Auckland Libraries blog

Image: Central City Library's green roof. Photo by Auckland Council Libraries. Sharing stories, knowledge and resources has always been a core principle of libraries. In a world where climate change and overconsumption are global challenges, this idea matters more than ever. Your libraries are part of Auckland Council’s goal to create a zero-waste Tāmaki Makaurau by 2040. Across the region, libraries are finding practical ways to encourage our communities to tread lightly on the planet, from green buildings and paper reduction to running repair cafés and supporting local food gardens. Here’s a look at how libraries are helping communities live more sustainably, and how being a library member makes it easy to join in! Sharing instead of owning is at the heart of libraries Borrowing a book, magazine or movie means fewer new resources need to be produced, as a single copy can be enjoyed by hundreds of readers and viewers. Plus, with the rise in digital entertainment like eBooks, eMag...

Due to maintenance, our online library services will be unavailable on 7pm to 11:45pm Thursday 4 September 10pm Wednesday 17 September to 3am Thursday 18 September The outage will include searching for library items in the library catalogue, logging in and managing your account and paying online. The outages will also affect our eCollections platforms. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

Say hello to instant-access eBooks! Read free online books and audiobooks that are always available through the library with no waiting list.  Our ‘guaranteed available’ collections on OverDrive offer you immediate access to a curated selection of popular eBook and eAudiobook titles without waiting for another reader to return their copy. All these titles are available now until a new list is released in early April 2026. Book club favourites  Are you in a book club that reads the same book? Every member can borrow a copy at the same time!  See all book club favourites Browse by topic Click the links listed below or open the OverDrive website or Libby app. Use the navigation panel to browse ‘guaranteed available’ picks across various collections. You can also search for a topic and filter the results by ‘available now’. • Travel books   • New Zealand fiction and nonfiction • Young adult fiction and nonfiction • Classic literature   • Romance novels...

Gloomy weather is the perfect backdrop for moodier reads – and what moodier place to find them than the library’s thriller section?   If you’re looking for dark, atmospheric books that feel like winter, you’ve come to the right place. Subgenres like mystery, crime and horror hold endless potential for winter escapism. Hide yourself away with these thriller book suggestions that’ll keep your mind racing all winter. 1. Carved in blood by Michael Bennett The third book in this bestselling New Zealand crime trilogy unfolds during a chilly Auckland winter, as Matariki approaches – a time of celebration and new beginnings. Hana Westerman’s family is thriving, and life finally feels peaceful. But when Hana’s ex-husband Jaye is shot in what seems like a random crime, she’s drawn back into the world of police work. Her investigation leads to a suspect with links to a Chinese crime syndicate. That’s until a call warns they’ve got the wrong man. Could the shooting be tied to Jaye’s pa...

Ever wondered what goes on down in the deep blue sea? Your library has the answers! We’re celebrating World Oceans Day – a time to recognise the importance of our moana (ocean) and all the life it holds. From the tiniest plankton to the mightiest whale, every creature has a part to play in keeping our oceans healthy.  To mark the occasion, our librarians have fished up some stories full of underwater wonder. These under-the-sea tales will help tamariki dive into marine adventures, spark curiosity about ocean life and learn how we can all help protect our precious waters. 1. Consider the octopus by Nora Raleigh Baskin and Gae Polisner Jeremy “JB” Barnes was expecting a summer of surfing, not tagging along with his mum on a ship studying the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. One big mix-up later, twelve-year-old ocean-podcaster Sidney sneaks aboard the ship. The two find themselves at the centre of a comedy of errors, scientific chaos and a mission that just might help save the ocean. ...

Titirangi Library is getting a major upgrade! A book bus will provide reduced library services during the refurbishment of the Titirangi War Memorial Hall and Library. Book bus opens 30 June From Monday 30 June , a library book bus will operate in the Titirangi Library carpark (500 South Titirangi Road), offering a reduced service throughout a 12-month construction period . Book bus opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am–5pm Saturday: 10am–4pm (Closed for lunch daily from 12.30pm–1pm) Available services With the mobile library, you can still: pick up your requests, browse a small collection of adults' and children's books (including the Bestie collection), return items. Weekly preschool programmes will also continue nearby at Titirangi Community House . More library programmes for adults and children will run at Lopdell Precinct . Nearby libraries For full library services, including access to computers, printing and a wider range of collections, we recommend visiting: Glen Eden ...