Posts

Massey Library closure

Image
Massey Library will close at 4pm on Sunday 17 February and re-open with reduced hours and reduced services in anticipation of the opening of our new library and community centre, Te Manawa in late March. Massey Library will be closed from Monday 18 February - Sunday 24 February, inclusive. The library will then re-open for four weeks with reduced hours as follows: Monday 25 February – Thursday 28 February, 10.00am – 3.00pm Monday 4 March  – Thursday 7 March, 10.00am – 3.00pm Monday 11 March – Thursday 14 March, 10.00am – 3.00pm Monday 18 March – Thursday 21 March, 10.00am – 3.00pm Massey Library will then be closed permanently from 3pm Thursday 21 March. Reduced services will be as follows: Request pick-up and return drop-off only No Internet access or printing facilities For a full range of services nearby, Kumeū Library , Waitākere Central (Henderson) Library , Rānui Library , and Te Atatū Peninsula Library will be open regular hours. Our new library and comm

Books and Beyond: Happy Anniversary Auckland!

Image
This week on Books & Beyond, Karen and Louisa celebrate Auckland Anniversary weekend by paying tribute to our city by choosing books of historical recollections, novelistic descriptions, and poetic odes. Listen to this week's episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast .  Read on for the books mentioned in the show: Dove on the waters by Maurice Shadbolt The new animals by Pip Adam High hope in hard times: a history of Grey Lynn and Westmere by Kaaren Hiyama Te Atatu me: photographs of an urban New Zealand village by John B. Turner; historical essay by Grant Cole A fine prospect: a history of Remuera, Meadowbank and St Johns by Jenny Carlyon and Diana Morrow Urban village: the story of Ponsonby, Freemans Bay and St Mary’s Bay by Jenny Carlyon and Diana Morrow Auckland by the sea: 100 years of work and play by David Johnson Flowers after the sun: poems by John Pule Sonnets to Van Gogh & providence by John Pule Love as a stranger by Owen Marshall

Kura Heritage Collections Online: A birthday gift to Auckland

Image
To celebrate Auckland's anniversary, Auckland Libraries has wrapped the city's heritage in an easy-to-explore package with Kura Heritage Collections Online . Unwrap our heritage with the click of a mouse or swipe of a phone to discover more than 600,000 historic documents and records. Kura features a wealth of photographs and portraits, plans and personal letters - and that's just the start. Before Kura launched, history enthusiasts had to access heritage items by trawling through dozens of databases. Now the content is easy for anyone to browse, download and share instantly - and still completely free. Auckland Centennial Regatta. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections T2344 Councillor Penny Hulse, Chairperson of the Environment and Community Committee, is excited about the launch and passionate about what Kura will offer to Aucklanders. “It’s about giving the city the ability to access their heritage as easily and conveniently as possible,” she

Blind Date with a Book

Image
Take a chance on a blind date with a book... Indulge in a fun Valentine’s activity that is as mysterious and adventurous as a blind date, and you could be in to win one of two amazing experiences from Auckland’s own Cordis Hotel . Every February, Auckland Libraries is one of many libraries around the world offering a range of carefully selected and wrapped books for customers to have a bit of fun experimenting with their reading. Without knowing the author or title, you choose your blind date read based on a set of clues on the wrapping or attached bookmark.  Some are fiction, and some are non-fiction. Some are new, and others are tried and true classics.  Your blind date may be funny, informative, entertaining, scary or heart-breaking, maybe even a little odd. It could lead to a new and surprising, never-would-have-picked-that reading experience. You won’t know until you get it home!    Blind Date with a Book competition Every blind date book you borrow gives you th

The Great Summer Read: AGWN's wild card challenge

Image
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

The Great Summer Read: Weekly prize draw

Image
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

The Great Summer Read: Weekly prize draw

Image
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

Books and Beyond: Joanne Drayton

Image
Karen chats with Joanne Drayton about Hudson & Halls: the food of love , her new book about two television chefs who helped change the bedrock bad attitudes of a nation in the 1970s and 80s to that unspoken thing – homosexuality. They were also captains of a culinary revolution that saw the overthrow of Aunt Daisy and Betty Crocker and the beginnings of Pacific-rich, Asian-styled international cuisine. Listen to this week's episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast. Read on for the books mentioned in the show. Joanne Drayton is also the author of the New York Times bestseller,  The search for Anne Perry , about the bestselling crime novelist who left behind another identity - that of Juliet Hulme of ' Heavenly Creatures ' fame - as well as a number of critically-acclaimed biographies. 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… beyo

