❕We will be closed Monday, 27 January for Australia Day Public Holiday!

Reserve now

Let’s Get Dipping!

Summary:

Dive into this deliciously tempting collection of tantalizing dips from familiar classics to new and enticing creations.

With such a variety of dips now available to buy, it’s no wonder that the 'chip and dip' is the go-to snack for any occasion. Whether you’re spreading them on bread or crackers, dunking in vegetable crudités, breadsticks or hot chips, the vast array of choice in the world of dips is truly outstanding. Featuring more than 80 recipes for easy homemade dips these recipes are designed to cater for all tastes. Choose from cream cheese and mayo-based varieties, fresh and zingy salsas or fiery sriracha and sweet chilli options. Whether you want sociable and relaxed party food for sharing, crave indulgent and comforting TV night grazing snacks, or simply prefer a healthy alternative to high-fat salty snacks, check out this enticing collection and you'll find it here.

Reserve now

Imminent – Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs

Summary:

The former head of the Pentagon program responsible for the investigation of UFOs - now known as Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) - reveals long-hidden truths with profound implications for not only national security but our understanding of the universe.

Luis 'Lue' Elizondo is a former senior intelligence official and special agent who was recruited into a strange and highly sensitive US Government program to investigate UAP incursions into sensitive military installations and air space. To accomplish his mission, Elizondo had to rely on decades of experience gained working some of America's most sensitive and classified programs. Even then, he was not prepared for what he would learn, and the truth about the government's long shadowy involvement in UAP investigations, and the lengths officials would take to keep them a secret.

The stakes could not be higher. Imminent is a first-hand, revelatory account inside the Pentagon's most closely guarded secret and a call to action to confront humanity's greatest existential questions.

Reserve now

Boy From the Valleys

Summary:

From his humble beginnings in a quaint Welsh mining village to the dazzling lights of Hollywood, much-loved star, Luke Evans takes us on a poignant and inspiring journey that spans from the heart of Wales to behind the scenes of the global stage

Growing up in a small village in the Rhymney Valley, Luke's life was shaped by his Jehovah's Witness upbringing, a path he'd eventually navigate to come out to his parents, knowing he risked losing them. In his raw and honest account, he shares his struggles of always feeling different and being bullied as a child, and his brave decision to leave home at just seventeen, searching for a new life and a place where he truly belonged.

Starring first on the West End stages in iconic productions like Miss Saigon, Avenue Q, and Rent, he quickly captivated the hearts of audiences and caught the eye of Hollywood's elite, going on to secure roles in blockbuster films like The Hobbit, Beauty and the Beast, the Fast and Furious franchise, and Nine Perfect Strangers TV series.

In this intimate memoir, Luke takes us behind the scenes of his career on the stage and screen. He writes beautifully of the relationship he now has with his family and the respect they all have for one another on their different paths. Luke's story is a powerful tale of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of finding a sense of belonging and identity.

Reserve now

Hidden Libraries

Summary:

Discover 50 of the world's most magnificent hidden libraries - each with a unique and uplifting story to tell - featuring a foreword by librarian, bestselling author, and literary critic Nancy Pearl.

Book swap your latest read in a cool 1950s style fridge in New Zealand or hike through the ethereal woodlands of Eas Mor in Scotland where a hidden library in a small log cabin awaits. Each entry shares the library's mission and impact on the local community and offers fascinating stories from its resident caretaker.

Inside Hidden Libraries: 

50 enchanting, obscure and astounding libraries from around the world Fascinating insider knowledge and unique stories from each library's resident caretaker Captivating photos accompany every entry and the exact location of each hidden library is revealed Featured libraries include: North America - Idaho: Little Free Library in a Cottonwood Tree; California: The Prison Library Project. South America - Argentina: The Weapon of Mass Instruction; Colombia: The Biblioburro. Africa - Egypt: St Catherine's Monastery; Mali: The Timbuktu Manuscripts. Asia & the Middle East - China: The Lonely Library; Philippines: Reading Club 2000. Europe - England: Phone Booth Library; Norway: The Future Library. Oceania & Beyond - Antarctica: The Little Free Library at the South Pole; Outer Space: The International Space Station Library Written by Diana Helmuth, an award winning author who writes about subjects including travel, nature, and philosophical trends

