Libraries and City Museum will be closed King's Birthday Public Holiday, Monday 8 June 2026 and will re-open Tuesday 9 June 2026.

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Green City Wars

Summary:

In a city of sunshine and secrets, the shadows belong to the animals.

In a solar-powered future, humans live in luxury, served by unseen Little Helpers - artificially enhanced animals who maintain their perfect green cities. The animals' number one rule: 'Do Not Bother the Humans'. Yet beneath this tranquil facade, a complex underworld of animal politics, crime and conflict thrives.

Enter Skotch, a freelance raccoon investigator. His biggest problem was a lack of work. Now his work may get him killed. And his latest case? Finding a fugitive mouse scientist. But powerful forces are also after the mouse, and they're willing to kill for his secrets.

Can Skotch navigate this treacherous web, outsmart rat gangsters, beat a deadly weasel assassin and keep his pelt intact? More importantly, can he find his quarry before the elusive rodent breaks Rule One in the most apocalyptic way - and shatters their fragile world.

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Billie King

Summary:

1918: Australia's last bushranger, Dulcie James, holds up Anna King's falling-down farmhouse. There's a scrawny unloved infant on the floor, Anna seems more furious than frightened, and it's the bushranger who's left shaken. And the next day, Anna disappears.

Twelve years later, Anna's daughter, Billie King, is a girl ready to explode. With a missing mother, the rent in arrears and her alcoholic father's gambling debts to cover, she has no time for school. But when child services threaten to remove Billie from her father, she must decide between continuing her search for her missing mother and keeping what's left of her family together. If she fails to hold onto her father, she'll be taken away and placed in a children's home, but if she doesn't find her missing mother, who will?

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The Importance of Being Delia

Summary:

Pleasing other people is hell. Pleasing herself is a revolution.

The gorgeous, cosy new family drama from the bestselling author of The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison

Will curiosity kill the cat-sitter?

For more than thirty years, Delia Watson was the silent engine behind her husband Charlie's glittering music career - the perfect wife, the reliable rock. Now retired, she is ready for leisure. The universe, however, has other plans.

Trapped cat-sitting a loathsome feline in the deceptive calm of Pretty Point, Delia's patience snaps when a cryptic letter arrives from a stranger. Charlie claims ignorance, but Delia knows he is lying.

Finally, she is done playing nice.

Aided by the formidable ladies of the bridge club, Delia uncovers a sordid mystery lurking beneath the suburb's superficial charms. With a missing moggy, a furious husband, and a mother-in-law threatening police action, Delia faces a tangle of greed, ambition and betrayal where even the dead have stories to tell.

It is time for the silent partner to make some noise.

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The Changeling

Summary:

On her fourteenth birthday, Caiti NicNeven discovers her true mother is the queen of the Sidhe, the faery folk who dwell beneath Scotland's hollow hills. Bound by ancient grievance, the faery queen demands Caiti become the instrument of her revenge against the mortal crown stolen a thousand years before.

Drawing on a dangerous magic she barely understands, Caiti flees. She finds refuge at the treacherous court of Mary, Queen of Scots. As fear and religious fervour grip the country, Mary is pressured into passing an Anti-Witchcraft Act, placing every woman - and every whispered spell - in peril.

Watching from the shadows, the faery queen tightens her hold. When Caiti falls in love with Robbie, the son of a local laird, her mother strikes, cursing him to dance himself to death beneath the faery moon.

To save the man she loves, Caiti must cross into the faery realm and confront the mother who would destroy her - and claim a wild, dangerous magic of her own.

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When Sparks Fly

Summary:

After a very public breakup, a summer at her family's lake house is exactly what heiress Rachel Henderson needs.

But after setting her mother's expensive curtains on fire, Rachel is saved by a very handsome fireman. Too bad he's also the grumpiest guy she's ever met.

Rachel keeps running into the fireman around the lake, and when she breaks through his tetchy fa ade, she finds herself totally falling for him. And it seems he feels the same.

But as summer draws to a close, Rachel must decide- Will she head back to the city, or stay by the lake forever.

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Weddings

Summary:

Marie-Aurelie, cherished yet untitled, embraces a life outside conventional matrimony, igniting a legacy of profound choices for her descendants.

Dominique, longing to eclipse her mother's shadow, finds herself caught up in love's hidden tangles, leading her children down diverging paths. Her eldest breaks free from an oppressive betrothal. Her son clings to stability in a turbulent marriage. Her youngest defies tradition but ultimately discovers her own version of happiness.

When the past and future collide, these women must decide whether they keep to tradition or forge new paths. To marry or not, because their decisions will affect the future of all of those close to them.

City Library

Author Talk: Bradley Dryburgh

Thursday 30 July 2026 | 6:00pm

Price: $5

City Library

Chapter Chat!

