Auckland Libraries blog

The world of Pacific literature is diverse, full of surprises and powerful! Our latest Pacific titles cover an ocean of subjects including feminism, beautiful Pacific poetry, and myths and legends. Explore these curated lists of adult and kids books put together by Senior Pacific Content Specialist Veronica, and celebrate Pacific literature by checking them out at your local library or via our catalogue. New Pacific adult books Vā: Stories by Women of the Moana  edited by Sisilia Eteuati & Lani Young An anthology of female-driven narratives from 38 writers drawn from across the Pacific. The stories touch on themes such as family, history, culture and feminism. Tackle Your Success: 7 Truths of a Professional Athlete: A Step-by-step Guide to a New Life After Sports by Filipo Levi From playing for the Highlanders to captaining Manu Samoa against the All Blacks, Filipo Levi has faced more than his fair share of challenges throughout his illustrious career. In this inspir

The world can feel pretty challenging at times, and we all have different ways that help us to cope. For some, it’s getting out in nature, calling a friend, or dancing in the living room; for others, it’s getting cosy with a favourite book. We asked our librarians what books they turn to when seeking comfort. Read on for their reading recommendations, or pop into your local library to chat with our friendly staff. John – Birkenhead Library Fables  by Bill Willingham is my favourite comfort read as it has amazing art and a compelling story about fairy-tale characters coming into the real world, it’s a fantastic detective-esque story with great characters that’s fun to read over and over again. Ineka – Reading Engagement   My pick is My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. This classic memoir is by renowned English naturalist Gerald Durrell. It recounts his tween years when his family shifted from rainy England to the idyllic island of Corfu in the four years before the sta

Finding eCollections these days seems easy, but do you really know what you're signing up for? We want to tell you about why you should choose Libby by OverDrive for eBooks and eAudiobooks! Libby by OverDrive is a free and easy to use app that lets you browse, select, check out and read or listen all in the same place! There's no opening new tabs or clicking back and forth, all you need is a library membership, and you're ready to roll! You don't have to worry about any complicated subscription rules, monthly limits or payment methods, because Libby is completely free with your library membership... which is also completely free! Once you get started, you can check out up to 35 items at a time, as many times as you like! The app is easy to navigate, even for tech novices, and also has a friendly chatbot to help you during the setup process.  Worried about fines? No problem! The items return themselves when you reach the end of your loan period. You can al

International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day where we celebrate the achievements of women, raise awareness of bias and take action for equality.  In this Books & Beyond International Women’s Day podcast special recorded during Auckland’s fourth lockdown, Alison & Ineka celebrate gutsy, feisty and science-y women who are the builders, shapers and makers among us. Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries · Books and Beyond: International Women's Day 2021 This year more than ever, we're reflecting on the strength, resilience and determination shown by women both here and abroad in times of crisis. Globally, research is beginning to show that countries led by women have had better outcomes related to COVID-19 . At the same time, women have been disproportionately affected by both job loss and additional caring duties on top of their workload as a result of the pandemic, whether working from home or on the front line.  This podcast is both a salute and a shout-out, c

As part of our  Auckland Pride Festival 2021 celebrations, librarian Alison chatted to Lil and Tanya from the Rainbow community about their recent and all-time favourite queer reads.  You can listen to the conversation on the Auckland Libraries podcast . Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries · Books and Beyond: Pride 2021 edition Reading enriches our lives and allows us to see ourselves and others at the intersections and margins of our experiences. Queer reads bring our lives in from the margins and show us that we belong, we matter, and we can thrive. Here are some of Lil and Tanya’s faves: Books to rip your insides out Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg Available as a free download from the author's website. Beautiful writing and an important record of queer history from the pre-Stonewall era. There was no safety for young queer folk in their blue-collar town, even in the drag bars. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Also available as OverDrive eBook

To spark your reading inspiration this summer, we’ve rounded up a legacy of best-sellers to bring you the best books from over the decades. Thanks to the Auckland Libraries Top 100 , we all know the best books of our most recent decade. But what about the many decades before? After much deliberation, we've chosen our top reads from the 1950s right through to the 2010s.  Agree?  Visit our website to start requesting!  Disagree? Let us know your favourites via Instagram , Facebook or Twitter .  The 50s East of Eden by John Steinbeck East of Eden was considered by Steinbeck to be his magnum opus. Its epic scope and memorable characters explore universal themes of love and identity, and it remains one of America's most enduring novels. Set in California's Salinas Valley, two families find their destinies fatefully intertwined. The 60s To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Lee explores the issues of race and class in the Deep South of th

With international travel off the cards for a little while longer, we've selected some reads to take you around the world from the comfort of home. Sweden A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Ove is the block's grumpy old man who enforces strict neighbourhood rules and whom everybody avoids. One ordinary day a new family moves in next door to Ove and turns his world on its head. Also available on  DVD . United States of America Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens For years, rumours of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. She's barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark. But Kya is not what they say. Also available on  DVD . Botswana The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith Wayward daughters. Philandering partners. If you've got a problem, and no one else can help you, then pay a vis

It's the best of the best, the cream of the crop - we've narrowed our Top 100 down to the Top 10 best reads of 2020! We've chosen our Top 10 books that you cannot go without this summer. Our Top 10 features one book from each category of the much-anticipated Top 100, so there's something for every kind of reader! Browse the full Auckland Libraries Top 100 on our website. Fiction Such a fun age by Keily Reid : Alix is a woke white woman, a mother and a successful internet influencer. She is shocked when her young black babysitter, Emira, is accused of kidnapping while out with Alix's toddler at a high-end supermarket. Non-fiction Husna’s story by Farid Ahmed : Husna and her husband Farid Ahmed were praying at El Noor Mosque in Christchurch when a gunman burst in and shot and killed 51 people and injured many others in a terrorist attack. This book is about a life of selflessness, bravery and love. Graphics Mophead tu by Selina Tusitala Marsh : Poet laureate Selina T