Come to Town. Don't go to the woods on Saturday.Thursday, 30 September 2010
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Come to Town. Don't go to the woods on Saturday.The story behind the story
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Read Medieval
With our theme for the school holidays being Medieval Madness, I thought I should get my act together and recommend a couple of books, so you can get into the swing of things.Tuesday, 28 September 2010
ON TODAY Thanks,Beatrice: a talk by Alexander Turnbull Library specialist staff
From protest posters to propaganda pamphlets, birthday cards to butter wrappers and menus to theatre programmes, the Alexander Turnbull Library’s Ephemera collection provides particular and often unexpected insights into our lives in New Zealand.
Come along to hear about how ephemera can be used by researchers, with particular emphasis on the potential of the Cabot Collection.
12.15pm, Whare Wananga, Level 2, Central City Library, Auckland.
6pm, 8 Stanley Street, Parnell, National Library Centre.
Hail Joy Cowley!
Monday, 27 September 2010
What's on in the library this week 27 September - 2 October?
Our school holiday programme for school-age children starts today. Libraries are preparing to be invaded by Knights of old, fiery dragons, and damsels fair as the theme is "Medieval Madness".Mahurangi East Library 10.30am Medieval stories, fun and activities
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Top 5 for Friday - Weather Words
The weather this week is making all of us feel a little stir-crazy. Apparently there is also an equinox and a full-moon so if you feel the urge to howl at the moon over the weekend, you will know why. Certainly the wind has made a fair impact to many.The Perfect Storm is the DVD based on a book of the same name by Sebastian Junger. Both recreate the last days of the six men who disappeared from their boat, 'Andrea Gail', during the so-called 'Halloween' gale off the coast of Gloucester, USA. in 1991.
Nothing but Blue Skies is just a dream for most of New Zealand at the moment, but in this case is actually the title of a book by a comic novel by Tom Holt. There are very many reasons why British summers are either non-existent or, alternatively, held on a Thursday. Many of these reasons are either scientific, dull, or both - but all of them are wrong. The real reason is, of course, irritable Chinese Water Dragons; of which estate agent Karen is one.
Weather is also a metaphor used in many novels as a mirror for the emotions and actions of the principal characters. I remember this from my school days (yes - I do still remember some of what my teachers taught me). One that springs instantly to mind is the classic Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. The storms rage during climactic scenes while during the romance, the weather is calm and settled. You can see and read this for yourself as we have this classic in both book and DVD formats.
It was extremely strange but pleasant to step outside this morning and find the wind had dropped to a mere robust breeze. Hopefully it will remain that way for the weekend. Have a good one all.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Women without Men
Our Library Assistant, Pascale was so moved by Women without men by Shahrnush Parsipur that she was telling everyone in the library about it earlier this month. So, of course, I asked her to write a review of it for the Blog.A gripping novella, ie a short novel, Women without men is not what the title infers until two-thirds of the book is read. Five Iranian women, from different backgrounds and with different life experiences, meet on the way to a life without men, ‘a garden in Karaj’. Until then, they face lust and contempt, rape and murder, violent relationships to men altogether. They suffer from self-denial, frustration and self-oppression, the result of a society built up on the suppression of female desire, symbolised in the worship of virginity. A life without men is not going to be heaven anyway!
Shahrnush Parsipur went into exile in the United States in 1994, five years after Women Without Men (Zanan bedun mardan) was published, and banned, in Iran.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
The right to vote
It's hard for some of us to imagine not having the right to vote. However the reality is that not so long ago in New Zealand this was the case for some sectors of the community. And in many parts of the world, people still do not have the right to have a say in who governs their country. Or, if they do, they are terrorised into not exercising that vote.
Democracy, the system of government New Zealand runs by, has been around, purportedly since the time of the Greeks. The Life and Death of Democracy by John Keane is just one of the books on the history of democracy around the world. For a Kiwi view try Class, Gender and the Vote. Of course, democracy isn't the only system of government so check out our catalogue here to find information on others.
Don't forget we have the electoral rolls for all of New Zealand in each of the Rodney Libraries if you need to check anything.