Thursday, 20 August 2026 | 4:00pm

Price: FREE

City Library

In Conversation with Liane Moriarty

Tuesday, 1 September 2026 | 6:00pm

Price: $10

Latest news

Get your New Library Card today!

We’re upgrading our Library Membership Cards to ensure they work seamlessly with our latest technology. This upgrade also helps us keep your details up to date so you can enjoy the new features and have a smooth, convenient access to all our services.

Explore our digital programs

Did you know your library has a range of online programs, tutorials and resources ready for you to explore any time, day or night? There’s something for everyone in our Digital Programs Hub. Browse the range and learn something new today.

Logging into the Catalogue

These simple steps will get you started;

🖱️ Click on Log in 👤 (located at the top right hand-side of your screen)
💳 Enter your library membership barcode number
🔑 Enter your password (your birthday & month – 4-digits) e.g. if your birthday is 1 July you would enter 0107

As a part of our new system upgrade, your password has been reset. After you’ve first logged in, you can change and update your password if you wish.
 
If you need more help, please contact any of our libraries! 

Latest news

Stocard is moving to the Klarna!

If you haven’t heard the news… Stocard is moving to the Klarna app – so here’s what you need to know!

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Pearl

I Wrote My Own Eulogy

Recommended by
Matthew
Digital Librarian

When a regular guy named Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s surprisingly intelligent cat, Princess Donut, are forced to compete for survival, the result is a thrilling and hilarious adventure. This series is a perfect pick for readers who love fast-paced action, clever world-building, and a heavy dose of dark humour.

Dinniman masterfully blends the LitRPG genre with sharp satire, creating a story that is both a loving parody and a standout example of its kind. With its creative monsters, high-stakes challenges, and the unforgettable duo of a cynical man and his regal feline companion, this book offers a unique reading experience.

A must-read for anyone seeking a fun, unpredictable story that breaks all the rules.

Recommended by
Team Leader Library Resources

If you were a fan of his novel Bird Box, then I think you’ll enjoy Pearl. It’s a unique horror story that takes an unusual idea (a vengeful pig with mind control abilities) and turns it into something genuinely creepy.

The atmosphere is tense throughout, and those uneasy vibes stayed with me long after I finished the book. While the story gets a little surreal at times, it’s an original and memorable read that I’d recommend to those who enjoy a good horror read!

Recommended by
Maddi
Library Trainee

A moving story that makes you grateful for the life that you are living and puts your life into perspective.

Bradley’s story is one of resilience, adversity, love, family, friendship and the importance of staying on top of your health.

He is the epitome of inspiration, openly talking about life expectancy, his challenges living with Cystic Fibrosis and the times in which he was faced with death.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and was amazed by the strength Bradley possessed when faced with his various health and physical challenges.

Must reads

'Inked' by Karen Wasson

Recommended by
Georgina
Children’s and Youth Librarian

One of my favourite recent reads is Inked, a CBCA 2026 Book of the Year shortlist title in the Younger Readers category. What I enjoyed most about this graphic novel is its accessible humour. The story follows Sid, a shy young artist, and Otto, a loud and dramatic talking octopus, whose unlikely friendship leads to plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
 
The humour is clever and engaging without being complicated, making it appealing to a wide range of readers. Combined with the vibrant illustrations and heartfelt themes of friendship, belonging and self-acceptance, Inked is a fun and memorable read that I would happily recommend to children and families.

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Most popular

Fiona McIntosh

Blood Pact

Mel Robbins

The Let Them Theory

Secret Link

Shellharbour City Libraries partnered with Warrigal Care to deliver Bee Connected, an intergenerational program aimed at forming meaningful connections between young people and seniors in the community through songs, games, reading, and crafts. 

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with UOW on a range of Paint Shellharbour REaD initiatives. Paint Shellharbour REaD is part of the Paint the Town REaD network, dedicated to promoting early childhood literacy. 

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with The Man Walk to deliver the Tall Tales program. This program aims to make connections with local, social, hobby and information organisations who appeal to male audiences and bring them into our library programs space. 

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Smith Family to promote early childhood literacy through the Paint Shellharbour REaD initiative. Paint Shellharbour REaD organises reading days and kids events throughout the year dedicated to fostering a love of reading. 

QBD

Shellharbour City Libraries have worked with QBD Shellharbour as the preferred bookseller at all of our Author Talk events. 

The Good Things Foundation are a future-focused digital inclusion leaders, advocating, partnering, educating and innovating to ensure no one is left behind in the digital world. The Good Things Foundation have partnered with Shellharbour City Libraries to facilitate Digital Skills sessions from Sptember 2025.

Shellharbour City Libraries collaborates with Paint the Gong REaD in conjunction with the Paint the Town REaD network. This partnership promotes early childhood literacy across the Illawarra through multiple reading events and activities. 

