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Showing posts with the label News

Raumati Reads prize winners: Summer 2023-24 reading challenge

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News Young Aucklanders have been busy readers this summer!  Imagine exploring Kiwi myths beneath the summer sun, or encountering fantastical creatures between ice cream breaks – that's the magic Auckland kids discovered with the Raumati Reads Kiwiana reading challenge. Whether you took your books to the beach, on a camping trip or just cosied up in a sunny corner at home, we hope you found your new favourite stories while powering through your reading activities. Now, we celebrate the lucky tamariki who unlocked a world of prizes with their love of reading! Prize winners Tū Meke Prize Draw Kids earned one entry for every five reading activities completed!  Congratulations to:  Wani (7, Onehunga Library) – Lenovo Tablet Ethan (7, Panmure Library) – Sky Tower Family Pass  Reeja (8, Papatoetoe Library) – Auckland Zoo Family Pass  Anita (8, Manukau Library) – Kiwiana Whānau Hamper Saoirse (8, Takapuna Library) – $100 Giftpay eVoucher Beanstack Top Readers Prize Draw Kids who logg

Helensville Library and Service Centre temporary service change

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Due to refurbishment work on the building, Helensville Library and Service Centre is currently only able to offer a click-and-collect service and ‘Take 5’ book packs. This temporary change to the library service will be in place until February 2024. What you need to know The returns slot is open at Helensville Library while work is underway.  You can also return your library items to any library branch in Tāmaki Makaurau . Note: There are no fines for returning library items after the due date, so please don’t worry if you can’t return your items right away. Requests are available to collect from staff at the door during opening hours. 'Take 5' book packs are also available to browse and check out at the library. Free WiFi  is available and accessible from outside the library. Regular events and programmes (such as Kids Time, Crafternoons, Book Chats and visits to ECEs) are continuing while the library is closed. Staff are available to support with Skinny Jump registrations

Make your voice heard

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The 2023 General Election will be held on 14 October, with voting opening on 2 October 2023.  Everyone's voice is important! We've put together some information on how we can support you to enrol to vote and get ready for the general election. Enrol to vote Enrol online through the Vote.NZ website You will need to have a New Zealand driver's licence, New Zealand passport or RealMe verified identity. Other ways to enrol  - Vote.NZ website There are a number of other ways to enrol, including mailing in a signed paper enrolment form. We can support you to print one of these in the library from the Vote.NZ website. The Electoral Commission can also mail one out to you. If you currently aren’t housed, you can use your last residential address where you lived for at least one month, even if that was some time ago. It can also be the address of a friend, family member, church or support group. Visit vote.nz for more information . Watch Electoral Commission NZ | Te Kaitiaki Take Kō

Upcoming changes to Research Centres and Special Collections Reading Room

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For some time, Aucklanders have been changing how they access our research services and heritage collections, with an increasing number of people choosing to engage with our collections and expertise through online channels.  From 30 September, we will be making some changes to the services and hours of our Research Centres and the Special Collections Reading Room. Hours and service changes from 30 September Research Central (Level 2, Central City Library) Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm Saturday, 10am – 5pm Sunday – Closed. Special Collections Reading Room (Level 2, Central City Library) Monday and Tuesday – Closed. Wednesday – Friday, 12pm – 5pm (Appointments only) Saturday, 10am – 5pm (Appointments only) Sunday – Closed. Visitors to Central City Library can get in-person assistance from staff at the Research Central desk from Monday to Saturday.  Research South (Level 2, Manukau Library) Monday – Friday, 12noon – 5pm Saturday and Sunday – Closed. Research West and North closure informat

St Heliers Library temporary location and re-opening update

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Re-opening update We are pleased to announce that St Heliers Library will re-open in its original location on  Tuesday 15 August 2023  at 10am. The temporary library location at Tāmaki Ex-Services Association Hall will close from Sunday 6 August at 4pm.  While both locations are closed (7-14 August 2023), you can access library services nearby in  Glen Innes ,  Panmure  and  Remuera  or at any of our other  library locations .  We can't wait to welcome you back to the library!  Read more on Our Auckland. 21 July 2022 announcement  From 1 August 2022, St Heliers Library is undergoing works for earthquake strengthening, a new roof and internal refurbishment. While these works are underway, most library services are available at Tāmaki Ex-Services Association Hall on the corner of Polygon Road and Turua Street, St Heliers.  The work on the St Heliers Library building is supported by Ōrākei Local Board. Read more on Our Auckland . Temporary location operating hours and services Operat

