Auckland Libraries blog

Our libraries offer a variety of digital spaces, clubs, programmes and workshops that are both fun and educational. Jump into technology by exploring our Makerspaces - laboratories where you can explore hangarau (technology) and have a go at robotics, 3D printing, app making, music production and much more. Get a head start on computing with your kids or use our resources to give new technologies a go! North Glenfield Library 's 3D printing workshop covers the basics of 3D printing using Tinkercad to build a simple object.  These objects can then be printed to take home! These workshops are aimed at school-aged children. No need to book a place, simply turn up after school on Thursdays during school term time only. Birkenhead Library 's weekly Tech time for kids on Thursdays  encourages you to explore creating robots, apps, digital music and 3D printing. Try something new and connect with other kids and parents with similar interests during school term time.

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

Poet, writer and journalist, Kirsten Warner, talks with Karen about her debut novel The sound of breaking glass , a tour de force set in Auckland in the 1990s which invites us to contemplate how many ways of shattering or being shattered one person’s story can contain. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries SoundCloud . The sound of breaking glass has just made the Auckland Libraries Top 100 of 2018 in the New Voices category. 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.  Catch us on Planet FM104.6, Sundays at 9.35pm. Listen to recent shows via the  Auckland Libraries podcast .

Prize-winning poet and novelist, Anne Kennedy, chats with Karen about her new novel The ice shelf , a wicked and hilarious satire on life and literati as experienced in the course of a wild night in Wellington by a modern-day Moll Flanders. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries SoundCloud . Anne's books:  The ice shelf  The last days of the national costume The darling North  The time of the giants Sing-song 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.  Catch us on Planet FM104.6, Sundays at 9.35pm. Listen to recent shows via the Auckland Libraries podcast .

This week on Books and Beyond, Louisa talks to Lorraine Thomson about walking the 800km Camino de Santiago across northern Spain from France. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries SoundCloud. Lorraine's book: The French way: trekking the 40-day El Camino de Santiago by Lorraine Thomson Other books about the Camino de Santiago: Camino de Santiago by Andy Symington Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago (Camino Frances) by John Brierley On the Camino by Jason Jason (graphic novel) The Lore of the Camino de Santiago: a literary pilgrimage by Jean Mitchell-Lantham The way, my way: a Camino memoir by Bill Bennett I'll push you: a journey of 500 miles, two best friends, and one wheelchair by Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck Kiwi authors who have written about the Camino de Santiago: Kiwi on the Camino: a walk that changed my life by Vivianne Flintoff Exciting Eighties: a time of high expectations by Esther Paddon A movie ab

The 2018 winner of the  Diagram Prize for Oddest Title is being chosen this week by public vote! Karen and Louisa tell you all about it while recalling some other offbeat literary awards, such as the Weird-Ass Picture Book prize and the Three Tokes Anti-award. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries SoundCloud. Diagram Prize historic winners and shortlisted candidates: Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on nude mice The 2009-2014 world outlook for 60 milligram containers of fromage How to avoid huge ships Greek rural postmen and their cancellation numbers Cooking with Poo  The mushroom in Christian art  Mr Ando’s Pennine diary: memoirs of a Japanese chicken sexer in 1935 Hebden Bridge  The Great Singapore Penis Panic and the future of American mass hysteria  Estonian sock patterns all around the world  Advanced pavement research Divorcing a real witch: for pagans and people that used to love them   Diagram Prize 2018 short list:  Are

Inspired by this month's Auckland Walk Challenge , Karen and Louisa recommend good reads for pedestrians and ramblers, whether they are walking for protest, pilgrimage, therapy or exercise. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast . Books mentioned in the show Walking historic Auckland by David Palmer The bottom of the harbour by Joseph Mitchell Wanderlust by Rebecca Solnit A philosophy of walking by Frédéric Gros 100 days: walking Te Araroa by G.J. Coop The pants of perspective by Anna McNuff Te Araroa: walking New Zealand's 3000 kilometre trail , photography by Mark Watson Walking in ruins by Geoff Nicholson The alchemist by Paolo Coelho The Rings of Saturn by WG Sebald 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.  Catch us on Planet FM104.6, Sundays at 9.35pm. Listen to recent shows on the 

Karen and Louisa celebrate Halloween with some tricks from Karen, aka horrific reading recommendations, and a treat from Louisa, a spooky and sinister Roald Dahl story for your listening enjoyment. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast . Books, authors and a website recommended by Karen: Books The Odyssey by Homer Hansel and Gretel in Grimm’s Fairy Tales The complete fiction of HP Lovecraft   Against the world, against life, a biography of HP Lovecraft by Michel Houellebecq  The cask of Amontillado and The pit and the pendulum in  The complete tales and poems of Edgar Allan Poe The Haunting of Hill House and The lottery and other stories by Shirley Jackson Don’t look now in Don't look now and other stories by Daphne du Maurier Authors Stephen King  Edward Gorey Joe Hill Website Visit  www.creepypasta.com . Please note this website is not recommended for children due to its terrifying nature. Louisa’s read: The Landlad

Karen and Louisa celebrate Labour Weekend with books about labour and labouring, from ancient Rome to the Victorian mills of Dickens’s Hard Times , even a thriller set during Auckland’s waterfront dispute, Jonothan Cullinane’s Red Herring. Listen to this episode of Books and Beyond on the Auckland Libraries podcast . Books mentioned in the show: Samuel Duncan Parnell - a legacy: the 8 hour day, Labour Day and time off by Paul Corliss North and South by Mrs Gaskell   David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Hard Times by Charles Dickens Orgy planner wanted: odd jobs and curious callings in the ancient world by Vicki León Screw work, break free: how to launch your own money-making idea in 30 days by John Williams Would you believe - bed testers get paid to sleep: and other jammy jobs by Richard Platt Careers for introverts & other solitary types by Blythe Camenson Careers for perfectionists & other meticulous types by Blythe Camenson Red Herring by

