Auckland Libraries blog

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.

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

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  

For some time, we've been working on how to expand our regional mobile library and access services to be able to reach more Aucklanders, more often. We're pleased to announce that our expansion plans have now been approved by Auckland Council's Environment and Community Committee and we will be rolling out the following changes in the coming months. Increasing our current team of staff members and creating new roles. These include a reo speaking Māori Mobile librarian, rural library coordinator and librarian to support volunteers, and a homebound access coordinator to provide access to customers unable to leave home Operating three large buses and two, more agile, vans Operating seven days a week and expanding outside of traditional hours (previously mobile libraries only operated on weekdays during normal business hours) - read on for details of the updated stops and new schedules (effective from 15 October) Visiting more local and regional events throughout Tāma

Banned Books Week is now in its 36th year, still championing and defending the freedom to read. The spotlight's on banned, sequestered and burned books through history (including two from Aotearoa), as Karen and Louisa celebrate the freedom to read, and conclude that books always outlast their bans! Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast  and read on for the books mentioned in the show. Karen and Louisa presented the American Library Association's list of the top ten most challenged books in 2017 . Nine banned books which feature on the Auckland Libraries poster for Banned Books Week: Candide by Voltaire The divine comedy by Dante Ulysses by James Joyce Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen Gargantua and Pantagruel , 1553 by Francois Rabelais Life and fate by Vasily Grossman Lolita , 1955 by Vladimir Nabokov All quiet on the Western front , 1928 by Erich Maria Remarque Other books discussed: Into the river  by Ted Dawe The beginner

To celebrate Suffrage Day on 19 September, Renée Orr from Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections talks about a selection of historical material illustrating wāhine taking action in Aotearoa, from the suffrage petitions of the 1890s to the feminist magazine Broadsheet from the 1980s. Listen to this Books and Beyond episode on the  Auckland Libraries podcast  and read on for links to the items and people discussed in the show. Suffrage 125 and the petition Suffrage 125 and celebrations Suffrage petition  on New Zealand History Suffrage petition, sheet 394   Amey Daldy's letter to Sir George Grey Amey Daldy. Letter to Sir George Grey, 20 September 1893. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, GLNZ D1.1. Amey Daldy's biography on Te Ara Amey Daldy's letter to Sir George Grey Ellen Melville's election poster Electors of Grey Lynn. 1919. From: Ellen Melville. Election scrapbooks. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, NZMS 1569.   El

Karen talks with Jeremy 'Mr J' Bishop from Arkham City Comics about his parallel journeys as a librarian and comics fanboy, and how the comics genre succeeded in ensconcing itself as an indisputably brilliant reading choice. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast  and read on for the books mentioned in the show. Jeremy's favourite comics from childhood: Asterix and Obelix Buster Garfield The Adventures of Tintin Whizzer and Chips Marvel and DC comics: Batman Superman Wonder Woman X-Men Fantastic Four The Phantom Judge Dredd Spiderman Seminal graphic novels (comics packaged as complete stories): The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman (1988) Preacher by Garth Ennis (1996) Watchmen by Alan Moore (1986-87) Maus by Art Spiegelman (1987) Palestine  by Joe Sacco (1993) Karen's favourite graphic novels: Corto Maltese by Hugo Pratt (1975 in Italy, 2012 in Engl

September marks the start of the first ever New Zealand Theatre Month! Karen talks with playwright Roger Hall, the driving force behind this new nationwide celebration of the amazing New Zealand theatre scene. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast  and read on for all the plays mentioned in the show.  Visit the NZ Theatre Month website for more information. Bruce Mason’s classic play, performed every Christmas on Takapuna Beach, and to inaugurate New Zealand Theatre Month: The end of the golden weather  Three of Roger Hall's plays: Middle Age Spread. Glide Time. Four flat whites in Italy. Also mentioned: Author talk: A life in theatre: An event featuring Alison Quigan in conversation with Roger Hall held on Friday 21 September 2019, 6pm - 7.30pm.  Mercury Theatre manuscript collection: Explore the Mercury Theatre manuscript collection on Kura Heritage Collections Online or Manuscripts Online . A Sunday afternoon rehearsal

This week on Books and Beyond, Karen and Louisa share recordings of some of their favourite poets in performance, including many NZ Poet Laureates, with a cameo from Janet Frame and a driving finale from current NZ Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh. Listen to this Books and Beyond episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast  and read on for the books mentioned in the show. Special thanks to Auckland University Press for their fantastic Poets in Performance series of book-and-CD sets. Classic New Zealand Poets in performance: A song about the moon: Classic New Zealand Poets in performance – CD 1, track 38, read by Bill Manhire.  The Mountains of Ta'u: Classic New Zealand Poets in performance – CD 2, track 40, read by Albert Wendt. The Goose Bath: The Icicles: Classic New Zealand Poets in performance – CD 1, track 38, read by Janet Frame. Seeing you asked: Classic New Zealand Poets in performance – CD 2, track 33, read by Vincent O'Sullivan. Con

Congratulations to the five lucky winners of our annual Matariki Take 3 promotion, who have each won a $50 JBHifi gift voucher. Left to right: Senior Library Assistant Kaikokiri Ratonga Māori Daphne Tangihaere, Paige and Meri (Paige's Nan) Paige from Te Matariki Clendon Library Alana from Māngere Bridge Library Christine from Papatoetoe War Memorial Library Jacqui from Glenfield Library Nazife from Rānui Library Thank you to all who took part in the promotion, aimed at encouraging Aucklanders to explore the variety of items available to borrow from our Māori collections .

Inspired by the Festival of Adult Learning Ahurei Ākonga  (3 - 9 September), Karen and Louisa talk about the variety of things you can learn from library books, from languages to creative writing, or even Salvador Dali's secret technique for lucid dreaming! Listen to this Books and Beyond episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast  and read on for the books mentioned in the show. ' The Quick Reads series , including  Humble pie by Gordon Ramsay and  Kung fu trip  by Benjamin Zephaniah Travel, food and ghostwriting Lonely Planet's guide to travel writing: expert advice from the world's leading travel publisher by Don George Get started in food writing by Kerstin Rodgers 'Teach yourself visually' series Ghost writing: how to write for others by Lynne Hackles Poetry and memoirs The ode less travelled: unlocking the poet within by Stephen Fry The Liars' Club: a memoir by Mary Karr Lit: a memoir  (eAudiobook) by Mary Karr