It's Oscar Day!

Today we take the opportunity to escape into a bit of glitz and glamour as the Film Industry celebrate their achievements at their annual Academy Awards Ceremony. We can admire (or wonder) at the garmets worn down the red carpet, cheer for our favourites (I am sooo hoping that Colin Firth and The King's Speech feature) and yawn our way through the acceptance speeches.

Although many of the movies featured in the awards today haven't made it to DVD yet, once they do they will join the growing and eclectic collection available at (or by request through) your local library. From rock music (or classical) to classic movies, from children's to documentaries and all the way to the latest releases. There really is something for everyone with 17,534 DVD's (as of today) to choose from. You can find the full list at this catalogue link (and from there start narrowing things down so it is easier to choose).

As well as the autobiographies you can find under Call No. 920 on our non-fiction shelves, we also have a range of books about the film industry. You can delve into subjects from how to make movies, to movies that you shouldn't miss on our non-fiction shelves around Call No. 791.

Also watch out for the new Express Select (or Best Seller) DVD collection which will be coming soon to a library near you. More details to follow.

Top 5 for Friday - Earthquakes

Today's Top Five comes to you courtesy of one of my Auckland Libraries colleagues Tosca, who posted the following list on the Manukau Libraries Top 5 Blog on Wednesday. I forget in my struggles with my own emotions about this disaster, how it must be for our young people. Both those suffering through the personal experience and those watching the TV coverage from afar.

5 books from Manukau Library that I hope will help explain earthquakes to a child and provide ideas for helping
List by Tosca
I, along with the rest of the nation, have spent a good part of the last 24+ hours scouring the internet for snippets of news and updates about the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that affected Christchurch yesterday afternoon. It should not have been a surprise, then, that my nephew Kalani - or Mr. 7 as I call him - came home bursting with questions about earthquakes and volcanoes. And yet...it was. So we set some time aside last night to talk about what he knew about earthquakes already, what he'd been told by his teacher and what was actually happening in Christchurch right now. Thanks to numerous online news clips we were able to see how things really are. It left Kalani feeling anxious and concerned - he kept stroking the screen in sympathy - and led to his asking some very technical questions about how earthquakes happen. It left me feeling appalled and saddened and teary eyed. It also made me realise how unprepared I was to discuss seismology with a child and that if I expect him to understand anything about it I need to refresh my own knowledge.

Thanks to Manukau Library I now have a selection of books to look over with Kalani that should, hopefully, answer a lot of questions. Last night I wasn't in a frame of mind to build on his initial questions and encourage him to think of ways in which he and I can help the people of Christchurch so tomorrow night that's what we're going to do - list ways we can help and then actually put them into action. I'd imagine it was a lot for a 7 year old mind to process just before bedtime - it was a lot for me to process and I'm 35 - and so it was a very sombre pyjama-clad boy who said to me: 'I'm glad I'm safe but I'm so very, very sorry for Christchurch.' So am I.

Ordinarily my lists proclaim themselves to be the 'Top 5' of anything and are, more often than not, tongue-in-cheek. Today, I'm simply listing 5 books that I'm hoping will tell me how to explain what happened and provide a 7 year old with some ideas for how we can help.

Otautahi: nga whakaaro aroha me nga inoi atu ki a koutou katoa.

1. Volcanoes & earthquakes / Ken Rubin - Take a trip below Earth's surface and discover a planet that is alive with molten lava and shaking with continents in motion. See Earth's secrets and witness destructive eruptions and quakes throughout history and find out how we might avoid disaster in the future.Tosca's comment: 3-4 pages with very brief information about the how and why of earthquakes.
2. Volcano / written by Susanna Van Rose - Be an eyewitness to truly terrifying volcanoes exploding with molten lava, and devastating earthquakes that rip apart the landscape and uproot buildings in an instant.Tosca's comment: Roughly a quarter of the book looks at earthquakes and discusses intensity, magnitude, state of emergency and preparing for disaster.
3. Earthquakes and volcanoes / Russell Ferrett - From earth-shattering earthquakes to terrifying tsunamis and violent volcanoes, When the Earth Moves looks at how and why these events occur and how they affect our planet.Tosca's comment: Contains a section on the science of earthquakes.
4. Earthquakes / Judy & Dennis Fradin - "Earthquakes" uses eyewitness accounts and pulse-racing narrative to bring readers into the terrifying heart of an earthquake. The first chapter documents the 1964 Alaskan quake that shook Prince William Sound with a 9.2 magnitude force, and set off a tsunami that ultimately caused most of the deaths attributed to this frightening act of nature. The following chapters explore the deadly history of earthquakes and the seismic and geological science of this phenomenon. Readers learn how and why earthquakes occur, and what scientists can do to prevent casualties. The expansive back matter includes a list of sources to discover more about these fearsome catastrophes.Tosca's comment: Contains witness accounts from scientists, photographers to everyday people. Looks at the science of earthquakes, including the history of famous earthquakes and predicting them.
5. Earthquakes / by Chris Oxlade - Examines the Earth's physical processes and investigates causes and effects.Tosca's comment: Discusses the effect on buildings and landscape, where they happen and why, advice, predicting and seismology.

