❕Shellharbour City Libraries & City Museum will be closed on Monday 9 June 2025 for the King's Birthday public holiday

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Cruel Truth

Summary:

What if Anita and Cruella were best friends? It’s 1953, and teenage Anita Weatherby and her family have just moved to a booming postwar London. While her older sister settles right in, to the delight of their parents, Anita finds their new school—and her academic rival, Roger Radcliffe—daunting. Nothing seems to be going Anita’s way until a glamorous, confident new student moves to town. Stella De Vil is haughty and aloof—but surprises everyone by taking an immediate liking to Anita. Swept into the luxurious world of Stella’s highend family fashion label, Anita soon finds herself the anticipated star of the House of De Vil’s next fashion show, where she’ll be modelling a family heirloom, the Weatherby diamond, and walking the catwalk with two adorable Dalmatian puppies to raise awareness for a local animal shelter. But when disaster strikes and the Weatherby diamond goes missing, Anita will have to decide whom she can trust before her life goes to the dogs.

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Time to Fly

Summary:

A PAWS-itively brilliant new story from much-loved author Anh Do.

Featuring an amazing lenticular animated cover!

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Tubowgule

Summary:

Tubowgule (tube-uh-gahlee) was an important place for the Gadi people. The Dharug word refers to the meeting of salt and fresh waters, and it was a site of sharing knowledge and gathering resources for millennia. Then in 1788 it became known as Cattle Point and had four more names before it became the site of the Opera House, and culture, art and knowledge were again shared upon its land.

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Five and the Forgotten Treasure

Summary:

Can the new Famous Five catch the thief and find the forgotten treasure before it's too late? Join the original Famous Five and a new group of children in this thrilling adventure series by bestselling author Chris Smith, inspired by Enid Blyton.

When Fran, Tom, Maddy and Gilbert the dog stay with Professor George Kirrin for the holidays, they soon find themselves caught up in a robbery of a top-secret treasure map. Professor George will have to tell them about an old case of the Famous Five if they're ever going to catch the thief and rescue the forgotten treasure...

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The Great Chocolate Caper

Summary:

Meet the Heist squad. AKA a motley crew of hot-headed misfits who HATE each other but LOVE chocolate. But then they discover a sinister chocolatey plot, right in the bowels of their high school, that will threaten the entire human race with utter annihilation. Can they put aside their differences to achieve the most audacious chocolate heist EVER and save the world?

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Weird Power!

Summary:

Dad’s at it again, helping Weir and his friends train for the athletics carnival! Weir’s not sure he’ll win anything, but maybe he’ll find another calling! Would that be so bananas? It won’t be easy ... but it will be funny!

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The Cartoonists Club

Summary:

Howard loves to draw, but he struggles to come up with ideas and his dad thinks comics are a waste of time. Lynda constantly draws in her sketchbook but keeps focusing on what she feels are her mistakes, and Art simply loves being creative and is excited to try something new. They come together to form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures!

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The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners

Summary:

There are two things about the Soul Spinners' greatest creation on which everyone agrees - one, that the Notes have the power to grant a single wish, and two ... that the Notes are lost.

When a ghost-eating wraith appears in the forgotten seaside town of Elston-Fright searching for the magical Notes, it's enough to make any kid ghost a bit nervous. Faye de Corail may have the townsfolk under her spell, but Girl, Corpse and their friends are determined to stay out of her way.

After old foes resurface and a child is snatched, Girl and Corpse begin to piece together a sinister plan that not only threatens the lives of their friends, families and the people of Elston-Fright, it may send them all to Death Proper too.

Somehow, at the heart of the mystery, lies the truth about both kid ghosts. Who are Girl and Corpse really? What is their connection to the lost Notes? And will they find answers before it's too late?

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Gotcha!

Summary:

A gang of burglars just escaped. They’re coming to your town! Perhaps they’ve left some clues behind ... Can you track them down?

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Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

Summary:

I have two grandmothers.

One with brown eyes, and one with blue eyes.

One makes dumplings, and one bakes bread.

They are my grandmothers.

One lives in the East, and one lives in the West.

City Library

Visiting Author: Gina Chick

Wednesday, 11 June 2025 | 6:00PM

Price: $5

City Library

Visiting Author: Margaret Hickey

Thursday, 10 July 2025 | 6:00pm

Price: FREE

Warilla Library

Naidoc Movie

Thursday, 17 July 2025 | 1:00pm

Price: FREE

Latest news

Farewell Hoopla!

On 28 February 2025 we are saying goodbye to Hoopla…

 

Online craft at the library

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.

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!

The City and its Uncertain Walls

Facing the Music

The Night Circus

Recommended by
Lisa
Team Leader Library Experience

Would you miss your shadow if you had to relinquish it?

Watashi has moved to a small isolated town to work in a library escaping his past –

a past life that included a young love and a mysterious city with high walls you can

only enter, minus your shadow. I loved this surreal and introspective read from Murakami.

Recommended by
Michael
Team Leader Library Resources

As a 90’s pop music superfan, I found it fascinating to read about the former S Club 7 stars personal struggles behind the spotlight. Facing the Music is Hannah’s raw and inspiring journey to fame, filled with heartbreak and eventually finding her voice again.

It’s very honest, emotional and empowering – this is a story you didn’t know you needed.

Recommended by
Matthew
Digital Librarian

‘The Night Circus’ by Erin Morgenstern is a magical story about a black and white circus. Two young illusionists, Celia and Marco, are forced into a magical competition entwined in a budding love story. Slow paced, ‘The Night Circus‘ unfolds in a dreamy, fairy-tale manner that is highly recommended.

Must reads

'Everything I Never Told You' by Celeste Ng

Recommended by
Maddy
Library Assistant

This book is a quick read but its themes linger long after the final page. The opening line caught me right away: “Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet,” and I was hooked for the rest of the novel. While there are elements of a murder mystery, the heart of the story lies in its exploration of complex emotional family dynamics and the consequences of feelings left unspoken. The portrayal of grief, pressure and the weight of unmet expectations feels so authentic, relatable and raw. 

1,061

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59,198

Items borrowed

$1,318,762

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Most popular

Fiona McIntosh

Blood Pact

Mel Robbins

The Let Them Theory

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.