Top 5 for Friday - Change

WOW - What a week! It has been crazy busy (forgive the bad grammar) across Auckland as customers from Wellsford to Clevedon (and every part in between) have taken to the bigger brighter Auckland Libraries organisation with enthusiasm. Books are winging their way around Auckland (huge ups to all our courier drivers who are moving enormous quantities of books and other resources). We have all been working really hard behind the scenes so that service at the desk remains as seamless as possible - all with a smile.

As this week as seen so much change, I thought that would be an excellent theme for the Top 5 today. So I went to our flash new Library website and typed "Change" into the search box. As a keyword search that gave me over 30,000 results. If you look closely at the right hand side of the new search page, you can see that this search can be narrowed down (refined) by format, year, subject, audience, region (among others). It takes a bit of getting used to but is a wonderful option for those that want something more than our classic catalogue (which is also available). I will be talking more about how this all works next week. In the meantime, here is my Top 5 for Friday.

1. The Winners Bible: Rewire your brain for permanent change by Kerry Spackman. The Winner's Bible gives you mental and emotional tools that can change your natural desires and rid you of habits that limit your happiness or potential. Dr. Spackman provides practical, proven techniques for acquiring the strengths necessary to grow into a better, happier, and more powerful person. He's used these techniques to genuinely revolutionize the lives of normal people, sports stars, business people and even drug addicts - sometimes in a single session.
2. Destitute Gourmet - Sophie Gray. Change means different things to different people so the subtitle of this book "stunning food for small change" puts it firmly into my top 5 (plus I am a cook-book junkie).
3. Change for the Better - Georgina Beyer and Cathy Casey. Former MP and Mayor of Carterton Georgina Beyer, was born in 1957 as George Bertrand. This powerful biography tells her story - of a change bigger than most of us can imagine.
4. Leaving Microsoft to Change the World - John Wood. I haven't read this book but it is immediately going onto my request list. An entrepreneur's odyssey to educate the world's children sounds like just the sort of inspirational tale that will keep me interested and inspire me.
5. And for a light-hearted and musical end to the list, I can't go past my first ever pop idol. David Bowie with the album Changes.

Have an awesome weekend everyone. Ka kite

What can I read Next?

Do you ever get stuck for something to read? I do - in fact I am at the moment. It's not that there aren't plenty of books on the shelf. It's more that I have seen books and thought - I must read that, only to find that I forget the titles when I do now (finally) have the time to read.

We can now offer you something to help - Next Read enewsletters.

NextReads eNewsletters are email newsletters that provide reading suggestions for all ages in more than 25 reading categories, from armchair travel and biographies, through to romance, thrillers and picture books. There's something for everyone: kids, tweens, teens and adults. Each book is carefully selected by our editors, who add a brief summary. If you see a title that catches your fancy, simply click on the link and place your request. It really is that simple.

It's simple to sign up for too. Just go to our Next Reads page on the Auckland Libraries website and click sign up. I have.

No Ordinary Apes

It's been a long time since I read a book in one sitting. Which isn't really a reflection on the fact that my reading recently has mostly comprised of text books. I was overjoyed then, that the end of the semester coincided with the arrival on my desk of the new Sara Gruen novel Ape House.

For fans of her previous novel, Water for Elephants, I have to advise that while animals are still a primary focus of Ape House, perhaps even more so than the previous title, the book has quite a different feel. It is contemporary and fast paced, whereas Water for Elephants had a slower pace as befitted life in the 1920's. Perhaps this is a reflection on the hyper activity displayed by the six apes of the title who play are characters in their own right.

The publisher's summary of the plot reads "When a family of bonobo apes who know American Sign Language are kidnapped from a language laboratory, their mysterious appearance on a reality TV show propels scientist Isabel Duncan, together with reporter John Thigpen, on a personal mission to rescue them. An entertaining book that calls into question our assumptions about these animals who share 99.4% of our DNA." Any book that keeps me turning the pages is definitely entertaining. The story behind the book sounds just as interesting with the author having to undertake extensive study and research before getting to meet the real bonobos in Iowa.

I found some of the subplots a little distracting as I was so invested in the story of Isabel, John and the apes. However that is a small detail in a book from this wonderful storyteller. Highly recommended.

Read to Succeed Winners

Read to Succeed is over for another year and this week we celebrate the winners for 2010.

First place getter and the winner of a new (green) iPod nano is Ashleigh Milner from Kingsway School.

Runners up were Laura Bates from Rangitoto College and Caitlin Mowatt, also from Kingsway, who both receive book vouchers. A special set of book vouchers is awarded to Sam Sinnott from Kaipara College for the most entries into the competition (very impressive Sam)

Read to Succeed is our teen reading challenge which launches during Youth Week in May and runs right through to the end of Term 3. It challenges Rodney Year 9 to 13 students to read five different types of books (e.g. historical, science fiction, poetry, etc) and is designed to support the NCEA "wide reading" criteria. The schools this year were again very supportive of the challenge and entry numbers were up. So well done Rodney, congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone for taking part.

Welcome to Auckland Libraries

Inspiring, engaging and informing you

Here is a message from Allison Dobbie, the Manager of the new Auckland Libraries which we are part of.

Kia ora and welcome to all the libraries of the new Auckland Council. I'm really excited to share the resources and opportunities that libraries bring to you...

The original Auckland City Library opening in 1880, thanks to Sir George Grey who had the foresight to gift his diverse book collection to the people of Auckland. Some 130 years later, there are now 55 libraries across Auckland. using your existing library card, you can have free access to any and all of them.

Libraries have changed enormously in recent years. They offer so much more than books - you can also check out dvds, audio books, materials in many different languages, music. They are a fantastic resource and play an important part in your communities by providing opportunities for you and your whole family to learn, to research, to attend story times and events, to browse, to study, to access the internet, to have a coffee, and to find a good book to relax with. Many library resources are available through our website so do check that out as well.

Libraries are great places to spend time - our buildings range from heritage landmarks to modern award winning spaces. Now you can use the libraries that suit you best as you go about your daily life, in conjunction with your work, sport, family or shopping. They are full of surprises and treasures, and will bring much pleasure and value to you and your family. There's something for everyone.

I invite you to discover and explore the libraries across the region. Enjoy!

Allison Dobbie
Manager - Libraries and Information

We will be posting more about all the fantastic resources at the Library (both old and new) in the coming weeks. Or pick up a brochure and bookmark next time you are here.