Final day of New Zealand Music Month

It's the final day of New Zealand Music month. This year was the first that we've had musicians in the library. Here are some pictures from the month.

In other music news

The National Library of New Zealand My Space page for legal deposit is called "Be heard forever". Here's some information about it from the National Library website. Essentially "New Zealand’s legal deposit regulations say that two copies of all CDs, DVDs, vinyl, cassettes, videos, and digitally born music published in New Zealand must be deposited at the National Library." Now you can find out how online.

You can investigate anything music related in the Rodney Libraries e-resource “Grove music” (you’ll need your library card and pin to access this). Just ask us if you want some help.

The New Zealand Singles Music chart now includes digital downloads. Read about that here.

You will still be able to get great New Zealand music from the library. Have a look on the information shelves in the 780s for books and sheet music or click here to search for New Zealand music via the catalogue.

Thanks for celebrating New Zealand Music Month with us!

Official website of the British Monarchy

To continue the royal theme, have a look at the official website of the British Monarchy. "Written and managed by the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace, the site aims to provide an authoritative resource of information about the Monarchy and Royal Family, past and present."

Remember today at 12:00pm the Helensville School Choir will perform a medley of songs at the Helensville Library and Service Centre.

It's a long weekend

This weekend is a long weekend for Queen's Birthday so why not take home something royally inspired?

DVDs

George & Elizabeth [DVD videorecording] : a royal love story. The story of King George VI and his Queen, Elizabeth... In a short reign of just 14 years they created an ideal of the British Royal Family. This programme examines the legacy they built, a legacy that lives on in the way that their eldest daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, rules today.
Rated G. Suitable for general audiences.

Her Majesty [DVD videorecording] 1953, New Zealand. Elizabeth Wakefield is a 13 year old with a dream. She wants the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth to visit her Waikato home town. So she writes letters every day to Buckingham Palace and gets Middleton on the Queen's tour map.
PG: parental guidance recommended for younger viewers.

The Queen [DVD videorecording]. An intimate, moving portrait of Queen Elizabeth and Tony Blair following the untimely death of Princess Diana. The Queen's restrained reaction causes a public relations debacle that Prime Minister Blair must defuse. The two struggle to reach a compromise between what was a private tragedy for the Royal family and the public's demand for an open display of mourning.
M - Suitable for mature audiences

The Queen's Cavalry [DVD videorecording].The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals, from The Household Cavalry, are Britain's most senior army regiment and the Queen's official bodyguard... This DVD follows the fortunes of the men of The Household Cavalry and tells their stories of war and ceremony. Offering an unprecedented and unique insight behind-the-scenes, the series details their ceremonial and military duty as well as their 250 year history.
PG: Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers.


Books


Elizabeth : eighty glorious years / Jennie Bond.

The firm : the troubled life of the house of Windsor / Penny Junor.

Her Majesty : fifty regal years / Brian Hoey.

The little princesses : the story of the Queen's childhood by her governess / Marion Crawford

TODAY! Music Month performance at Mahurangi East Library

Remember - at 11 am Carol Hay is performing in the Mahurangi East Library.

What's happening in the libraries this week?

On Tuesday 29th May at 11 am Carol Hay is going to play guitar and sing in the Mahurangi East Library.

On Wednesday 30 May at 12:00pm the Helensville School Choir will perform a medley of songs at the Helensville Library and Service Centre.

On Saturday June 2 we start the countdown to the release of “Harry Potter and the deathly hallows”. Answer seven questions on the seven books correctly and you could go into the draw to win one of seven copies the Library has to give away. The questions will be released at each Rodney Library on Saturday every week with the first question available from June 2 and the last question available on July 14. Entry forms are available at each library.
All entries must be into your local library by the close of business on Friday 20 July.
Winners will be drawn at each of the libraries on Saturday 21 July at 10:30am.

Tonight and the weekend

Tonight, get the look at Orewa Library with Juana from Orewa Care Chemist. It starts at 6pm in the new improved Teens area. Juana will be sharing tips on how to look your best at the ball.

At Warkworth Library the regular I-zone will be on this evening. This is a place and time for teens to gather and hang out in the library. Laptops will be available. Friendly staff will be there to help with any information needs.

The Auckland Writers and Readers Festival started yesterday and is getting good reviews from the Herald. It's all go for them on the weekend with a number of different authors 'on show' at the Aotea centre.

