Auckland Libraries blog

Michele Powles, Renee Liang and Lisette du Plessis (from left) on Books and Beyond. Writer, Michele Powles, and poet, playwright and paediatrician, Renee Liang, talk with Karen about capturing the joy, beauty, discomfort and humour of the first years of motherhood as co-authors of the new book When we remember to breathe: mess, magic and mothering , joined by publisher Lisette du Plessis from Magpie Pulp. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast. Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and… beyond. Catch us on Planet FM104.6 , Sundays at 9.35pm. Recent shows can be listened to as podcasts via the Auckland Libraries podcast .

Margie Thomson chats with Karen about her new book, Womankind , in which she tells the stories of 53 amazing Kiwi women of different ages, backgrounds and interests, but all with a passion for helping others and effecting positive change. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast. Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and… beyond. Catch us on Planet FM104.6 , Sundays at 9.35pm. Recent shows can be listened to as podcasts via the Auckland Libraries podcast .

On our national day of remembrance, Auckland Libraries will commemorate those who served and lost their lives for our country. Although our libraries will be closed on 25 April, we have plenty of resources you can use to learn more about ANZAC Day. You can find out more about our closures here.   Events  Check-in with your local library to see what events they are hosting. There will be poppy making classes, ANZAC quizzes and wreath making. See some examples below: ANZAC biscuits at Te Matariki Clendon Library ANZAC open mic tribute at East Coast Bays Library Knit a poppy at Glenfield Library Browse our events to find out what's happening at your local library. Booklists  If you're wanting to expand your knowledge on ANZAC Day and the history of New Zealand, browse our curated booklists.  ANZAC stories for tweens ANZAC picture books Children at War Māori in the First World War In the Flanders fields: Stories of the Great War - eBooks...

This week Karen chats with author Tina Shaw about her new YA novel Ursa, which was just launched at the 2019 Storylines Margaret Mahy National Award Day here in Auckland.  Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast. Ursa is a chilling exploration of totalitarianism set in an alternate world, inspired by Tina’s time living in Berlin for the Creative New Zealand Berlin Writer’s Residency. Tina’s YA novel Make a hard fist was an Auckland Libraries Top 100 for 2018. Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and… beyond. Catch us on Planet FM104.6 , Sundays at 9.35pm. Recent shows can be listened to as podcasts via the Auckland Libraries podcast .

Kick back and relax these school holidays knowing Auckland Libraries has all your entertainment needs covered! From wacky events to wild reads, we have lots of things to keep your tamariki busy! We're exploring the weird, wild and wonderful these school holidays! Visit your local library to try some mind-boggling science experiments, stretch your imagination, and celebrate creatures big and small. Events Get out of the house and to your local library to experience the hundreds of different school holidays events running across Auckland.  Browse our school holidays events to find out what's happening at your local library. Book lists Inspire your children to start a new craft project or learn more about the world with our specially curated school holidays book lists. Whether you want to find a new hobby or make new friends, check out some suggestions: Everyday science for kids Life lessons for teens   Mindfulness for kids Native animals of ...

Karen and Alison talk about the joys of reading crime fiction and recommend some favourites, while considering some of today’s tropes on the subject, such as the idea that crime novels by women are more brutal than those by men. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast and read on for the books mentioned in the show. Books mentioned in the show: Tartan noir Starting with  Report for murder ,  The Lindsay Gordon series by Val McDermid. Kiwi noir Starting with Overkill , The Detective Sam Shephard series by Vanda Symon.  LA noir Starting with When the bough breaks , The Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman. Scandi noir The girl with the dragon tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Don’t look back by Karin Fossum. Starting with The bat , The Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo. Jar city by Arnaldur Indridason. Starting with Faceless killers , The Kurt Wallender series by Henning Mankell. Smilla’s sense of snow by Peter Hoeg....

He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. Central City Library's current exhibition, ‘ Kīnaki: Ngā reta Māori ’, is a collection of ngā reta Māori (Māori letters) handpicked from the Sir George Grey Special Collections by Robert Eruera, Poukōkiri Taonga Tuku Iho Māori | Senior Curator Māori. For the purposes of the exhibition, Kīnaki refers to the small things that we relish and take pleasure from. These letters were chosen in the hope that our interest will be piqued by the morsels on offer. Stretching over 50 years, these letters span an era of time during New Zealand's colonial infancy and illustrate the close relationships between rangatira (chiefs or leaders) and Governor Grey. Almost all the letters are addressed either to Governor Grey or his wife Lady Eliza Lucy Grey, and many of them are surprisingly uncluttered by the kind of formalities that you might expect from letters written to the Governor of New Zealand.  Unknown photograph...