Participants can donate a book and pay a gold coin to swap it for someone else's book or one from the library's "weeded" books collection. Funds raised will be donated to The Fred Hollows Foundation, which will buy books and literacy resources for indigenous children living in remote communities.

Details: 9356 6800

Show your music talent

HUME Council has called on residents to register for the Hume Music Festival talent search competition.

Residents aged five and above get a chance to win prizes and perform at local events. Auditions for the talent search are on September 25-26 at the Broadmeadows Town Hall.

Details: 9205 2200.

Research forum

RESIDENTS can attend the 2010 Hume Global Village annual research conference at the Hume Global Learning Centre this Friday.

The topic is 'Partnerships in creativity and Innovation: moving lifelong learning forward in Hume'.

Mayor Geoff Porter said residents could hear and learn from professionals in fields such as education, community development and social welfare.

The conference is from 9am-4pm. Details:9356 6999.

Cash up for grabs

APPLICATIONS for community grants close this Friday. The grants are available to not-for-profit community groups or organisations to support programs and initiatives of benefit to Hume people.

The council is looking for applications that increase social inclusion, lifelong learning and improve the health and well-being of people.

Details: 9205 2200.

Seatbelt offences

VICTORIA Police's Operation Pinball concluded last weekend, with 1522 drivers, 233 passengers and 65 children caught without a seatbelt.

Officers from the state highway patrols targeted high-risk road trauma areas around the state as part of the two-week safety clampdown in a bid to reduce the road toll.

In Melbourne, Hume was the second-worst area, with 104 people failing to buckle up.

Vacation care

APPLICATIONS for Hume Council's vacation care program close this Friday. The program is operated at six locations across the municipality.

Details: 9205 2200.