Auckland Libraries blog

If you’ve got a long list of books you want to read, but it feels like there’s never enough time to read – why don’t you give our fantastic selection of eBooks and eAudiobooks on BorrowBox a go? With a wide range of popular New Zealand, Australian and international authors, you can read on the bus, enjoy a short chapter with a morning cuppa or listen while you’re vacuuming the house! No cost, high reward Borrowbox is free if you have a library card, and the number of titles is staggering. There are 1000s of free eBooks and eAudiobooks on offer, from classics like Lord Jim and Lee Child’s blockbuster novels to modern sensations like Where the Crawdads Sing (more on that later). Not sure where to start? Take a page out of someone else’s book. You can explore what’s flying off the shelves by browsing through the bestsellers section or find the next big thing by looking at what’s trending . The lowdown You can borrow up to 15 eBooks and 15 eAudiobooks at a time, so you’ll never be sh...

These new features will make your eReading experience even faster and more enjoyable!  Helpful new features are now available on the  Libby by Overdrive and BorrowBox apps. Don't forget to update your apps on your device to get the full enhanced experience!  Libby now supports nine additional languages The Libby app now supports browsing in nine additional languages.  All of the helpful Libby information and guides can be updated to your preferred language! Libby will automatically use the language your device or web browser is currently using. eBooks and eAudiobooks remain in their original languages.  You can now browse collections, search for specific titles, get help and more in the following languages: • English • Spanish • French (Canada) • Simplified Chinese • Traditional Chinese • German • Italian • Japanese • Russian • Swedish If you'd like to use Libby in a different language than your device, go to the Libby menu, select Get Some...

With libraries closed and Aotearoa in lockdown over the last 8 weeks, many Aucklanders turned to our eCollections and online resources to read, watch and learn while staying safe at home. A whopping 498,287 eBooks and eAudiobooks were issued, and we welcomed 3,772 new members to the Auckland Libraries whānau. Our staff were also getting busy, making over 15,000 calls to members of Auckland's over 70s community and offering support in these difficult times.  Many of our heritage collections staff spent time transcribing nineteenth-century letters in the collections , making them more accessible for keyword searching. Our Stay Connected series on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter saw Aucklanders share with us (and each other!) their stories, whakapapa, lockdown lives and more. We also got creative and started offering our popular events and programmes online. With musical performances, craft activities, storytimes, webinars, virtual bookclubs and knitting groups, it’s been amazing...

Last year Wendy Lin (Weixi), Ethnic Communities Senior Library Assistant at Manukau Library, launched Chinese eBook and eMagazine workshops to introduce online resources to Chinese speaking Aucklanders. The sessions were an unprecedented success, attracting readers from across Tāmaki Makaurau. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many of our senior customers reporting the sessions helped them become more confident with using technology and library resources like the eBook and eAudiobook app Libby and the Chinese eMagazine database Dragonsource . The average age of attendees was 75, and some were in their nineties, and all were eager to learn - as one attendee assured staff, " I still walk very fast for 90! " Since attending Wendy's sessions, customers have reported downloading 5 - 6 books a day, thanks to the convenience of Auckland Libraries eBook services and Wendy's mentorship and helpful guides. Reading enthusiasts can look forward to more of Wend...

If you haven't visited the library in a while, finding your way around can be quite a daunting task. We all know libraries are full of fascinating, gripping and titillating reads, but with endless options - where do you begin? We’re sharing our top five tips to help you get the best out of your library experience. Whether you know exactly what you’re looking for or don’t know where to start, these library hacks will help you find those hidden gems and make the checkout process a breeze. 1. Recently returned The recently returned section is a great place to start, as these are tried and tested by other customers! There will be a variety of genres on display, for those who don’t know what they’re looking for or if you're looking to try something new. 2. My Librarian Finding a good book can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re interested in! You can request a personalised recommendation from one of our librarians, just by filling out a short que...