Also on at the weekend is "Live at the HBC" co-sponsored by Rodney District Council and hosted by the HBC youth centre.

Performance at Kumeu Library

There was a small but select audience at the music performance at Kumeu Library. It was strong, poignant at times and even had some audience participation. Congratulations to Retts, John, Pam, William (standing in for Ludi) and John. A highly recommended way to spend a lunchtime.

Some pictures from "Feed me right" book launch

Author Tamarin, intro writer Damian, special guest Zella and author Dee at the launch of "Feed me right".

You can get your copy from Gifts Galore in the Plaza. Hurry, they only have 3 copies left!

(Not really. I'm sure they will be ordering more after the interest shown last night.)




Attendees waiting for the official part of the evening.










You can see more photos on our "Feed me right"Flickr page here

Music performance today at Kumeu Library

Unfortunately Parakai School had to cancel their performance at Helensville Library and Service centre yesterday due to the weather (they were walking in.) However, today's lunchtime performance at Kumeu Library by Retts, John, Pam and Ludi with John Yelash reading works by J.K. Baxter is still on. It starts at 12:30 and promises to be very entertaining.

"Feed me right" book launch at Whangaparaoa

Wow! What a fantastic night, complete with delicious food to nibble on.

About 100 people attended the launch of "Feed Me Right" by Dee and Tamarin Pignéguy. Both talked of the importance of food in ensuring a healthy lifestyle. Special guest, Zella Roberts, (102!) told some stories of her life including how she cured her arthritis by changing what she ate. Damian Kristof (from TV's "Downsize Me!") talked about his personal experience with chronic fatigue. He was so impressed with the treatment he received from a naturopath that he changed his career and became one himself!

The book itself is easy to read with engaging cartoons which illustrate the sometimes complex ideas.

You can get your copy from Gifts Galore at the Plaza for $29.90.

Reach your potential

In addition to parents, teachers, coaches and librarians *grin* there are some groups around New Zealand doing some great work, helping New Zealand youth to reach their potential. Here are a few...

4Uth Rodney District Council's youth strategy. It was developed after consultation with 12-24 year olds in Rodney District. The South Kaipara Youth forum grew out of this consultation.

Foundation of Youth Development "Lifting the skills, motivations and ambitions of young New Zealanders." They run great programmes like Kiwi Can, Stars and Project K.

Ministry of Youth Development One of the sponsors of NZ Youth Week. Go here to find out about policies, programmes and services relating to young people.

New Zealand Association for Adolescent Health and Development Another one of the sponsors of NZ Youth week. It's an organisation for people who work in the area of youth health.

Te Mana/Taiohi run by the Ministry of Education designed to help young Māori aged between 13-18 years to get the most out of school.


Remember
Parakai School choir performing in Helensville Library and Service Centre today at 1pm AND the "Feed me right" book launch at Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre, 6:30pm tonight.

What's hot in New Zealand teen fiction?

According to the New Zealand Post Childrens and Young Adult Book Awards these are the hottest books in New Zealand Teenage Fiction.



Genesis / Bernard Beckett. Young Adult Fiction Winner 2007
In a terrifying and stifling examination environment a young Academy candidate, Anaximander, is put through a gruelling exercise in interpreting the history and origins of her society. Through her answers, we learn that in 2052, New Zealand has been renamed The Republic after a reforming Governor, Plato. It has separated itself from a plague-ridden globe with a gargantuan ring fence guarded with military outposts.

Single fin / Aaron Topp. Young Adult Fiction Honour Award 2007
Fin lives to party and to surf the next wave but when his best friend and mentor, Mike, dies he is left alone. Fin goes to live with Mike's uncle, a farmer down the coast, and begins to adjust to life on the farm. But when Jack, Mike's younger cousin, is expelled from boarding school things change. Jack comes to live on the farm and he and Fin don't get along. When Jack discovers surfing Fin is pressured into fighting demons he thought he had shut away for good.

A respectable girl / Fleur Beale. Young Adult Fiction Finalist 2007
The story of Hannah's search for her own identity and for the truth about the mother she has never known. Her eruption into the life of an aristocratic English family causes major disturbances, and she needs all her stubborn independence to survive. Set in New Zealand and England.