Auckland Anniversary and Waitangi Day closures

Image
All our libraries will be closed for Auckland Anniversary Day and Waitangi Day,  with the exception of Botany Library . Auckland Anniversary Day All libraries will be closed on Monday 28 January for Auckland Anniversary Day, with the exception of Botany Library Botany Library will be open 10am - 5.30pm Mobile Libraries will not operate Waitangi Day All libraries will be closed on Wednesday 6 February for Waitangi Day, with the exception of Botany Library Botany Library will be open 9.30am - 5.30pm Mobile Libraries will not operate Looking for information or a relaxing read? Our online resources will be available 24/7, as usual. Find out more about our eBooks, eAudiobooks, eNewspapers and eMagazines

The Great Summer Read: Weekly prize draw

Image
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

Books and Beyond: Mike Lee

Image
Mike Lee wears his scholar and author’s hat as he talks with Karen about his new book Navigators and naturalists: French exploration of New Zealand and the South Seas (1769-1824) , which weaves together geography, natural philosophy and human history, in telling the story of the great French naturalist-voyagers. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast . 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 .

Books and Beyond: 50th anniversary

Image
Karen and Louisa celebrate the 50th anniversary of Books & Beyond with a stroll through past shows, bloopers, and the ones that got away, plus a dip into the Auckland Libraries Top 100 and Great Summer Read . Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries SoundCloud . Books mentioned in the show Body parts: essays on life-writing by Hermione Lee Galileo’s middle finger: heretics, activists, and the search for justice in science by Alice Dreger Winter eyes by Harry Ricketts Murray’s Handbook for Scotland (1894)  The trauma cleaner: one woman’s extraordinary life in death, decay and disaster by Sarah Krasnostein The Pacific: in the wake of Captain Cook with Sam Neill Navigators & naturalists: French exploration of New Zealand and the Pacific (1769-1824) by Michale Lee  Authors mentioned in the show Jojo Moyes Liane Moriarty Nicky Pellegrino Catherine Robertson Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of boo

Books and Beyond: Peter Millett

Image
This week on Books and Beyond Louisa chats to Peter Millett, author of over 50 children’s picture and fiction books. Peter introduces his new book  More Classic Rhymes for Kiwi Kids , and the latest in his superhero  Johnny Danger DIY Spy  series, which we find out is as popular in the UK than home in Aotearoa NZ.  Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries SoundCloud . Books by Peter Millett: The ANZAC biscuit man and other classic kiwi tales . Jean Batten   by Peter and Ruth Millett.  The ANZAC puppy .    The kiwi go marching one by one , sung by Jay Laga'aia with lyrics by Ngaere Roberts. Johnny Danger: lie another day , as part of The Johnny Danger series. The petrifying plot of the plummeting pants , as part of The Boy Zero series. 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 FM 104.6, Sundays a

Desert Island Bookcase

Image
Wondering what to read this summer? Need a book to escape into while you're on the road or relaxing in the park? Auckland's Tāmaki Pataka Kōrero Central City Library is here for you! Six months ago, we asked Aucklanders to choose their all-time favourite book: the book they always recommend to friends, the book they would want with them if they were stranded on a desert island, the book they could read over and over again. We've now curated all your suggestions into one exclusive collection: The Desert Island Bookcase. With over five hundred titles, you'll be spoilt for choice! So, drop into the desert island on the ground floor of Central to borrow a 'treasured' favourite or browse our curated Desert Island Bookcase list on OverDrive and find some gold! Follow our Desert Island Bookcase Instagram this summer to get some great reading recommendations and tag #desertislandbookcase to tell us what your Desert Island picks would be.

The Great Summer Read: Weekly prize draw

Image
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

Books and Beyond: Deborah Shepard

Image
On Books and Beyond this week, Karen chats with author, oral historian and biographer, Deborah Shepard, about her new book The writing life , one of our picks for the 'Life and times' category of this year’s Auckland Libraries Top 100. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries SoundCloud . The writing life comprises a series of curated conversations in which twelve of New Zealand’s most acclaimed and admired writers speak candidly about their lives and their work. They are: Joy Cowley Marilyn Duckworth Tessa Duder Chris Else Patricia Grace David Hill Witi Ihimaera Fiona Kidman Owen Marshall Vincent O’Sullivan Philip Temple Albert Wendt 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 FM 104.6, Sundays at 9.35pm. Listen to recent shows via the Auckland Libraries podcast .

The Great Summer Read: Weekly prize draw

Image
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

Books and Beyond: The Great Summer Read 2018

Image
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. 

Enjoy our Makerspaces

Image
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.

The Great Summer Read He Pānuitanga Raumati wildcard challenge

Image
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