Auckland Libraries blog

Congratulations to our Great Summer Read weekly winners! Weekly winners - 19 January - 25 January Paul from Central Library, winner of two tickets to see the   The Miracle Worker , the story of Helen Keller,  thanks to the  Auckland Theatre Company . Karine from Manurewa Library, winner of the New Zealand Maritime Museum family pass to sail on the Ted Ashby heritage scow. Pauline from Manurewa Library, winner of the Specsavers NZ voucher, including an eye examination, two pairs of glasses from any Specsavers range and prescribed lenses (including polarised sunglasses) Phoebe from Glenfield Library, winner of a family pass to MOTAT Ann Marie from Central Library, winner of the book The handmaid’s tale – the graphic novel by Margaret Atwood, art and adaptation by Renee Nault, thanks to Penguin Random House NZ – Jonathan Cape Maiona from Mangere Town Centre Library, winner of two books for children Waddle and A Kiwi year , thanks to Exisle Publishing Amy from Whangapar

Nothing goes together quite like Aotearoa and the outdoors. Whether it's looking after the garden, long walks or our great love of sport, we seem to be forever exploring new ways to stay connected to our environment. As we head into the new year, what better time to get outside and explore our beautiful city? We have plenty of book lists to give you inspiration for your next adventure including Auckland specific walks, trips to our best attractions, gardening tips and everything sports!  Check out a few of our favourites below and let us know on our Instagram or Facebook how you're making the most of the sunshine! Don't forget to check-in your reads for the Great Summer Read challenge .  Our Auckland walks book list features everything from walking around our heritage sites to dog-friendly walking paths across Tāmaki Makaurau. There are informative guides for those who appreciate a holistic experience, or short and succinct guides for those just wanting to get o

In the world of fiction, some stories are so chilling we take comfort in the knowledge that they're fabricated. What most may not realise, is some of the biggest blockbuster books were inspired by equally spine-tingling but real stories! Perfect for this  Great Summer Read challenge , we've put together a list of books you might not have realised were based on a true story (or strongly wished they weren't!) There are murder mysteries, gripping dramas and even a heart-warming tale of acceptance. Whatever your preference, you won't be able to put them down! The Shining by Stephen King Stephen King's infamous book The Shining is a cult classic that was made even more popular when brought to life on screen by Stanley Kubrick in 1980. The book came after a trip King and his wife took in 1974 to The Stanley Hotel (Overlook Hotel). The hotel is rumoured to be haunted, and it is said that a nightmare King had whilst staying here was the brainchild for this te

This is your chance to set your own Great Summer Read challenge! We've collected some of the best wild card challenges from last year's competition to give you some inspiration. Try one of these suggestions, or come up with your own and then tell us about your wild card challenge in the comments section below! Read a complete series. Write a song or poem based on a book you've read. Finish a book, and then rewrite the ending the way you wanted it to go. Read a book selected at random from the shelf. Ask a librarian at your local library for a personal recommendation. Read a book you've lied about already reading! Try a food you've only read about in a book. Read the same book in tandem with your friend. Download an eAudiobook to listen on the go. Read a book in one day. Read a book published the year you were born. Quit all electronic devices for one day and just read. Read a book with at least one map in it. Read a book in a language other tha

Announcing the winners of The Great Summer Read  He Pānuitanga Raumati 2018/2019 bonus prize draw! To qualify for this prize draw, readers completed at least five different challenges. Shona from Waitākere Central Library and Jon from Mt Roskill Library each won a voucher from Specsavers New Zealand for two pairs of glasses, including eye examination, lenses and frames Monique from Kumeū Library, Heather from Blockhouse Bay Library and Gaylene from Papatoetoe Library each won a Kobo Clara HD eReader from Noel Leeming   Robert from Remuera Library, Lara from Te Atatū Peninsula Library, Jessica from Glenfield Library and Camelia also from Glenfield Library each won a Britomart Black $100 gift card  Emily from Remuera Library, Jo from New Lynn Library, Steph from Botany Library and Agata, also from Botany Library, Pamela from Waiheke Library, Leigh from Kumeū Library, Ann from Grey Lynn Library, Yvonne from Birkenhead Library, and Ha-Young from St Heliers Library and Felicity,

