Auckland Libraries blog

What happens when the biography you are writing is secretly a memoir and your emotional support animal has gone rogue? Will you ever find the wisdom to live in harmony with the planet?  Find out on this Literary Lounge episode of Books & Beyond with Alison and Ineka. Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries · Books and Beyond: Literary Lounge: Biography edition Books mentioned on the show Aroha: Māori wisdom for a contented life lived in harmony with our planet   by Dr Hinemoa Elder  Pet: stories by Kathryn van Beek   Bruce goes outside by Kathryn van Beek   My autobiography of Carson McCullers  by Jenn Shapland   The trauma cleaner: one woman's extraordinary life in the business of death, decay, and disaster  by Sarah Krasnostein   Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls-Wilder  by Caroline Fraser   Remote sympathy  by Catherine Chidgey   Last Hope Island: Britain, occupied Europe, and the brotherhood that helped turn the tide of war by Lynne Olson   Auckland Li

Our 'Ask us to buy it' service has made a comeback! We are now ready to take your suggestions for Auckland Libraries’ collections again.  Council’s Emergency Budget resulted in reduced funding for our collections this year. Also, the publishing world and international distribution networks continue to be impacted by COVID-19. This meant our ‘Ask us to buy it’ service was put on hold while we worked through the effects of these challenges. We have taken the opportunity while the service has been on hold to evaluate it and make some improvements.  Our online request form has been re-developed to make it a more streamlined experience. Thank you for your patience as we have worked through these challenges, and we look forward to receiving your valued suggestions for our collections once more.  Visit the 'Ask us to buy it' request form .

Library hours at some libraries in the Howick Local Board area are changing from 1 December 2020 to better suit customer habits.  From 1 December 2020, Howick Library , Highland Park Library and Pakuranga Library will operate with the following opening hours: Monday to Thursday - 9am to 6pm Friday - 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday - 10am to 4pm Hours at Botany Library are not changing and are as follows: Monday to Wednesday - 9.30am to 5.30pm Thursday and Friday - 9.30am to 8pm Saturday - 9.30am to 5.30pm Sunday - 10am to 5.30pm  Library services and programmes offered at these libraries will continue. Our JP services at these libraries may adjust to suit our new hours. Check with your library for more details. Click here to read more at OurAuckland about the changes to Howick Local Board area library hours.

Today Amelia, Community Library Manager at Māngere East Library, joins us to share how she celebrates Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau - Tokelau Language Week.  Talanoa with Amelia, Community Library Manager at Māngere East Library Tâlofa nî! Please tell us a bit about yourself and your relationship with Gagana Tokelau (the Tokelau language). Mua mua e hiki te fakafetai ki to tatou Atua mo tona alofa ki a ki tatou te mamalu o Tokelau. Firstly, I give thanks, praise and glory to God for his endless love he gives to his people of Tokelau. E fakatulou atu ki te mamalu o te kaiga Tokelau i Niu Hila ma Tokelau vena foki ki o tatou tino i na koga kekehe i te lalolagi. This is an acknowledgement to all Tokelau people in New Zealand, Tokelau and throughout the world. Taloha ni. Ko toku igoa ko Amelia, ko au te pule o te faletuhi o Māngere East. Hi everyone, my name is Amelia and I am the Community Library Manager based at Māngere East Library.  I am a country girl, born and raised in the heart of Ao

Photograph by Eni Esekia. Tâlofa nî! Celebrate Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau  2020  – Tokelau Language Week 2020 with Auckland Libraries from 25  -  31 Oketopa (October) 2020. The 2020 Tokelau Language Week theme is ‘Apoapo tau foe, i nā tāfea i te galutau. Ke mau mai, ke mau mai’ which in English translates to, 'Never give up hope, even amidst chaos and much uncertainty. Stay united, stay strong'. Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau (Tokelau Language Week) celebrates the culture and language of Faka-Tokelau (The Tokelauan way of life). This week gives us an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful and unique culture, language and people of Tokelau. Join Auckland Libraries and our Tokelau community in growing our knowledge about the culture, history and language of Tokelau. Did you know? Tokelau consists of three small coral atolls: Atafu, the most northern atoll has a surface area of 3.5km square; Nukunonu, the central atoll, is 4.7km square; and Fakaofo, the southern atoll, is 4km square. 

Today Sepa Puleoti, Senior Library Assistant Pasifika at Auckland Libraries, joins us to share how she celebrates Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue - Niue Language Week.  Talanoa with Sepa Puleoti, Senior Library Assistant Pasifika Fakaalofa atu! Please tell us a bit about your role at Auckland Libraries? Fakaalofa lahi atu kia mutolu oti. My name is Sepa Puleoti and I am the Senior Library Assistant Pasifika in the Waitematā local board, based at Grey Lynn Library. I am bilingual (fluent in English and the Niuean language) and have an excellent understanding of the Pasifika community, which allows me to really establish a strong rapport with many Niuean and Pacific Islander customers. During Pasifika and Pacific Language Weeks, I have had the opportunity of organising events, (with the help of my colleagues) inviting our local schools to perform, and I help out with Storytime. How do you celebrate Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue?   Home is where the heart is when it comes to celebrating my cultur

Fakaalofa lahi atu! Celebrate Faahi tapu he Vagahau Niue 2020 – Niuean Language Week 2020 with Auckland Libraries from  18 - 24 Oketopa (October) 2020. The 2020 Niuean Language Week theme is ‘Faliki e tau momoui he tau atuhau ke he Vagahau Niue’ which in English translates to, ' Lay the foundations - give rise to Vagahau Niue for generations'.   Faahi tapu he Vagahau Niue is an opportunity for Niuean speakers living in Auckland to celebrate and share the beautiful culture and language of Niue.  Tāmaki Makaurau is home to the largest Pacific population in Aotearoa New Zealand - and the world. There are over 23,000 Niuean people living in Auckland alone.  Join Auckland Libraries and our Niuean community in growing our knowledge about the culture, history and language of Niue. “Ko au, ko koe, ko e tautolu, ko Niue!”  “I am, you are, we are, Niue!”  Events Discover and immerse yourself in the rich culture of Niue through stories, music and dance at Auckland Libraries. Check your l