For the upcoming elections, I have found it extremely difficult to find information on where the candidates stand on different issues, all in an easily accessible place. Of course there are Facebook pages and websites for a lot of the main candidates, but it is hard to draw it all together to make any sense out of it. The best that I have come up with is www.elections2010.co.nz which is not the most user friendly but does have more information on it than most.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Carolyn's Top 5 for Friday
The Book Thief. Markus Zusak. Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbours. Recipient of the Michael Printz honor award for excellence in young adult literature
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. Mary Ann Schaffer. January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’d never met, a native of Guernsey. He'd come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island - boasts a charming cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Juliet begins a correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
The Friday Night Knitting Club. Kate Jacobs. Walker & Daughter is Georgia Walker's little yarn shop, tucked into a quiet storefront on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The Friday Night Knitting Club was started by some of Georgia's regulars, who gather once a week to work on their latest projects and to chat — and occasionally clash — over their stories of love, life, and everything in between. Georgia has her hands full, juggling the demands of running the store and raising her spunky teen daughter, Dakota, by herself. Thank goodness for Anita, her mentor and dear friend, and the rest of the members of the knitting club-who are just as varied as the skeins of yarn in the shop's bins. There's Petra, a prelaw student turned handbag designer; Darwin, a somewhat aloof feminist grad student; and Lucie, a petite, quiet woman who's harboring some secrets of her own. However, unexpected changes soon throw these women's lives into disarray, and the shop's comfortable world gets shaken up like a snow globe. James, Georgia's ex, decides that he wants to play a larger role in Dakota's life — and possibly Georgia's as well. Kat, a former friend from high school, returns to New York as a rich Park Avenue wife and uneasily renews her old bond with Georgia. Meanwhile, Anita must confront her growing (and reciprocated) feelings for Marty, the kind neighborhood deli owner. And when the unthinkable happens, they realize what they've created: not just a knitting club, but a sisterhood.
Lineage of Grace. Francine Rivers. This is a compilation of six novels previously published separately (and which are also available at Rodney Libraries). Unveiled, Unashamed, Unshaken, Unspoken, Unafraid and The genealogy of Jesus Christ tell the fictionalized accounts of the lives of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. A six part Bible study is included with each woman's story.
Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen. Needing little introduction but... When Elizabeth Bennet first meets Mr Darcy she finds him to be most arrogant. He, in turn, is determined not to be impressed by Elizabeth's beauty and wit. As events unfold their paths cross with more and more frequency, and their disdain for each other grows. Can they ever overcome their prejudices and realise that first impressions are not always reliable.
All of the above descriptions were taken from our catalogues, so you can see there is a fair bit of detail there if you want to select your books this way.
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Mini-digitastic! The new way to read in Rodney

- The classics such as Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy
- Biographies
- Thrillers and mysteries with authors such as Ruth Rendell and John Grisham
- History from swashbuckling Alexander Kent to the romance of Charlotte Bingham
- Science fiction including Dr Who and Ray Bradbury
- The most popular authors of today such as Jodi Picoult, Steig Larsson and Harlen Coben
- Children's and young adult titles including The Host (Stephenie Meyer), Jacqueline Wilson and Eion Colfer.
To find out what titles we have and try them for yourself, head down to your local Library and look for the Playaway either on a special display or shelved with our audio book collection. Or to reserve yourself a copy, check out the list on our Library catalogue here.
So in summary - the Playaway is
- pre-loaded
- digitable
- portable
- simple
- and best of all, FREE!
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Book Sale
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Kiwi Corkers
There's a great set of picture books for New Zealand children which are all feature a retelling of a classic fairy tale - but with a Kiwi flavour and twist. It started a couple of years ago with Wacko Kakapo (Yvonne Morrison, illustrations Donovan Bixley) which is a revamp of the Chicken Little story which characters such as Peewee Kiwi and Gotta Gloat Stoat off to tell Tane Mahuta that the sky is falling.
my hands on a copy of Trev and the Kauri Tree (Chris Gurney, illustrations David Gunson) at the recent Storylines Festival and got both the creators to sign it for my neice (whose Dad just happens to be a Trev). It was the highlight of her Sunday last weekend as the traditional tale of Jack and the Beanstalk was spiced up with talk of Taniwha, Trade-me and chainsaws. It even brought a smile to my brother's face (he was still in mourning for the Warriors on Friday night and the Taniwha of Northland on Saturday afternoon).Monday, 13 September 2010
Medieval Madness - School holiday programme 27 September - 7 October
During September, Rodney Libraries will be invaded by Knights of old, fiery dragons, and damsels fair as Medieval Madness takes hold of school aged children.From Monday 27 September until Thursday 7 October, Rodney libraries will be hosting a series of story, activity and craft sessions as part of the ‘Medieval Madness’ school holiday programme. Children will be invited to dress up in costume and join in the fun.