Congratulations to all the winners from the final three weeks of The Great Summer Read!  Week 7 Everyone who completed a Great Summer Read challenge, and checked it in on the website between 12 January and 18 January was entered into the draw.   The sponsored prizes went to: Jennifer from Waiuku Library, winner of the Specsavers NZ voucher, including an eye examination, two pairs of glasses from any Specsavers range and prescribed lenses (including polarised sunglasses). Eden-Alexi from Onehunga Library, winner of the New Zealand Maritime Museum family pass to sail on the Ted Ashby heritage scow. Allison from Whangaparaoa Library, winner of the family pass to visit MOTAT . Rolanda from Sir Edmund Hilary Papakura Library, winner of the family pass to visit Auckland Zoo . Five other winners won vouchers for a free rental from our Top Picks new release collection: Eila from Glenfield Library Sabine from Devonport Library Susan from Sir Edmund Hilary Papakura Library

Shout out to Joshlyn and Wisdom Iyekekpolo, sister and brother and voracious readers both, for completing a whopping 165 challenges between them for Auckland Libraries’ Great Summer Read He Pānuitanga Raumati which finished last week! Over the two months of the programme, Joshlyn, who turns 13 in March, read 111 books as part of the 124 challenges she logged, winning a family pass for the New Zealand Maritime Museum’s Auckland Heritage Boat Sailing, while her 11-year-old brother Wisdom read 34 books while completing 41 challenges, winning a family pass to Auckland Zoo. From a book-loving family, Joshlyn and Wisdom were already keen readers when they came to New Zealand from Nigeria a year and a half ago with their mother and father, a PhD student at the University of Auckland. “Everyone in the family reads, Mum, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa,” Joshlyn told us. She and Wisdom were both reading by age three – books in English, the language of most books available in Nigeria, though th

Last month we shared our list of suggested wild card challenges . But if you are still stuck for ideas, why not use the Auckland Government Women's Network's (AGWN) challenge as your wild card? 'Read the story of an inspirational woman.' AGWN supports women from all government agencies in the Auckland region to achieve their potential by connecting and sharing information and resources. Auckland Central City Library hosted an AGWN event during Wāhine Take Action , as part of last year’s celebrations for the 125th anniversary of Suffrage day. In her 2019 New Year newsletter, chairperson of AGWN Joanne Hacking urged members to make the most of summer's slower pace by picking up a book to find inspiration for the year ahead and to join the Great Summer Read.  You're a champion, Joanne!   Here is what Joanne shared with her members: Many of the most successful people in the world credit their success to reading Telling the stories of women can help

Congratulations to the lucky winners of the latest The Great Summer Read prize draw! Everyone who completed a Great Summer Read challenge, and checked it in on the website between 5 January and 11 January was entered into the draw.   This week our sponsored prizes went to: Toni from Pt Chevalier Library, winner of the Specsavers NZ voucher, including an eye examination, two pairs of glasses from any Specsavers range and prescribed lenses (including polarised sunglasses). Tim from Onehunga Library, winner of the New Zealand Maritime Museum family pass to sail on the Ted Ashby heritage scow. Danny from Warkworth Library, winner of the family pass to visit MOTAT . Harrison from Avondale Library, winner of the family pass to visit Auckland Zoo . Five other winners won vouchers for a free rental from our Top Picks new release collection: Claire from Takapuna Library Averil from Takapuna Library Brenda from Pt Chevalier Library Natalie from New Lynn Library Karen from

Congratulations to the lucky winners of the latest The Great Summer Read prize draws! Everyone who completed a Great Summer Read challenge, and checked it in on the website between 22 December and 28 December was entered into the Week 4 prize draw. Our sponsored prizes for Week 4 went to: Su from Glenfield Library, winner of the Specsavers NZ voucher, including an eye examination, two pairs of glasses from any Specsavers range and prescribed lenses (including polarised sunglasses). Caitlin from Botany Library, winner of the New Zealand Maritime Museum family pass to sail on the Ted Ashby heritage scow. Mirhan from Highland Park Library, winner of the family pass to visit MOTAT . Alison from Te Atatu Peninsula Library, winner of the family pass to visit Auckland Zoo . Five other winners won vouchers for a free rental from our Top Picks new release collection: Bianca from Avondale Library Elvi from Central City Library Carol from Titirangi Library Jannis from Albany