Kia Kaha Christchurch

Absolutely dumbstruck. As one of my colleagues said "I half expect the whole world to stop, stunned like I am...". I think for me it was probably made worse because when I think of disasters like this, I think of other places. After all, we have all seen the documentaries of the volcanoes blowing in Auckland, and Wellington being rocked by an earthquake. But even after September and Boxing Day, as bad as that was, I never really thought that Christchurch would be struck and devastated like it was yesterday. The images are more powerful than the words and I can't imagine how it must feel down there after a long cold wet and empty night. As someone else said "Give them a break - How much more can they take".

And while we watch it all unfold there is a feeling of helplessness. What can we do? Here are some ideas:

(a) It would still be great if we stayed off the phone as much as possible - If you can use text message (but not pix). This will leave the networks clear for the emergency personnel and help the power supplies.
(b) Give blood. There have been contradicting reports about this so the best thing to do is to keep track via the NZ Blood Service website. For those in Rodney, the Blood Service are on their regular visits to Albany and Glenfield Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week if you do want to make a contribution. For times and venues click this link.
(c) Support friends and family who have close ones in Christchurch. If you or anyone you know has people affected, this Web Page has the links you will find helpful, including a People Finder link.
(d) Donate to Red Cross or one of the other support organisations. One initiative that I have just heard of is to go mufti in red and black on Friday to support the city. And just like any other mufti day, pay a gold coin for the privilege, donating it to one of the charities.
(e) Pray... for more miracles, courage and support for the rescue effort and comfort for the survivors.

Arohanui from all your library colleagues and customers in the North.

Gods and Goddesses

I'v always been a bit of a fan of legend and mythology. My favourites are the Arthurian legends and one of the "must see's" on my trip to Britain several years ago was, of course, Tintagel. It was a suitably gray and misty day out on the Coast which did provide me with some sort of atmosphere. However I have to admit to being more than a little disappointed in the touristy (almost plastic) nature of the small village selling souvenirs and trinkets which spoilt the experience somewhat. I would like to go back with more time so that I could explore further and try to capture some of the mystery I had read about.

However, I am getting sidetracked. As well as King Arthur and his knights, I was also a passionate follower of the Greek and Roman Gods. They are still pretty popular today if requests for the latest Percy Jackson books are anything to go by.

One group that weren't so evident in my day were the Norse Gods. However I have a funny feeling there will be a few more people checking them out now that The Almighty Johnsons has hit TV screens. I am already a fan, and find the mix of Norse God with Kiwi Macho man laugh out loud funny.

You can find Mythology (including our Maori legends) on our non-fiction shelves under Call Number 398. Or there are hundreds of fiction novels (adult and children) based on the legends you can read.

It's way too hot!

It is way (way) too hot to start thinking about winter and especially about winter sports. But with the Super 12 rugby starting this weekend just gone and the ANZ netball championships under way for almost two full rounds now, it is inevitable that my time would come. And that is exactly what happened over the weekend as we held our local college netball trials. I didn't get to see much of them of course, as I was fighting the paper war ensuring everyone got their fair chance on court. But if I was hot out in the foyer, I can't imagine what it was like running around in the gym.

Whether you are child or adult, if you want to get a headstart on the season we can help you out at the library.

Netball is my passion (but not quite my obsession although most of my holidays are taken up with tournaments). The link will take you through to coaching books, drills, how to, fiction and biographies of our top players and coaches. I had read my way through everything Rodney Libraries had so I am really looking forward to some of the different titles I can get now we are part of Auckland.

It's a big year for Rugby with the World Cup only a matter of months away. I am a rugby fan as well (although possibly not to the same extent I have been in the past, and it's been so long since I went to watch a game at the local Club, my gumboots have probably perished). There are books for everyone from nipper to champion to couch referee. And a fair spattering of anecdotal titles as well. Some of my favourites are the books highlighting rugby through the lens of Peter Bush.

Rugby League follows closely behind and who wouldn't want to see the Warriors win the NRL. My goal this year is to get to a live Warriors game rather than just sitting and watching it on TV.

Soccer or football (also known as the "beautiful game") is increasing in popularity locally, especially after the efforts of the All Whites at the World Cup last year. Striker, goalkeeper or fan, we will have something for you at the library.

Hockey is not a sport that I know very much about. At school the fields were always muddy and the sticks and balls hurt way too much (although I didn't come off exactly injury free on the netball courts either). However if it is your thing, we have resources for you as well.

Basketball for the elite players (as for many sports) seems to have been going all year. The Breakers gave their fans heart palpitations over the weekend with a double overtime win. For others, the season is just getting started so check out our books and movies with a basketball theme.

We have heaps of fitness and motivation books as well, for both players and coaches. So head along to the library, either in person or on the internet to find what you are looking for.

Ka kite.