Point Chevalier Library temporary location

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Point Chevalier Library is temporarily relocating to the Annex at Point Chevalier Community Centre on Huia Road. The temporary location is set to open on Monday 20 February 2023. Check out  the library's Facebook page for the latest updates on their opening. Point Chevalier Library closed as a precautionary measure in October last year due to ongoing building issues. Read more on Our Auckland Since the library’s closure, some services have been operating out of our mobile library in Point Chevalier Square. Our new temporary library location will let us return to normal opening hours and offer more library services, such as collecting holds. We can’t wait to see you there! Finding the new location The Point Chevalier Community Centre is located at 18 Huia Road, around the corner from the closed library. The temporary library is situated in the Annex room, behind the community centre building pictured below.  Point Chevalier Community Centre from Huia Road (library entrance via pat

Discover the top Auckland Libraries checkouts 2022

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We've done the maths, and the results are in for our top checkouts for 2022! This year's most-borrowed titles show an enduring love and loyalty around favourite authors and series, whether local or international.  Explore our top checkouts and check them out yourself at your local library! Most-borrowed fiction 2022 Blue moon by Lee Child Grown ups by Marian Keyes The night fire by Michael Connelly Where the crawdads sing by Delia Owens Fair warning by Michael Connelly Most-borrowed fiction by Aotearoa New Zealand authors 2022 Before you knew my name by Jacqueline Bublitz Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason To Italy, with love  by Nicky Pellegrino Auē by Becky Manawatu The girl in the mirror by Rose Carlyle Most-borrowed non-fiction 2022 Veg by Jamie Oliver This much is true by Miriam Margolyes Vegful by Nadia Lim Atomic habits by James Clear The mirror book: a memoir by Charlotte Grimshaw Most-borrowed non-fiction by Aotearoa New Zealand authors 2022 Vegful by Nadia L

We Read Auckland 2022 Beanstack challenge prize winners

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As part of our We Read Auckland | Ka Pānui Tatau i Tāmaki Makaurau programme, we asked Auckland’s readers to join us on an all-ages reading adventure across Tāmaki Makaurau.  Open to readers of all ages, customers could read whatever they liked for as long as they wanted, with special encouragement to discover and read books by Auckland’s fabulous authors. For every 20 minutes of reading logged using the Auckland Libraries Beanstack platform , our readers collected digital badges depicting Tāmaki Makaurau landmarks. From South Auckland’s Hunua Ranges, readers 'travelled' across the Auckland region from East to West and then over the Harbour Bridge, ending their reading journey in the North at Okakari Point / Goat Island Marine Reserve. As they read their way across Auckland, discovering local authors and titles along the way, they also earned entries into draws to win prize packs of books by Auckland authors. Thank you to everyone who joined our reading road trip, and congratul

Make a rainbow connection with Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero Central City Library

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Our libraries are an inclusive and supportive space for everyone – members of the rainbow community can and should feel safe at their local library. Drawing from their own experiences, staff at Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero Central City Library who identify as LGBTQ+ – and their allies – came up with the idea for Rainbow Connection. This pen pal programme has been designed for people to connect with others with similar stories and experiences. If you or someone you know would like to get involved, sign up before 19 June  and we will match you up with a pen pal. You must be aged 18 or over to take part. Below are some stories from a few of our staff about their experiences being queer in Aotearoa and how pen pals have helped them find support, understanding and joy. Rhi Lennox (they/them) I’ve been writing letters to one of my best friends for a few years now – ever since she moved down to Wellington for uni. These letters feel really meaningful to me and are an important part of our friendship.

Proudly published by Auckland Council Libraries

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It will come as no surprise that we love sharing great books and stories, but did you know that we publish our own books? In 2020, we established a small but exciting publishing partnership programme to create and publish the pukapuka that we need more of in our libraries, with a particular focus on increasing our Māori and Pacific collections. Many New Zealand publishers are already doing amazing work creating Māori and Pasifika books, and we wanted to play a part too. The books we’ve published so far focus on te reo Māori and Pasifika languages and storytelling, often with a local angle. They promote literacy and help ensure that our libraries continue to be places of belonging for all Aucklanders. We follow a unique partnership approach, collaborating with local communities to create stories and working closely with publishing partners to bring these stories to life. Most recently, Auckland Council Libraries joined The Publishers Association of New Zealand / Te Rau o Tākupu as a me

Te Ara Poutama Level Up Kids summer reading challenge – Summer Prize Pack winners