Reserve now

Steven Spielberg – The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work

Summary:

Spielberg is the medium's defining artist – the embodiment of the Hollywood ideal: the commercial potential of film married to its creative possibilities. He's widely popular, but he's also a stylist, and far darker than he is given credit for. Often, it is this very darkness that speaks to us. But it's also his incredible knack for telling stories with lightness that speaks to millions by mixing the extraordinary with the ordinary. His leading characters, even Indiana Jones, are marked by their vulnerability, their mistakes, their yearning. It's the human touch. There are so many parts to Spielberg's story: the suburban background that supplied the films with a biographical streak; the collaborations (with George Lucas and the Movie Brats in general, with composer John Williams, producer Kathleen Kennedy, editor Michael Khan, stars Richard Dreyfus, Harrison Ford and Tom Hanks, and mogul and mentor Sid Sheinberg). The myths that bloomed from the making of these films.

The nightmare shoot and stubborn shark behind Jaws. The strange ambitions of Close Encounters. Dive bombing with 1941. Inventing Indiana Jones. Re-inventing the blockbuster with Jurassic Park. Venturing into history's darkest shadows with Schindler's List. Transforming a genre with Saving Private Ryan. The muscular, unpredictable, confrontational Spielberg of Minority Report, Munich, and Lincoln. And then there is his family. How his films, even late in his career - lionized, untouchable - went in search of approval from his parents. Just as he has craved the approval of his peers. That fateful Oscar took so long in coming... Defining, appreciating, contextualising and understanding the films of Spielberg is a tall order. Their simplicity is deceptive. You have to cut through the glow, the adoration, the simple joy that comes with their embrace, and get to the thrust of the filmmaking. Sourcing the inspirations, locating the critical nuance, the nurtured performance, and the recurrent theme - so many of his films have become timeless - this book celebrates all this and more.

Reserve now

Everyday Eats

Summary:

Jasmin Weston (@jasminseats) is here to help you transform your cooking game and show you how to make easy, mouth-watering dishes without breaking the bank. Even if you've never cooked before, Jasmin promises that if she can do it, you sure as sh*t can too!

Jasmin has sifted through the masses of information out there on food and flavour and narrowed it down to what is most vital to know, whether you're just starting out on your cooking journey or looking to improve your skills. Everyday Eats covers everything from understanding flavour and balancing a dish, to the ingredients that give some of the world's favourite dishes their unique character. As well as life-changing tips on how to stock your kitchen, smart shopping, cooking methods and basic techniques, you'll find out what Jasmin's Top 10 Non-negotiables are and, most importantly, how cooking on a budget is definitely not boring.

To help you learn how to make your own delicious food - and stop reaching for that takeout menu - Jasmin has shared 75 easy-to-follow recipes with her signature big and bold flavours, which help you put all her tips and tricks into practice. 

This is the book that Jasmin wishes was around when she was learning how to cook! Lucky for you, Everyday Eats is now here to help.

Reserve now

Bush Wisdom

Summary:

So many people have felt a shift towards prioritising a more authentic life in recent years, and nowhere exemplifies that life better than the bush.Rural Australians navigate isolation, the weather, and a huge responsibility to the land and their animals, but from these pressures have gleaned powerful and important learnings. The bush lifestyle forces them to slow down (there are no trains to catch, after all) and accept that there are things they can't change (like the weather). But it also forces them to be self-sufficient, respect nature, find beauty in all the seasons and foster a sense of community. 
Bush Wisdom shares the stories of a wide range of fascinating rural characters, featuring twenty important learnings we can all live by, wherever that may be.

Reserve now

Tested

Summary:

Australia's Test Cricket Captain in conversation with remarkable leaders and achievers - from Julia Gillard to Dennis Lillee.

When Pat Cummins unexpectedly became Australia's 47th Test captain at age 28, he inherited a team with a long and storied history, but also one on the cusp of reinvention. It was the beginning of a personal leadership journey for him, a unique moment of challenge and pressure that would see him become a seasoned captain and, in his private life, become a father and husband but also lose his mother to cancer.

