About Atlas
Frequently asked questions
Who or what is an Atlas?
Great questions! Actually, Atlas is both a who and a what.
Atlas was a Titan from Greek mythology who was condemned to carry the sky on his shoulders for all of eternity. He couldn’t even put it down to eat lunch!
Atlas is also what we call a book full of maps. The biggest book in the Library is an atlas! It’s called Earth Platinum and it is 1.8 metres tall and 2.7 metres wide with the pages open – this makes it the biggest atlas in the world!
Who can join Atlas?
Atlas is for curious kids!
Anyone, anywhere, of any age can join Atlas, however we only send membership packs to members who are aged 5 to 15 years old, with a postal address in New South Wales.
All members are welcome to participate in our online gatherings and activities.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
What? I guess that is a question that is asked frequently, but that’s not exactly what we meant...
How much does it cost?
Atlas membership is FREE!
What do I get when I join?
When you join Atlas, you’ll get:
- a welcome pack of goodies posted to your home address, anywhere in New South Wales;
- invitations to our members-only special events at the Library and online, including our three after-school programs (Art Club, Book Lovers Club and Young Writers Club);
- access to a safe online space with activities to keep you engaged for hours;
- opportunities to submit your drawing and writing to be featured on the club showcase pages.
What is a colour?
Excellent question, but that’s still not what we meant by ‘frequently asked questions’!
Why do you need my personal information to register?
This is a important question to ask any time you enter your personal information onto the internet.
When your parent or guardian registers you for the Atlas program, they will need to provide us with some personal information about you.
| What we collect | Why we need it |
|---|---|
| First name and first initial | To know who you are and if you’ve ever signed up for Atlas before |
| Post code | To report on where our members are joining from |
| Age | To know how old our members are, so we can make sure we have activities that are appropriate for everyone |
| Address (NSW only) | To post your welcome pack to you |
| Parent/Guardian email | To email your event invitations and messages about your clubs |
| Comments and questions to tell us more about yourself | Atlas is all about YOU, our members; if there is something we can do to help make this a better experience for you, we want to know about it! |
You can find further details about how we manage children’s privacy in our clubs on Information for parents.
You or your parent or guardian can visit the Library website to find out more about the Library’s privacy practices.
When will I receive my welcome pack?
Once you have successfully registered for Atlas, we will prepare your welcome pack. Due to postage times and staff availability, it may take several weeks for the pack to be delivered.
Please note that you will not receive a welcome pack if you:
- have previously registered for the club;
- are not a resident of New South Wales;
- are not between the ages of 5 and 15 years old.
If you are still concerned that you have not received your welcome pack please contact us.
Who would win in a fight, a crocodile or a cassowary?
Congratulations! You have a high level of curiosity about the world around you.
You’ll enjoy it here.