Helensville Library
Mon 27 Sept 10.30 am Craft: Castles
Wed 29 Sept 10.30 am Craft: Shields
Mon 4 Oct 10.30 am Craft: Crowns
Wed 6 Oct 10.30 am Craft: Knights
Kumeu Library
Tue 28 Sept 10.30 am Medieval dragons in the library
Thurs 7 Oct 10.30 am Medieval mayhem! Craft activity and stories
Mahurangi East Library
Thurs 30 Sep 10.30am Medieval stories, fun and activities
Thurs 7 Oct 10.30am More Medieval stories, fun and activities
Orewa Library
Wed 29 Sep 2.30 Medieval mayhem! Craft activity and stories
Wed 6 Oct 2.30 More Medieval fun!
Warkworth Library
Thurs 30 Sept 10.30 am Mischief and mayhem in Medieval times. Tools for the times
Thurs 7 Oct 10.30 am Knights, princesses and dragons. Dress up Day for more Medieval fun and stories at the Library.
Wellsford Library
Thurs 30 Sept 10.30 am Medieval dragons in the Library
Thurs 7 Oct 10.30 am Medieval dragons in the Library
Whangaparaoa Library
Wed 29 Sept 2 pm Medieval fun at the library
Wed 6 Oct 2 pm More medieval stories and fun
Friday, 10 September 2010
Teresa's Top 5 for Friday
All rivers run to the sea by Elie Weisel Delving into the Holocaust and life in the concentration camp, this biography is by a popular Jewish author .
Mark of the Lion by Kenneth L Sandford Another biography, this time on the life of Charles Upham V.C.
A house in Fez by Suzanna Clarke "When Suzanna Clarke and her husband bought a dilapidated riad, or traditional courtyard house, in the ancient Medina of Fez, their friends thought they were mad." Find out if buying a house in Morocco really is madness in this book.
Never suck a dead man's hand by Dana Kollman It's a curious title for the curious world of female forensic scientists where you need to be smart, sassy and have a strong stomach.
Riding the bus with my sister by Rachel Simon Would you give up your careers to ride buses in Pennsylvania for a year with your sister? That's what Rachel did. Read about it here.
I personally haven't read any of these books, but there are a couple here that may go on my TBR list. Teresa said this morning "It was so hard to keep it to five, I kept thinking oh should have added that one. I just love books where people, just being themselves, do extraordinary things." Excellent sentiment Teresa.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Man Booker short list announced
Emma Donoghue Room (Picador - Pan Macmillan)
Damon Galgut In a Strange Room (Atlantic Books - Grove Atlantic)
Howard Jacobson The Finkler Question (Bloomsbury)
Andrea Levy The Long Song (Headline Review - Headline Publishing Group)
Tom McCarthy C (Jonathan Cape - Random House)
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Hello to Leigh Primary School
Anne and Nicki will be talking about what the Library can do for you, as well as having some fun reading books, storytelling and getting the students to help us act out some stories. We'll also be talking about some of the latest books and the upcoming school holiday events.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Canterbury Earthquake
Monday, 6 September 2010
Biodiversity lecture series at Auckland Central Library #3
Grapes, Guava, Ngutu Kaka and Land Crabs.
David Havell, Biodiversity Technical Support Officer at DOC will be talking about threatened species and ecosystems.
The Department of Conservation manages several biodiversity programmes in remote areas. Islands such as Hauturu in the Hauraki Gulf, Raoul Island - midway between Tonga and the North Island - and Moturemu Island in the Kaipara are important sites for threatened plants and animals. Predatory mammals and mammalian herbivores have been removed from many of these islands and recovery is underway, yet island biodiversity faces several threats including some from favourite plants such as grapes, passion fruit and guava.
Wednesday 8 September 2010
12.00pm - 1.00pm, Central City Library, Whare Wānanga, level 2
Bookings essential, phone 377 0209 to reserve a place
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Wriggle and Rhyme at Rodney Libraries
Free ‘Wriggle and Rhyme’ music and movement sessions for very young children are on during school term time at Rodney Libraries.
Sessions are 30 minutes long and prior booking is not required to attend these.
- Helensville Wednesday 10:30 a.m.
- Mahurangi East Thursday 9:30 a.m.
- Warkworth Thursday 10:30 a.m.
- Whangaparaoa Friday 10:00 a.m.
- Kumeu Friday 10:30 a.m.
- Orewa Friday 11:30 a.m.
The weekly sessions are targeted at babies – 2 years olds, but older pre school children are also welcome to attend.