Shellharbour City Libraries has partnered with NSW Health to facilitate Independent Living Skills sessions aimed at teaching foster children health and wellbeing skills, in collaboration with the William Campbell Foundation.

The Multicultural Communities Council Illawarra attends Warilla library to utilise the 2528 community room. This is used for exercise and light physio sessions with senior community members.

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Living Connected to offer drop-in Tech Help sessions to our customers at Warilla, Albion Park and City Libraries. These short one-on-one sessions are designed to assist customers in their digital skills development. 

Shellharbour City Libraries partnered with Legal Aid NSW to bring free community talks across our branches discussing a range of legal topics and how people can access help and resources as a part of the Libraries Law Week celebration.

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Kiama Community College to deliver Tech Savvy Seniors sessions at our libraries. Tech Savvy Seniors is a NSW Government and Telstra partnership coordinated by the State Library of NSW. The program aims to teach seniors digital skills and knowledge.

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Junior Einsteins to deliver Bee Connected, an intergenerational program aimed at forming meaningful connections between young people and seniors in the community through songs, games, reading, and crafts. 

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Judi Sandilands-Cincotta to bring Ollie and Shiko the therapy dogs to a range of children’s and youth programs. These programs aim to promote positive mental health and social connection.

The Sewing Collective is a vibrant and inclusive community hub where sewists of all levels come together to create. The Sewing Collective facilitates several sewing programs at City Library every month.

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with HARS to deliver the Tall Tales program. This program aims to make connections with local social, hobby and information organisations who appeal to male audiences and bring them into our library program space. 

Shellharbour City Libraries organises Sensory Experiences with Greenacres Disability Services at Warilla Library.

Barrmarrany is an Aboriginal family-owned business based in the Illawarra region of the lands of the Dharawal people. They offer programs and workshops to various people and services seeking authentic and unique Indigenous experiences, including educational programs, cultural performances and authentic Indigenous experiences.

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Ed U Play to facilitate programs and activities that bring young people together. These programs support social and emotional wellbeing amongst youth. The libraries support the Girls Only Project which aims to provide young women with knowledge of and access to positive activities in their own communities. Ed U Play are funded by the Communities for Children Program.

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Bunnings to deliver free monthly Craft Workshops at City Library. In these sessions, experts from Bunnings teach our customers a range of crafting skills. These workshops include, Kokedama Balls, Painting Art Canvas and much more!

Afford provides disability services and community connection for people living with disability. Afford in partnership with Shellharbour City Libraries runs monthly craft sessions for disability groups, covering a range of craft themes.

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Barnardos to promote early childhood literacy through the Paint Shellharbour REaD initiative. Paint Shellharbour REaD organises reading days and kids events throughout the year dedicated to fostering a love of reading.

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Aruma Disability Services to deliver Library Links. Library Links is a program that aims to invite disability services groups into their local branches to utilise craft and puzzle kits as well as getting to know our collections. Aruma is the first group at the Warilla branch and comes monthly to utilise space, kits and collections with their joined organisation library card.

Shellharbour City Libraries partnered with Warrigal Care to deliver Bee Connected, an intergenerational program aimed at forming meaningful connections between young people and seniors in the community through songs, games, reading and crafts. 

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with the William Campbell Foundation to deliver the Independent Living Skills Program. This program involves teaching foster children integral health and wellbeing skills and knowledge. Additionally, the City Library hosts WCF’s fortnightly Homework Club.

Sydney Writers Festival

Every year, Shellharbour City Libraries partners with the Sydney Writers Festival to deliver author panel livestreams and local events as part of the festival’s Live and Local programming. 

Paint the town read

Shellharbour City Libraries leads Paint Shellharbour REaD, which is part of the Paint the Town REaD network. This initiative aims to promote early childhood literacy by connecting local early childhood education stakeholders and providers and collaborating with them to deliver reading events and activities. 

Little Zaks Bee connected

Shellharbour City Libraries partnered with Little Zaks Academy to deliver Bee Connected, an intergenerational program aimed at forming meaningful connections between young people and seniors in the community through songs, games, reading and crafts. 

Frasers Property

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Frasers Property Australia to deliver Toddler Tales, a weekly childhood reading program, at The Waterfront Shell Cove. The libraries have also partnered with Frasers Property Australia to deliver a term of Tech Savvy Seniors at Shell Cove.

Frasers Property

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Frasers Property Australia to deliver Toddler Tales, a weekly childhood reading program, at The Waterfront Shell Cove. The libraries have also partnered with Frasers Property Australia to deliver a term of Tech Savvy Seniors at Shell Cove.

Paint Shellharbour REaD

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Big Fat Smile to deliver Transition to School programs to prepare pre-schoolers for their move into primary school. Big Fat Smile is also a part of the Paint Shellharbour REaD initiative, which organises events that promote early childhood literacy.