If it seems like the days are getting shorter and the nights longer it's because they are. I like to plan my weekends in advance and this weekend is no exception. On the agenda - a sleep in.
Daylight Savings time ends this Sunday - 3am becomes 2am. The Department of Internal Affairs has an short history of how Daylight Savings time was implemented in New Zealand on their website. Daylight Savings has been around for as long as I can remember so it was a surprise to read that it took 20 years for the first bill to be adopted way back in 1927. Another surprise was finding out that from the end of the 1940s to the beginning of the 1970s it didn't exist. The Te Ara article on Timekeeping in New Zealand has a link to a photo showing 'Ararua time'. This is a small commmunity in Northland who objected to the change in time and so decided to ignore it. If only alarm clocks could be ignored so easily!
Monday, 31 March 2008
Saturday, 29 March 2008
What's On this weekend in Rodney
Hiya. Yes it's the weekend again! And we were so busy with all the other news yesterday that we forgot to tell you what's on in our wonderful District this weekend. Here's a quick rundown of a couple of things you can do.
The third annual Jafa & Jandals Fest out west is coming to an end this weekend. Kumeu has a fantastic time with this festival with lots of businesses and organisations getting into the spirit of things (including the local library although we are still waiting for photos from them). The windup events this weekend are:
Sunday 30 March
• Beach Dig & Jandal Throwing Contest at Southern End of Muriwai Beach. 10am - 12pm.
• The Kumeu Club Open Fishing Tournament. Weigh-in and Prize giving is at 4pm.
Hibiscus Coast Soap Box Derby and Family Fun Day
Saturday 29 March at Pinecrest Ave, Gulf Harbour
Racing starts at 9am and continues throughout the day. Organised by ROTARY
Thundercat Racing
Saturday 29 March Orewa Beach (south of the Surf Club)
Thundercat racing is a high adrenalin, high action sport with explosive wave jumping and tight competitive surf racing in a tunnel hulled inflatable boat. Racing Starts at 11am.
The Gondoliers
Centrestage Theatre, Orewa 29 March – 12 April
A popular Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. Information and bookings from the theatre: Ph 09 426 7278
The third annual Jafa & Jandals Fest out west is coming to an end this weekend. Kumeu has a fantastic time with this festival with lots of businesses and organisations getting into the spirit of things (including the local library although we are still waiting for photos from them). The windup events this weekend are:
Sunday 30 March
• Beach Dig & Jandal Throwing Contest at Southern End of Muriwai Beach. 10am - 12pm.
• The Kumeu Club Open Fishing Tournament. Weigh-in and Prize giving is at 4pm.
Hibiscus Coast Soap Box Derby and Family Fun Day
Saturday 29 March at Pinecrest Ave, Gulf Harbour
Racing starts at 9am and continues throughout the day. Organised by ROTARY
Thundercat Racing
Saturday 29 March Orewa Beach (south of the Surf Club)
Thundercat racing is a high adrenalin, high action sport with explosive wave jumping and tight competitive surf racing in a tunnel hulled inflatable boat. Racing Starts at 11am.
The Gondoliers
Centrestage Theatre, Orewa 29 March – 12 April
A popular Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. Information and bookings from the theatre: Ph 09 426 7278
Earth Hour
Saturday 29 March at 8 pm
WWF (World Wildlife Fund for Nature) has invited all New Zealanders to participate by dimming or switching off their lights at 8pm tonight for one hour to raise awareness about global warming. Most time zones around the world will also have cities and communities doing the same.
Meanwhile, after a full weekend of netball in Whangarei over Easter at the Aotearoa Maori netball tournament (I was one of the Ngati Pakeha tribe), and another one planned for next weekend in Rotorua, this librarian is planning a netball-free weekend to catchup with family. Whatever you are doing, making it a good one.
Kia pai (Take it easy)
Friday, 28 March 2008
Authors in the news
A number of articles caught my eye as I was reading the online news this week.
Dickens family seek to overturn writer's dying wish for no memorials (From The Independent)
Author Charles Dickens left strict instructions in his will that he be remembered for his work only. "...no monument memorial or testimonial whatever". Next year will be 140 years since his death and his family are wondering if it's time to change their stance over a memorial of some sort.
Shakespeare goes digital (From Reuters)
"A U.S. and British library plan to reproduce online all 75 editions of William Shakespeare's plays printed in the quarto format before the year 1641.
The Bodleian Library in Oxford and Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC have joined forces to download their collections, building on the work of the British Library which digitized its collection of quarto editions in 2004."
Hutt Valley teacher gets global book deal (From Stuff)
Publishing house Quercus has bought the rights to distribute Bernard Beckett's sci-fi thriller "Genesis" around the world.
