History Alive - a look into the lives of our towns history.

Living Libraries at Pearl Cove Library

Pearl Cove is holding a Living Library Event. We will have a selection of "books" for you to borrow and enjoy. The purpose of Living Libraries is to learn about someone different from yourself and expand your knowledge and get a feel of what life is like in another's shoes.
For more information about Human Libraries, check out their website, here.

History Alive - a look into the lives of our town's history.

Summary: Join us at Pearl Cove Library to celebrate our towns past and hidden history.
For this event will have 10 living books just waiting to be borrowed and share their stories.
This is a great day to learn about our past and see how we can better ourselves for the future. Our books are all over the age of 70 and have been seen the development
and changes in our town for the last 90+ years.

When: 12 pm, 21st of August.
Where: The Pearl Room at Pearl Cove Library *
Entry Fee: $10
RSVP: Please RSVP either over the phone, 0412 345 678
or via email at library@pearlcove.com.au

Our event will be catered for and have a selection of finger foods and drinks, 

as well as tea and coffee. We will have dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian options available. For any catering questions please contact us over the phone, 

0456 789 124 or by email at library@pearlcove.com.au

*The Pearl Room is across from the main library entrance, there will be signage outside the room and outside the library main entrance.*

As many of our books are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander we have included a few links to further educate people before they come to the event so that they have an understanding of the events and struggles that have happened and still happen for the Indigenous Community.

Pearl Cove acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the various lands on which we work today and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people participating in this meeting/event.

We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and connections to the lands and waters of NSW.

Links:

Australia Together

Working With Indigenous Australians

Share Our Pride

National Indigenous Times

IndigenousX

Meet the Books:

Rules of the 'books':

- Sessions with books will consist of a maximum of 15 minutes.
- The 'books' are volunteers, please be respectful in conversation and when asking questions. 
- 'Books' may decline any questions or quit any conversation/'borrowing' at any time.
- There is to be no recording, photographing or video-recording of the books at any time.

	Book 1 & 2: Jim and Pam Garrison, 89 and 84. Title: The Secret to 60 Years of Marriage. Summary: Jim and Pam have been married for 60 years and have been in each others lives since they were early teenagers. They'll be tackling the age-old question, what makes a marriage really work?
	Book 3: Annette Ramos, 82. Title: How Time Flys. Summary: Annette moved to Pearl Cove from her home in the Philippines when she was 10 years old. Annette will be talking about what it was first like when she moved to Pearl Cove, 72 years ago. *We remind guests that our books are volunteers and that borrowers shall be respectful and courteous when speaking and asking the books questions,  books may decline to answer questions at any point and end sessions at any time.*
	Book 4: Jacob Levinsky, 92. Title: Fighting for Love Summary: When same-sex marriage was finally legalised in 2017, Jacob Levinsky and his partner Alan Johnson made their way to Pearl Cove Courthouse to finally say "I do". Jacob will be talking about what it was like getting to say those special words and what it meant to him and his husband to be recognised by the state as married men.  *We remind guests that our books are volunteers and that borrowers shall be respectful and courteous when speaking and asking the books questions,  books may decline to answer questions at any point and end sessions at any time.*
	Book 5: Jedda Hawkins, 84. Title: Taken. Summary: Jedda talks about the lasting effects of The Stolen Generation and the pain that she and her two sisters felt, being taken away from their mother. *We remind guests that our books are volunteers and that borrowers shall be respectful and courteous when speaking and asking the books questions,  books may decline to answer questions at any point and end sessions at any time.*
	Book 6: Dorothy (Dot) Newman, 75. Title: Reunited at last. Summary:  Dot was born light-skinned and taken from her Aboriginal parents as a child. She talks to us today about the day she found her family after being separated after 40 years. *We remind guests that our books are volunteers and that borrowers shall be respectful and courteous when speaking and asking the books questions,  books may decline to answer questions at any point and end sessions at any time.*
	Book 7: Artie Hayes, 86. Title: Mental health for men and war. Summary: Artie was drafted to fight in a war he didn't believe in at 18. After losing his leg, he was sent home but he lost more than just his leg in that war. Artie shares his story of battling PTSD and the stigma of mental illness in men.  *We remind guests that our books are volunteers and that borrowers shall be respectful and courteous when speaking and asking the books questions,  books may decline to answer questions at any point and end sessions at any time.*
	Book 8:  Sophie Newman, 102. Title: A century of memories. Summary: Sophie was born in Pearl Cove in 1918. She's the oldest living resident and she has seen this town grow from the very beginning. She's here to tell us the biggest changes in Pearl Coves history.
	Book 9:  Joan Davidson, 71. Title: Business is booming. Summary: Joan opened Joans Pies when she was only 20. After her fathers passing, she invested her inheritance into opening up her own business in 1969. She brings to us the story of becoming a town icon and being one of the first women of Pearl Cove to run and own a company all by her self.
	Book 10: Alira Williams, 70. Title: Trans in a small town.  Summary: The transgender community has always existed and  Alira comes to us today to tell us all what being a queer trans woman is all about and that there is a happy ending.  *We remind guests that our books are volunteers and that borrowers shall be respectful and courteous when speaking and asking the books questions,  books may decline to answer questions at any point and end sessions at any time.*

We hope to see you there!

Signed,

Hannah MacGillivray, Librarian at Pearl Cove Library.
Email: hannah.mac@pearlcovelibrary.com