alpha beads, coloured baubles, sparkle, shine and everything you need to make brilliant bracelets to wear and share.
*Participants must be 8 years and older due to the use of small beads. Thank you for your cooperation with this safety measure.
Ages 8+
Wednesday 15 January 10.30-11.30am
Wednesday 22 January 10.30-11.30am
Ballarat Library
Bookings required
Engineering Masters
Young inquisitive minds like to see how things work. This programme explores engineering principles. What makes a strong structure? Bring your curiosity and we’ll find out together.
Thursday 16 January 1.30-2.30pm
Sebastopol Library
Bookings required
Hour of Code
This is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify “code” and show that we can all learn the basics.
Friday 17 January 4-5pm
Friday 24 January 4-5pm
Ballarat Library
Bookings required for all children attending
Silent Summer Sketch Party
Capture summery scenes using pencil and paper during a quiet hour of sketching in the sunshine. This session offers ardent artists the chance to engage with the outdoors in a calm and creative way. All materials provided.
Ages 8+
Monday 20 January 10.30am-11.30am
Ballarat Library
Bookings required for all children attending
Mindful Musical Art
This is a mindful twist on an art experience. Can listening to calming mindful music whilst also creating art, influence the way you paint a picture?
Ages 5-11
Thursday 23 January 2-3pm
Ballarat Library
Bookings required
Learn to Play Zombiecide
Have you got the skills to survive the zombie apocalypse? Learn to play Zombiecide, the world’s most popular collaborative zombie survival board game.
Ages 12+
Tuesday 14 January 3-5pm
Tuesday 21 January 3-5pm
Ballarat Library
Bookings required
Retro Games a Go-Go
Take a trip in our library time machine and join our Retro Games Olympics. Learn to play games from a bygone era such as Tiddlywinks and Pick-up Sticks.
Ages 12+
Wednesday 15 January 3-4.30pm
Ballarat Library
Bookings required
Rebel Badge Collective
For centuries, rebels from all walks of life have worn badges to show their support and allegiances to causes close to their heart. In this workshop, you will design and create your own personal badge, to wear with pride.
Ages 12+
Wednesday 22 January 3-4.30pm
Ballarat Library
Bookings required
AGES 8-13 AGES 12+ ONLY
Ballarat Libraries
Libraries.ballarat.vic.gov.au
ballaratlibraries@ballarat.vic.gov.au
@ballaratlibraries
@ballaratlibraries
Ballarat Library
5338 6850
178 Doveton Street North, Ballarat
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am-6pm
Wednesday 9.30am-7pm
Saturday 9.30am-4pm
Sunday 1-4pm
Sebastopol Library
5335 7985
181 Albert Street, Sebastopol
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 9.30am-5pm
Thursday 9.30am-8pm
Saturday 9.30am-12pm
Sunday closed
Wendouree Library
5339 3505
Stockland Wendouree
Shopping Centre
Monday to Friday 9.30am-5pm
Saturday 9.30am-12pm
Djila-tjarriu Community Hub
5329 1620
18 Donegal Drive Monday to Friday 9am-4pm
Library Outreach
Library Outreach will close 20 December 2024 and recommence 28 January 2025.
Lucas
Lucas Community Hub Coltman Plaza Tuesdays 10am–12pm
Buninyong
Buninyong Community House 407 Warrenheip Street Thursdays 2–5pm