Shooting the moon / V.M. Jones. Young Adult Fiction Finalist 2007
Pip heads into the wilderness with Dad on the traditional McLeod first hunting trip. He faces a dramatic choice and discovers what it means to confront issues of life and death, and when threatened by the ultimate loss, Pip learns what matters most of all.

Thieves : a novel / Ella West. Young Adult Fiction Finalist 2007
Nicky is one of a select few people who can will themselves away not just in mind, but in body. She has the gift of teleportation. It's a rare, genetic ability, and a sinister, anonymous group called The Project want to use her for it. But who are they working for? Is the Project inherently good, or is it inherently evil?

Music performance at Mahurangi East Library next Tuesday

On Tuesday 29th May at 11 am Carole Hay is going to play guitar and sing at Mahurangi East Library.

UPDATE: May 24 performance at Kumeu L ibrary

We've just heard from Retts that she will be joined by bass-baritone pal John, singer and friend Pam and pianist Ludi for her performance at Kumeu Library on Thursday.

In addition John Yelash and partner Anne will be attending. John will be reading works by J.K. Baxter.

Remember, Thursday 24 May at 12:30pm at Kumeu Library.

New Zealand Youth Week

It's New Zealand Youth Week . From the website "Youth Week is about celebrating young people for who they really are. In 2007 the focus is on youth participation. Young people’s meaningful involvement in their communities is a key message of the campaign." If you want to get involved at your library, have a chat to the volunteer co-ordinator. There are some teens volunteering at the library already as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award but you don't have to be working towards a particular goal to participate.

What else is on this week?

On Wednesday 23rd May there will be a book launch at Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre for "Feed me right: nutritional know-how and body science". The authors say it’s "a book to help you understand the nuts and bolts of how your body works and what food it needs for health and longevity…a fun, interactive book full of colorful pictures and up to date information for readers of all ages." Come along and celebrate with Dee and Tamarin Pignéguy, Zella Roberts QSM (born November 1904) and Damian Kristof N.D (TV presenter of Downsize Me) at the Rodney launch of "Feed Me Right".

6:30 - 7:00pm meet & greet and nibbles
7:00 - 7:30 pm launching and signing

Booking are essential so contact the Whangaparaoa team on 09 427 3710.


On Friday 25 May at Orewa Library Juana from Orewa Care Chemist will show you how to look your best at the ball. Starts at 6pm in the Orewa Library teens area. Coffee and cake provided.




In other news...

On Saturday 26 May, "Live at the HBC" co-sponsored by Rodney District Council and hosted by the HBC youth centre. A youth culture day celebrating New Zealand music month and New Zealand youth week. At the skate park and inside the Youth Centre at 214d Hibiscus Coast Highway.



New Zealand Post National Schools Poetry Competition
Themed ‘Liberate your Words', this year’s competition will be judged by award winning Wellington poet Andrew Johnston. The competition is open to all Year 12 and 13 students attending New Zealand secondary schools. This is the first year New Zealand Post has supported the competition which is run by Victoria University’s International Institute of Modern Letters. Entries close on May 28. Entry forms can be downloaded from the website or requested by calling by calling 0800 501 501. The New Zealand Post National Schools Poetry Award is supported by the New Zealand Book Council, Booksellers New Zealand, the New Zealand Society of Authors, and 'Sport' and 'Landfall'.

Welcome to the new Rodney Libraries blog

Kiaora and welcome to the new Rodney Libraries blog. This is an experiment for us so if you've found us, please let us know what you think. We will be moderating the comments but don't let that put you off.

Check out the website for details of what's happening in the libraries. Rodney has seven branches so there's always something going on.

This month is New Zealand Music Month.

There will be music performances at the Helensville Library and Service Centre and at Kumeu Library. Come along and support music in your community.

Performing at Helensville Library and Service Centre
On Wednesday 23 May, at 1:00pm, Parakai School Choir perform a medley of songs
On Wednesday 30 May at 12:00pm Helensville School Choir perform a medley of songs

Performing at Kumeu Library
On Saturday 19 May at 11:00am, Kumeu Blend perform a medley of songs

On Thursday 24 May at 12:30pm, Marietta Van Dam performs a medley of songs with guitar and voice

The Mayor's Reading challenge is on again during May. Have you seen the bike that we're giving away as first prize? Thanks to our sponsors Free'Riden, Whangaparaoa Lions Club, Orewa Lions club and Warkworth Rotary Club.