Auckland Libraries blog

Our Auckland Libraries app has had an upgrade! We've made some changes to the Auckland Libraries app to add new features and improve its performance. Features include: Improved catalogue searching Filtering of catalogue search results Ability to link and manage multiple accounts Freezing your requests in the app (pause and save your spot in the requests waiting list) Bilingual text (te reo Māori and English) These upgrades are an addition to the existing Auckland Libraries app features which allow you to search for items, request and renew your library items, manage your library account, access our eCollections, find a library in your area and connect with us on social media.  Get the upgraded app Current app users can automatically upgrade to the new version just by updating the app via the Apple App Store or Google Play.  Find out more about the Auckland Libraries app on our website . Download the Auckland Libraries app for iOS in the Apple App Store or Android in Google Pl...

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...

Hot drinks, knitwear and cosying up with a good book – we all have our tried and tested ways of surviving the winter weather in Tāmaki Makaurau. Whether you head out to brave the cold or like to stay tucked up at home, our inviting and cosy spaces, binge-worthy collections, and portable Home Energy Audit Toolkits are here to help keep you and your whānau safe, entertained and warm this winter. Make our libraries your lounge If you want to escape the harsh winter weather, pop into your local library to kick back and relax! Browse the shelves, charge your phone, connect to the free WiFi, listen to a Book Bite or find a comfy couch and hunker down for an hour or two.  Rānui and Devonport Library even have their own fireplaces, so make yourself at home! Free WiFi A friendly reminder ​that all of our libraries across Tāmaki Makaurau offer free wireless internet access (WiFi), including mobile libraries. Bring in your laptop, tablet or smartphone to access the internet. If you don’t...

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...

Global Money Week is an annual global awareness-raising campaign on the importance of ensuring that young people are financially aware, and can acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve financial well-being and financial resilience. It is marked in 175 countries and is held every year in the last week of March. On these shores, Alison recently chatted to the author, educator and personal finance journalist Mary Holm , whose latest book, A Richer You: How to Make the Most of Your Money , is  available to request now from the Auckland Libraries catalogue. Mary was made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2020 for services to financial literacy education. She says that financial literacy skills are vital for all Kiwis. This knowledge includes understanding the value of money, budgeting, saving and avoiding unnecessary expenditure.  Those who don’t have basic financial literacy skills can e...

Auckland's biggest environmental festival EcoFest 2021, is running in West and North Auckland from Saturday 20 March - Sunday 18 April. This month-long annual community festival is filled with environmental events, activities, workshops, and ways to live more sustainably.  We're proud to support EcoFest with a round-up of environmental reads, recommended watches, events and websites. Working bees and restorations Some of our libraries have been enjoying regularly participating in the Te Ara Awataha restorations in the Northcote area . EcoFest offers many similar community restorations where you can meet other enthusiastic people in your area and help with local conservation efforts. You might also learn about local flora and fauna, native and pest plant identification, or experience a reconnection with nature and the environment.  Love your stream day  - Glen Eden - Wednesday 24 March, 9am - 12noon Waikumete Stream clean-up - Wednesday 24 March, 9am - 12noon Restoration ...

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, ...