Auckland Libraries blog

Do you need support with reading, writing and speaking in English? We’ve just added some new online resources that you can use for free with your library card. Provided by Clarity English, these online courses are great for those who have English as a second language (ESOL), those preparing for the IELTS and those who might need general literacy learning support. No matter your skill level, Clarity English Programs can help you. Active Reading The Active Reading courses help learners to develop their English reading skills.  With various text types and topics, you will learn a range of reading skills, including vocabulary strategies, skim reading techniques and more. But Active Reading does more than develop reading skills. You can also improve your listening skills by listening to texts in various accents and completing activities that test your abilities. Clear Pronunciation 1 Learn to recognise and pronounce the 43 distinct sounds of the English language. Clear Pronunciation 1 prese

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

In the July school holidays, we ran the Ngā Tamariki o Matariki challenges on Auckland Libraries Beanstack for tamariki and rangatahi. 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 over 1637 days of reading over two weeks! Read on for details about our prize winners! Ngā Tamariki o Matariki reading challenge prize pack winners We’re pleased to announce the two winners in the kids’ category! Priya (8) from Rānui Library won a Creokit three-month subscription and a gift voucher to take family and friends to Auckland Zoo. Temilo (10), also at Rānui Library, won a Creokit three-month subscription and a gift voucher for a group outing to Jump Trampoline Park. Aamnah (14) of Blockhouse Bay Library won our youth prize pack – a JB Hi-Fi voucher and a gift voucher to take some ma

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

Over the next few months, there will be a few small changes to how you access OverDrive and Libby. No need to panic – your favourite eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines will still be available! Read on to discover what changes are happening and what you need to do. The OverDrive and Libby login process is changing A change is coming with the OverDrive and Libby login process in the coming months. This change will mean you will need more than just a barcode to sign into OverDrive and Libby   - you will need to use your library barcode and the PIN/password you use to log into your Auckland Libraries account. You can get ready for this change by making sure you know your library login details and how to log into your Auckland Libraries account . Don’t remember your login details? No problem! You can easily reset your PIN/password on our website . All you need is your library card barcode number. If you’ve never had a PIN/password or you’re having trouble resetting it, contact your local l

After a few years cooped up at home, you’d be forgiven for dreaming of an overseas holiday. Read on to discover the intrepid journeys you could embark on, from the farthest reaches of the globe to right here in Aotearoa. The happy isles of Oceania by Paul Theroux Cold winter weather naturally brings dreams of relaxing getaways to warm paradises in the Pacific. White sand beaches and quiet atolls are hard to say no to when frozen windscreens begin to greet us each morning. In this “exotic and breath-taking” journey, Paul Theroux explores 51 Pacific Islands by collapsible kayak, starting with the rainforests of Aotearoa. There are plenty of travel ideas alongside Theroux’s witty observations and exotic adventures. Cold by Ranulph Fiennes Or perhaps you feel that New Zealand’s winter isn’t cold enough? While we would not recommend following exactly in his footsteps, ‘Cold’ is an intriguing chronicle of the more extreme adventures that can be had on our wild planet. Sir Ranulph Fiennes fam