Library Programs
School holiday activities
Every school holidays, the library holds a range of free activities. To receive the details to your inbox before everyone else – register for Out and About in SJ.
Better Beginnings
The library supports the state-wide family literacy program through a variety of activities and resources. There are three free kits available:
- Every baby born in the Shire can receive the literacy Better Beginnings bag from the Child Health Nurse.
- Better Beginnings green bags are distributed by library staff to all kindy students.
- Sing With Me Backpacks are available to all 2 years olds – please pick up your pack from the library.
Book Bounty
Book Bounty is a Library Reading Rewards Program and is open to all primary school aged children. Students collect a Book Bounty bookmark from the library, fill in their name, year level and school. Students keep the bookmark and on every visit to the library they receive a stamp. After five visits, the bookmark is complete and can be surrendered for treasure from the “Book Bounty” treasure chest. Students are welcome to complete the program as many times as they want. Visit the Library today to sign up to Book Bounty.
Rhyme Time
Come and share songs and rhymes with your baby. Rhyme Time is a FREE program aimed at developing early literacy skills as well as providing an opportunity for you to socialise with other parents.
Day: Every Thursday during school term.
Time: 10am - 10.30am
Location: SJ Library Service, 858 South Western Highway, Byford
Age: Suitable for children aged 0 to 2, although children of all ages are more than welcome to join in.
No bookings required.
Story Time
Storytime is designed to support parents in reading to children and to build early literacy and social skills. The session includes a take home craft activity.
Day: Every Wednesday during school term.
Time: 10am - 10.30am
Location: SJ Library Service, 858 South Western Highway, Byford
Age: Suitable for children aged 2 - 5, although children of all ages and abilities are welcome to join in.
No bookings required.
LEGO Club
Share you love of LEGO at our FREE Lego Club.
Day: Second Saturday of each month
Time: 9.30am
Location: SJ Library Service, 858 South Western Highway, Byford
Age: Children 5+
No bookings required.
Random Reads Book Club
Have you read or listened to a great book lately? Come and share it with other book lovers at Random Reads Book Club.
Day: First Tuesday of each month
Time: 5.30pm
Location: SJ Library Service, 858 South Western Highway, Byford
No bookings required. For more information check out the Library’s Facebook page or contact us on (08) 9526 1133.
Community History
The library’s community history collection features books, brochures, historical photographs, private papers of local identities, records of local organisations, oral history interviews and other interesting items of a bygone era, relating to the Shire.
We have a collection that can loaned and other items can be viewed by appointment. We are also working on providing access by members of the public to this historical information online.
BirtwistleWiki
BirtwistleWiki is a City of Armadale project and is coordinated by the Birtwistle Local Studies Library. Our Contribution is a place to discover people from the Armadale, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, and Gosnells districts who served in the Great War 1914-1918.
So far, there are over 1000 articles and this number is growing as more information becomes available. If you would like to contribute or correct some facts then please contact Birtwistle Local Studies Library on 9394 5641.
Learn more about BirtwistleWiki
Community history sound bite
Click the links below to listen to community history audio files.
Rob Gibb - Construction of Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale offices in 1949
A past employee of the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, Rob Gibb, talks about the Shire offices built in 1949 and how the walk-in safe was constructed with worn out grader blades in the cavity walls for security.
Recorded at the SJ Community Fair 2014 as part of the Library’s oral history program, "SJ Remembers”.
Cheryl Trueman - Local resident of Jarrahdale
A resident of Jarrahdale, Cheryl Trueman, tells how she came to live there.
Recorded at the SJ Community Fair 2014 as part of the Library’s oral history program, "SJ Remembers”.
Jan Star - A “Fair” experience
A resident of Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale for 36 years talks about her first memory of a fair in the area.