Match it For Pratchett! Raising £500,000 for Alzheimer's research (via Boingboing)
Terry Pratchett has a rare form of Alzheimers. He's donated half a million pounds to Alzheimer's research. The "Match it for Pratchett" campaign aims to donate the same and make it an even million. (Okay, technically not this week but still interesting author news. )
Dickens family seek to overturn writer's dying wish for no memorials (From The Independent)
Author Charles Dickens left strict instructions in his will that he be remembered for his work only. "...no monument memorial or testimonial whatever". Next year will be 140 years since his death and his family are wondering if it's time to change their stance over a memorial of some sort.
Shakespeare goes digital (From Reuters)
"A U.S. and British library plan to reproduce online all 75 editions of William Shakespeare's plays printed in the quarto format before the year 1641.
The Bodleian Library in Oxford and Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC have joined forces to download their collections, building on the work of the British Library which digitized its collection of quarto editions in 2004."
Hutt Valley teacher gets global book deal (From Stuff)
Publishing house Quercus has bought the rights to distribute Bernard Beckett's sci-fi thriller "Genesis" around the world.
Match it For Pratchett! Raising £500,000 for Alzheimer's research (via Boingboing)
Terry Pratchett has a rare form of Alzheimers. He's donated half a million pounds to Alzheimer's research. The "Match it for Pratchett" campaign aims to donate the same and make it an even million. (Okay, technically not this week but still interesting author news. )
Warning - Unwelcome Visitor washed up
Please steer clear of the Bluebottle jellyfish if you happen across one. They have been found washed up on Orewa Beach this week and have a very nasty sting.
Did you know that Bluebottle jellyfish are not a true jellyfish at all? Another name for them is the Portuguese Man-O'-War and their Maori name is Ihu Moana. If you want to find out more about jellyfish and other sea creatures check out the Rodney Libraries catalogue in the 570's and 590's on the shelves or do a subject search for beaches or fish.
Did you know that Bluebottle jellyfish are not a true jellyfish at all? Another name for them is the Portuguese Man-O'-War and their Maori name is Ihu Moana. If you want to find out more about jellyfish and other sea creatures check out the Rodney Libraries catalogue in the 570's and 590's on the shelves or do a subject search for beaches or fish.In the meantime, if you do see a Bluebottle jellyfish, you should not touch them or attempt to pick them up as they sting even when they have been dead for some time.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
A Helping Hand
Do you want to study at University next year but are wondering where the money for books and fees is going to come from?
Have you been picked for a regional or national sports team, but can't afford the equipment and travel that is demanded to keep up your training?
Do you want to run a programme to help victims of drug abuse in your local community, but don't have a place to hold it?
Well we may be able to help you find what you need.
One of the electronic resources which we offer Rodney Libraries card holders is access to FundView and Breakout. These two New Zealand databases providing information on funding, scholarships, awards and grants available to both community groups and individuals to assist them in their community, academic, artistic, sporting, research and other personal development endeavours. There are 581 schemes open for funding applications on Fundview which deals with community groups and 1,732 options available for grants and scholarships listed at Breakout which helps the individual. Locally funding is available from the Creative Communities Arts Funding scheme and the Rodney District Council National Heritage Fund amongst others. And I know there are local students out there who have gained scholarships to help them in their tertiary study.
Remember all you need to do is go to the Rodney District Libraries e-resources webpage, click on the site you want to go to and have your library card and PIN number ready to start your journey to the future. If you have any queries just ask us next time you are in the library and we will give you a guided tour.
Good luck and have a fantastic day.
Have you been picked for a regional or national sports team, but can't afford the equipment and travel that is demanded to keep up your training?
Do you want to run a programme to help victims of drug abuse in your local community, but don't have a place to hold it?
Well we may be able to help you find what you need.
One of the electronic resources which we offer Rodney Libraries card holders is access to FundView and Breakout. These two New Zealand databases providing information on funding, scholarships, awards and grants available to both community groups and individuals to assist them in their community, academic, artistic, sporting, research and other personal development endeavours. There are 581 schemes open for funding applications on Fundview which deals with community groups and 1,732 options available for grants and scholarships listed at Breakout which helps the individual. Locally funding is available from the Creative Communities Arts Funding scheme and the Rodney District Council National Heritage Fund amongst others. And I know there are local students out there who have gained scholarships to help them in their tertiary study.
Remember all you need to do is go to the Rodney District Libraries e-resources webpage, click on the site you want to go to and have your library card and PIN number ready to start your journey to the future. If you have any queries just ask us next time you are in the library and we will give you a guided tour.
Good luck and have a fantastic day.
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