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This year’s Te Ara Poutama Level Up summer reading challenge ran from 13 December until 28 January and was open to tamariki aged 5-12 years and teens aged 13-18 years. Each reader who registered received a free customisable library bag to fill up with lots of summer reading material. Each was encouraged to read every day, whatever they liked and for as long as they liked. They also had activities to choose from, giving them lots of ideas for levelling up their reading and recreation time. Together, our Level Up readers logged over 20,000 days of reading over six weeks – ka rawe (awesome)! As they logged, they were also earning entries into our Summer Prize Pack draws. We’re so proud of all our Level Up readers for spending their summer reading up a storm, learning something new, trying something different and having lots of fun with whānau, friends and their communities! Congratulations to all Level Up readers, and to our Level Up Summer Prize Pack winners! 2021/2022 Te Ara Poutama Lev

East Coast Bays Library re-opening soon!

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The refurbishment of East Coast Bays Library is on track, and we’re excited to announce that East Coast Bays Library will be re-opening to the public on 14 August.  The opening day will be a celebration with family fun and activities and will include tours of the refurbished building. In preparation for opening day, the temporary library at the East Coast Bays Community Centre (2 Glen Road, Browns Bay) will close from 5pm, Sunday 8 August.  Our mobile library team will be on-site at the Community Centre from 9 - 11 August for browsing, borrowing and returning library items. Please note: Requested library items on the hold shelf will not be available from 9 - 13 August. Library services will not be available at the Community Centre or East Coast Bays Library on 12 and 13 August. The closest library for browsing and returning library items on these dates is Albany Village Library . We are looking forward to seeing you all at our opening day and welcoming you back to our beloved communit

Temporary changes to Central City Library

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Auckland City Council. Architectural model of the planned new Auckland Public Library, May 1964. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, 580-10199. Last updated - June 2021 Central City Library is open with its normal hours. Level 2 remains closed until further notice. Research Central services are operating from Level 1 for the foreseeable future. Due to further construction work on Level 1 from Monday 14 June - Friday 23 July, the Research Central services available at Level 1 will be operating with reduced hours on weekdays.  Research Central services will be available from 9am - 6pm.  Customers can experience disruptions on Level 1 due to noise and other building-related work. The Research Central area on Level 2 including Special Collections, Reading Room, the gallery, atrium, Whare Wānanga, Level 2 bathrooms and study spaces are not available. Closure information Central City Library was temporarily closed in late March and in April due to an unpleasant smell within the library

East Coast Bays Library temporary closure

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We are transforming East Coast Bays Library to put you at its heart.  With over 1.5 million visits in the last five years, East Coast Bays Library is an important and much-loved community facility in the area. As with all high-use facilities, regular, planned maintenance is needed to continue servicing the community well. East Coast Bays Library will be temporarily closed from Friday 12 March 2021 for planned building maintenance and refurbishment. The work will take approximately five months and is part of the Auckland Council Long-Term Plan (LTP)  supported by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board. What work is being done? Remedial, maintenance and renovation work throughout the building Reconfiguration of the main entrance and some internal areas to improve customer service Upgrading existing public toilet facilities and increasing the number of available toilets Improving and expanding space for fiction and children's collections Creating a new, dedicated space for community progra

Ask us to buy it service returns

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Our 'Ask us to buy it' service has made a comeback! We are now ready to take your suggestions for Auckland Libraries’ collections again.  Council’s Emergency Budget resulted in reduced funding for our collections this year. Also, the publishing world and international distribution networks continue to be impacted by COVID-19. This meant our ‘Ask us to buy it’ service was put on hold while we worked through the effects of these challenges. We have taken the opportunity while the service has been on hold to evaluate it and make some improvements.  Our online request form has been re-developed to make it a more streamlined experience. Thank you for your patience as we have worked through these challenges, and we look forward to receiving your valued suggestions for our collections once more.  Visit the 'Ask us to buy it' request form .

Library hours changing in Howick Local Board area

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Library hours at some libraries in the Howick Local Board area are changing from 1 December 2020 to better suit customer habits.  From 1 December 2020, Howick Library , Highland Park Library and Pakuranga Library will operate with the following opening hours: Monday to Thursday - 9am to 6pm Friday - 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday - 10am to 4pm Hours at Botany Library are not changing and are as follows: Monday to Wednesday - 9.30am to 5.30pm Thursday and Friday - 9.30am to 8pm Saturday - 9.30am to 5.30pm Sunday - 10am to 5.30pm  Library services and programmes offered at these libraries will continue. Our JP services at these libraries may adjust to suit our new hours. Check with your library for more details. Click here to read more at OurAuckland about the changes to Howick Local Board area library hours.