The library service is back to normal hours in all branches. Our home delivery service is still available in Parkes for members who wish to continue getting their books delivered.

Author-Rised is back in person at Parkes Library on 5th October, our Book Clubs will be resuming during October, and we are hoping to bring back our Friday Flicks later in the month.

While closed we have been busy ordering lots of new books, DVDs and magazines, including the latest Stephen King, Diana Palmer and Kathy Reichs titles.

In mid-October we will be launching a range of board games that can be played in the library and a range of titles that can be borrowed. Pass the Pigs, Uno, 5 Minute Dungeon, Catan, Quirkle, Citadel, Exploding Kittens and many more.

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF THE PARKES RADIO TELESCOPE

To celebrate the 60-year anniversary of ‘The Dish’ the Parkes Shire Library and Cultural Centre, in collaboration with CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope team, are hosting a competition and exhibition in the Parkes Shire and a Junior Design Challenge.

To celebrate the 60-year anniversary of ‘The Dish’ the Parkes Shire Library and Cultural Centre, in collaboration with CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope team, are hosting a competition and exhibition in the Parkes Shire and a Junior Design Challenge.

• For shire residents 16 years and over we have a competition and exhibition in five categories: Art, Writing, Dramatic/Performing Arts, Music, and Dish Painting of model dishes for the miniatures-painting minded.

• For shire residents 5-15 years we have a Junior Design Challenge where your imagination can run wild, designing and modelling your own Dish out of everyday items.

Don’t miss out on the chance to get involved in the celebrations and go in the running to win some fabulous prizes. For more information and to enter, head to The Dish Reaches Milestone of 60 years on our website or drop into the library to pick up an entry form. Hurry entries close 15th October!

We have been ‘All Shook Up’ by COVID-19, but the good news for Elvis fans is that the 2022 Parkes Elvis Festival is movin’ on to 20-24 April.

The annual major event was scheduled to take place from 5-9 January 2022, but the Festival team have been monitoring the situation with the safety and well-being of the community, artists, fans, staff and businesses first and foremost. The current risk, regulations, lockdowns and border restrictions have forced the organisers to make the decision to delay now rather than continue with planning for January surrounded by such uncertainty.

“We had the community’s health and safety at the forefront when making the decision to delay,” said Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM.

“This extra time will help to ensure that vaccination rates are high, and life is returning to post-covid normality.”

Festival Director, Cathy Treasure said: “We are determined to make 2022 a memorable Parkes Elvis Festival for all to enjoy safely. Naturally the entire Festival family is disappointed that we can’t go ahead with our traditional January date. However, rest assured we are working behind the scenes to deliver an incredible April event to celebrate in true Parkes fashion and continue the tradition of delivering a highly successful one-of-a-kind Festival.”

Accommodation providers in the Parkes and Forbes Shires have given the assurance that January 2022 bookings will be carried over to the new dates in April or alternatively to the 2023 festival.

“There is no need to rush and make contact now as accommodation providers have reserved the April dates for existing bookings. If fans are unable to come in April they should contact their accommodation providers to make alternate arrangements,” said Cathy.

Parkes Chamber of Commerce President Geoff Rice said the Chamber and business community supported the change of date and looked forward to welcoming fans to Parkes in Autumn.

“After such a long period of time in lock-downs, we feel Christmas and New Year will be a time best left for loved ones to reunite, and hopefully plan a trip to visit our town with confidence for the Festival in April 2022”.

The ticket launch date will be moved to 15 November in line with the new Festival dates.

“The new date is prior to the Anzac Day long weekend to give visitors another reason to stay longer and enjoy what the region has to offer,” the Mayor said.

The 2023 Parkes Elvis Festival will return to the usual date in January to celebrate its 30th anniversary from 4-8 January.