Inspiring, revealing and deeply personal, Tested is an exploration of the remarkable place where challenge, crisis and opportunity meet, and how it's only in the moments when we are tested that we discover what we are made of.

From a charity leader to Australia's first female prime minister, a Test cricket great to a ground-breaking scientist, an Indigenous leader to a bestselling author and podcaster, Pat interviews eleven extraordinary people whose stories of challenge, adversity, perseverance and resilience - navigating moments of crisis and doubt, seizing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and giving back - have inspired him.t.

Reserve now

Drag Queens Down Under

Summary:

A glorious celebration of life in drag through the eyes of our most prominent drag superstars. Featuring a diverse range of artists from across Australia, with stunning photographs and stories about being as fierce as a drag queen, both on and off the stage. Written and curated by the iconic Art Simone, this anthology is a visual feast for the eyes for all fans of drag, cultivating authenticity and championing utter fabulousness.

City Library

Skillscape: Healthy Eating & Meal Prep

Thursday, 13 February 2025 | 6:00pm

Price: FREE

Oak Flats Library

Green Thumb: Preparing Your Autumn Garden

Monday, 26 February 2025 | 10:30am

Price: FREE

City Library

International Women's Day Panel

Saturday, 8 March 2025 | 10:30AM

Price: FREE

Latest news

Help shape the future of NSW Public Libraries!

We’re inviting you to have your say in a State Library NSW survey that will help shape the future of NSW public libraries!

Summer Reading Challenge!

Take a dive into fresh stories this summer with our Summer Reading Challenge! Explore new genres & expand your literary taste over the warmer months by picking up the challenge bookmark from your local Shellharbour City Libraries branch.

Need some reading inspiration? Find our recommendations through the link below!

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!

Why We Sing

American Dirt

Spaceman of Bohemia

Recommended by
Leticia
Branch Supervisor – Warilla Library

A wonderful book which really resonated with me as someone who has sung in choirs my whole life. The research behind “why” singing is such a powerful tool is fascinating.

Recommended by
Annie
Library Assistant – Oak Flats Library

This novel gives you a deep understanding of the hardship individuals and families face with the cartels.  I could not put this book down & I would highly recommend it.

Recommended by
Lisa
Team Leader Library Experience

Spaceman of Bohemia is a fictional story about a lone astronaut (Jakub) from the Czech Republic sent into space to investigate a strange purple cloud that has formed above the earth.

Although this is a Sci Fi tale, there is also a lot of family and political back story which does takes the reader away from the main narrative, but provides context to Jakub’s choices.

An interesting and enjoyable read. The movie version is streaming on Netflix and is also quite good.

Must reads

'The God of the Woods' by Liz Moore

Recommended by
Rebekah
Library Assistant

God of the Woods is a masterfully constructed thriller, a great one pick up whether you like a good mystery, good writing, or both. The story starts when the Van Laar’s daughter goes missing during a summer camp in an eerily similar fashion to how her brother, Bear, went missing 14 years before. It’s a slow, tense build, but the pay-off is huge.

839

New items

43,136

Items borrowed

$992,128

Community money saved by borrowing from the library

Most popular

Michael Connelly

The Waiting

Lisa Marie Presley

From Here to the Great Unknown

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. 

Shellharbour City Libraries sponsors Project Bucephalus in their facilitation of the Shellharbour Robo Club. The club teaches youth to form robotics teams and particulate in the FIRST LEGO League tournament. 

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.

Shellharbour City Libraries partnered with Illawarra Legal Centre 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 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.

Shellharbour City Libraries and the Youth Services team partnered with Fitness Cartel Albion Park to deliver a Youth Fitness program at Warilla Library. This program engaged local youth and taught them about health, personal fitness, and respect.

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!

For Library Lovers Day, Shellharbour City Libraries partnered with Belladonna Book Club to produce a series of Book Review videos. 

These reviews were released on the Libraries’ Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on the Belladonna Book Club’s social media channels.

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.