Auckland Libraries blog

Can’t get enough of the Bridgertons? The glitz and glamour? The all-consuming drama of the ton? The hit Netflix series is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Julia Quinn’s world of hot scandal, true love and unshakable duty. Whether you're a devoted Bridgerton fan or a newcomer to the world of Regency romance, these books are sure to make you swoon faster than Cressida Cowper at a ball. This spoiler-free list contains all the books in and around the Bridgerton series, so you can keep your fire burning until the next season graces our screens.  The original Bridgerton books Why not start with the captivating tales of the Bridgerton siblings themselves?  If you're keen to relive the beloved narratives seen on Netflix or eager to get ahead before the next season, these books offer an immersive journey into the world of the Bridgertons. These nine novels by Julia Quinn let you dwell among the family's charming exploits for as long as it takes to turn each page. The duk...

In the October school holidays, we ran the Treasure Hunters reading challenge for tamariki on  Auckland Libraries Beanstack . Our young readers explored secret sites and treasure troves with our awesome school holiday activities and read lots of inspiring and adventurous books. As they read, they earned Treasure Hunter badges and entries into our prize draws. Together, our Treasure Hunter readers across Tāmaki Makaurau logged 1451 days of reading over two weeks! Read on for details about our prize winners! Treasure Hunters reading challenge prize pack winners We’re pleased to announce the two winners in the kids’ category and one winner of the youth category! Oscar from Pukekohe Library and Travis from East Coast Bays Library both won family passes to MOTAT Keddy of Albany Village Library won a $100 PB Tech voucher Top Reader bonus draw winners All readers who logged 10 or more days of reading out of a possible 12 were entered into our Top Reader bonus draws. Readers were placed in...

  Together We Read NZ: 27 September - 11 October 2023 From 27 September to 11 October, book lovers from across Aotearoa are invited to join the country’s biggest online book club, Together We Read . This year, the chosen book is Remember Me by local author Charity Norman – a heartfelt, page-turning suspense novel.  For two weeks, readers can borrow Remember Me on the Libby by OverDrive app with no waitlist! All you need is your Auckland Council Libraries barcode number. And if you don’t have a free library membership, join the library online today ! The Together We Read digital book club is run by OverDrive and connects readers across New Zealand’s public libraries. During the programme, readers can participate in online discussions about the book and attend an online event with the author hosted by Auckland Libraries . How it works Find out how to take part in Together We Read NZ! You’ll need a free Auckland Council Libraries membership – join online or visit your local li...

This year is the centenary of Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923). A founding and influential writer of the modernist movement, Mansfield grew up in Aotearoa and many of her much-loved short stories explore this setting. To celebrate Mansfield’s legacy in 2023, we’re sharing a selection of works by or about her from the Auckland Council Libraries collections. Read our brief introduction to her life and work, and explore the reading suggestions below for a chance to dip into the world of Mansfield. A brief introduction Katherine Mansfield was born in Wellington in 1888 and spent much of her childhood in the suburb of Karori. The city and its surroundings form the backdrop of many of her well-known stories, such as “Prelude” (1918), “At the Bay” (1922) and “The Doll’s House” (1922).   In 1908, Mansfield moved to London and became involved with the influential Bloomsbury Group of modernist writers, artists and intellectuals. She began contributing to literary magazines and her writin...

In the July school holidays, we ran the Ngā Tamariki o Matariki challenge for tamariki and rangatahi on Auckland Libraries Beanstack . Our young readers learned about Matariki, with reading suggestions for different ages and lots of activities to try. As they learned, they earned Ngā Tamariki o Matariki badges and entries into our prize draws. Together, our Ngā Tamariki o Matariki readers logged 894 days of reading over two weeks! Read on for details about our prize winners! Ngā Tamariki o Matariki 2023 reading challenge prize pack winners We’re pleased to announce the two winners in the kids’ category and one winner of the youth category! Tanzeel (8) from Botany Library, Matthew (7) from Glenfield Library and Pala (13) of Tupu Youth Library each won a Kaupapa boardgame .  Kaupapa boardgames are produced by Kura Rēhia and provide hours of fun while building your reo! Top Reader bonus draw winners All readers who logged 10 or more days of reading out of a possible 12 were entered in...

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 ...

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...

Highlights of the week ahead: 22-28 August With We Read Auckland 2022 about to enter its second and final week, it’s time to take a look at the wonderful events happening in our libraries and online. From discovering the hidden female figures of 19th century Aotearoa to a pop-up book club at the pub, We Read Auckland offers scores of opportunities to celebrate reading, writing and storytelling! Beanstack Online Reading Challenge 1 – 31 August, Online The Beanstack Online Reading Challenge is running all through August. Open to all ages, you can earn cool prizes just by logging the hours you spend reading. You can also complete fun activities which give you more chances to win. Download the Beanstack Tracker app on your Apple or Android device and select ‘Auckland Libraries’ or visit the Beanstack website to register. Author talk: Eileen Merriman Tuesday 23 August, 6.30pm – 7.30pm, Warkworth Masonic Hall When she’s not winning rave reviews for her novels, such as Pieces of You , Moonli...

Highlights of the week ahead: 15 - 21 August We Read Auckland 2022 kicks off next week, and heaps of exciting events are happening across Tāmaki Makaurau! Discover what’s going on at your local library or online, from reading stories to dogs to taking midnight strolls in the bush with authors. Explore all We Read Auckland events on our website. Descended from Rangatira exhibition Monday 15 August – Sunday 28 August, 9am-5pm. Māngere Arts Centre Māori and Pasifika people have a long tradition of powerful leadership, with mana passing down from generation to generation since before recorded history. Every day during We Read Auckland, the ‘ Descended from Rangatira ’ exhibition will be sharing stories of Polynesian identity and culture to help rangatahi from different backgrounds become the rangatira they were born to be. Piringatahi | Special Collections Up Close Monday 15 August – Friday 26 August (weekdays only), 10.30am-11.15am. Special Collections Reading Room, Level 2, Central City ...

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...