Auckland Libraries blog

For many Aucklanders, reading has been a top priority in 2020. People have told us that they have read to learn and discover, and to escape into the pleasures of a good book. Read on for the  books that have been the most popular with Aucklanders in 2020: Adult fiction Blue moon by Lee Child The night fire by Michael Connelly The giver of stars by Jojo Moyes Grown ups - Marian Keyes Past tense - Lee Child Adult non-fiction Becoming - Michelle Obama Lady in waiting: my extraordinary life in the shadow of the crown by Anne Glenconner Veg by Jamie Oliver The body: a guide for occupants by Bill Bryson Jacinda Ardern: the story behind an extraordinary leader by Michelle Duff Children's fiction The missing movie by Geronimo Stilton The getaway by Jeff Kinney The test of time: the sixth journey through time by Geronimo Stilton The hunt for the Colosseum ghost by Jeff Kinney The island of dragons: the twelfth adventure in the Kingdom of Fantasy by JKRowling Children's no

It’s been ten years since the union of seven councils and seven different library systems into one library network with 55 libraries!  Read on for our top ten milestones of the last ten years. 1. Auckland Council Libraries | Ngā Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau is born We became the largest public library system in Australasia on 1 November 2010 when our super-sized Auckland Council was formed. Our buildings and collections merged, and a diverse range of staff following different library policies and offering different services came together.  Since then, we have shared one huge library collection, cared for by our committed staff, who are dedicated to creating, uplifting and nurturing community taonga and sharing it in the most inclusive ways possible. 2. From Waiuku to Wellsford Our customers take full advantage of the vast geographical range of Auckland Libraries by requesting, borrowing, and returning items through any of our 55 locations .  Having a single membership that stretche

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.