Congratulations to the twelve lucky winners of our 2018 Comic Book September promotion. Yes, twelve winners, two more than was advertised thanks to our sponsors, Beyond Reality Media and Armageddon Auckland. The winners of family passes to the 2018 Auckland Armageddon Expo: Maximus from Titirangi Library Aries from Te Matariki Clendon Library Lochlan from Te Matariki Clendon Library Louie from Rānui Library Max from Pt Chevalier Library Adam from Onehunga Library Alden from Manukau Library The winners of triple packs of Beyond Reality Media graphic novels: Roger from Papakura Library Kerry from Panmure Library Ross from Titirangi Library Quang from Mt Albert Library Leonie from Birkenhead Library Thank you to all who took part in the promotion, aimed at encouraging all Aucklanders to explore the variety of graphic novels, manga and comics in our graphic novel collections.

Auckland Libraries loan periods for books, DVDs and magazines will change over the summer holidays. From Saturday 24 November you will be able to check out certain items for a longer period of time to accommodate reduced hours during the Christmas holiday period. These changes will continue to roll out in December. Loan rules for Nov 2018 - Jan 2019 From 24 November - 28 day loans become 42 day loans  From 8 December - 14 day loans become 28 day loans  From 5 January - 28 day loans go back to normal  From 12 January - 14 day loans go back to normal 

For Mental Health Awareness Week , Karen and Louisa recommend good reads which speak to the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand's five ways to wellbeing: Connect, Give, Take notice, Keep learning and Be active. Listen to this episode of Books and Beyond on the Auckland Libraries podcast . Books recommended by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand Beloved by Emma Farry Vitamin N: the essential guide to a nature-rich life by Richard Louv The nature fix: why nature makes us happier, healthier and more creative by Florence Williams The art of mindful birdwatching: reflections on freedom & being by C Thompson How to raise a wild child: the art and science of falling in love with nature by Scott D. Sampson Te Taiao Māori and the natural world by Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand Blue mind: the surprising science that shows how being near, in on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do by WJ Nic

शुभ दीपावली / Happy Diwali! Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated worldwide and is marked by Auckland Libraries as a key cultural festival. During Diwali, families, friends and communities come together in happiness to celebrate new beginnings and the victory of knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair and light over darkness.  This year, Auckland Libraries theme for Diwali is:  ‘Be the light - Spread the light,’ which is aspirational in every walk of life. Diwali is celebrated over four to five days by millions of Indians around the world, with increasing numbers of people joining in to celebrate the cultural side of the festival.  Auckland Libraries is celebrating Diwali with beautiful and informative displays and great events.   Join us from 20 October - 4 November in celebrating community, family and light! Events Discover and celebrate Indian culture, music, dance and craft with Auckland Libraries. For more events

Our We Love Feedback survey is now updated and better than ever. Our expanded survey aims to collect customer feedback covering many specific aspects of your experience at Auckland Libraries. We want to hear your feedback on staff service, library spaces, our collections, online spaces and much more. You may receive an invitation in your email, or you can head to our website and click the We Love Feedback link  at the bottom. We always love your feedback!

Great news! From 11 October, RBdigital users will be able to automatically check out new issues of eMagazines as soon as they are available!  This means you will always have the latest issues of your favourite magazines waiting for you in your RBdigital account! When checking out a magazine, you will be able to select if you would like to be notified via email of the availability of future issues and have those automatically checked out and available for reading in the RBdigital app and website. If you have already opted to be notified when future issues of your favourite magazine are available, in future you will be emailed and your magazine will automatically be checked out to you. Find out more about accessing eMagazines on our website or click here to read more about RBdigital’s eMagazine selection .

Whose life stories are the most requested at Auckland Libraries right now? Steven Adams and Princess Margaret!  This week on Books and Beyond, Louisa and Karen talk about one of our most popular genres: the biography. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast. Books mentioned in the show Steven Adams: my life, my fight by Steven Adams and Madeleine Chapman  Body parts: essays on life-writing  by Hermione Lee Orwell's nose: a pathological biography by John Sutherland  Christopher Walken A to Z: the man, the movies, the legend by Robert Schnakenberg  Cleopatra: a life by Stacy Schiff Vincent and Theo: the Van Gogh brothers by Deborah Heiligman Daphne du Maurier by Margaret Forster  Take six girls: the lives of the Mitford sisters by Laura Thompson  The Sun King: Louis XIV at Versailles by Nancy Mitford Ma'am darling: 99 glimpses of Princess Margaret by Craig Brown Graham Henry: final word by Bob Howitt  Auckland Libraries' rad

This week on Books and Beyond, Karen and Louisa look at books celebrating the human-animal bond. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast  and read on for the books mentioned in the show. Novelty cat books Out next year! The costume-loving cat of writer Paul Koudounaris has secured herself a book deal, as reported in Viva magazine Texts from Mittens: a cat who has an unlimited data plan... and isn't afraid to use it by Angie Bailey Animal mysteries, a subgenre of Cozy Crime: Hounding the pavement  by Judi McCoy Mission impawsible  by Krista Davis Murder most howl  by Krista Davis Not a creature was purring  by Krista Davis Three books about beloved dogs: Finding Gobi: the true story of a little dog and an incredible journey by Dion Leonard with Craig Borlase   Flush, a biography by Virginia Woolf   Afterglow: a dog memoir by Eileen Myles   Treasure from the basement: My family and other animals by Gerald Durrell