Congratulations to the lucky winners of this week's The Great Summer Read prize draw! Everyone who completed a Great Summer Read challenge, and checked it in on the website between 15 December and 21 December was entered into the draw. This week our sponsored prizes went to: Kim from Onehunga Library, winner of the Specsavers NZ voucher, including an eye examination, two pairs of glasses from any Specsavers range and prescribed lenses (including polarised sunglasses). Thurston from Northcote Library, winner of the New Zealand Maritime Museum family pass to sail on the Ted Ashby heritage scow. Harshitha from Botany Library, winner of the family pass to visit MOTAT . Vivianne from Panmure Library, winner of the family pass to visit Auckland Zoo . Five other winners won vouchers for a free rental from our Top Picks new release collection: Jocelyn from Blockhouse Bay Library Rosemary from Manurewa Library Sophie from Parnell Library Jessica from Glenfield Librar

Congratulations to the lucky winners of this week's The Great Summer Read prize draw! Everyone who completed a Great Summer Read challenge and checked it in on the website between 8 December and 14 December, was entered into the draw. This week, our sponsored prizes went to: Patricia from Northcote Library, winner of the Specsavers NZ voucher, including an eye examination, two pairs of glasses from any Specsavers range and prescribed lenses (including polarised sunglasses) Bronwyn from Glen Eden Library, winner of the New Zealand Maritime Museum family pass to sail on the Ted Ashby heritage scow Jess from Massey Library, winner of the family pass to visit MOTAT Chris from Remuera Library, winner of the family pass to visit Auckland Zoo . Five other winners won vouchers for a free rental from our Top Picks new release collection: Amanda from Māngere Bridge Library Alex from Central City Library Qurat-ul-Ain from New Lynn Library Tina from Massey Library Alisha

Congratulations to the lucky winners of The Great Summer Read's weekly prize draw! Everyone who completed a Great Summer Read challenge and checked it in on the website between 1 December and 7 December, was entered into the draw. This week, our sponsored prizes went to: Michelle from Remuera Library, winner of the Specsavers NZ voucher, including an eye examination, two pairs of glasses from any Specsavers range and prescribed lenses (including polarised sunglasses) Micheal from Mount Roskill Library, winner of the New Zealand Maritime Museum family pass to sail on the Ted Ashby heritage scow Ruobing from Blockhouse Bay Library, winner of the family pass to visit MOTAT Zeldon from Māngere Bridge Library, winner of the family pass to visit Auckland Zoo . Five other winners won vouchers for a free rental from our Top Picks new release collection: Nicola from Glenfield Library Serene from Mount Albert Library Sara from Remuera Library Davina from Massey Librar

The Great Summer Read He Pānuitanga Raumati is centre stage this week on Books & Beyond, as Karen and Louisa shared what they might be reading for their favourite challenges. Listen to this week's episode on the PlanetFM website and read on for the books mentioned in the show: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray The remains of the day by Kazuo Ishiguro The prime of Miss Jean Brodie  by Muriel Spark Lean in by Sheryl Sandberg Becoming by Michelle Obama Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead by Tom Stoppard Nightwork by Jachym Topol Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi Watership down by Richard Adams Winter eyes by Harry Ricketts Bonsai: best small stories from Aotearoa New Zealand edited by Michelle Elvy, Frankie McMillan and James Norcliffe Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and… beyond. 

It's the last challenge on the Great Summer Read challenge list but we're seeing people choosing it as their first! And why not? It's the chance to set your own challenge! It could be something you've always meant to do but never quite had the courage, like writing a fan letter to your favourite author. Or something where you’d welcome a little extra incentive - like maybe winning a prize - to persevere, like reading a book in the language you studied in school. If you haven't already got an ace up your sleeve to play, try one of these great suggestions from our librarians. Be sure to tell us about your wildcard in the comments section below, whether it’s one of these or one of your own! Share a favourite quote from the book you read. Take an insect/bird/animal guide with you on a wildlife hunt and see how many species you can find in your garden, neighbourhood, at the beach, etc. Judge that book by its cover! Choose a book without looking inside. Read