Library Notes 16 July 2021
Published on July 16, 2021
Top 10 Young Adult Fiction Books
Embers by Josephine Greenland
Guard your Heart by Sue Divin
The True Colour of a Little White Lie by Gabriel Bergmoser
The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani
The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathon Stroud
Displaced by Cristina Sanders
Between Perfect & Real by Ray Stoeve
Tales from the DC Dark Multiverse by various
Grown by Tiffany Jackson
The Universe: Big Bangs, Black Holes, and Blue Whales by Mathew Brenden Woo
Pam Coleman
Community Engagement Librarian
For very obvious reasons most New Zealanders this year won’t be able to explore overseas travel and are taking the opportunity to explore some hidden gems on home soil. It seems like an age ago that I embarked on my ‘Busman’s holiday,’ to Scotland. Little did my shopaholic, teenage daughter know then that I had a hidden agenda – to take a tour of some fabulous libraries along the way. In June we were lucky enough to head south and my partner in crime this time was my darling husband. He may be onto me though as there was an eyebrow raise as I scanned the map to plan our trip and my secret mission.
A visit to Christchurch Library, one of the largest libraries in New Zealand was top of my list. The actual building, set within Cathedral Square is beautiful, with views of culturally significant points in the Canterbury landscape and beyond. The four floors of the library have distinct themes, with the top three floors housing the bulk of the library’s digital, specialist and print collections along with meeting, recreation and activity areas.
Libraries have moved on from simply being repositories of physical books to being multi-media and social hubs. The modern library is the ‘third space’ between home and work. It’s a place where you can meet people or be ‘alone together,’ enjoying sharing a social and recreational space with others, even if you are not engaging directly with them. Christchurch Library reflects this with a range of services, activities and events for its diverse community, which is no small feat as it caters to a city of over 350, 000 residents. However it struck me that Horowhenua’s Libraries offer similar range of services, programmes and events as does the big city library, albeit on a smaller scale. Our collection is as diverse. It strives to be relevant to our communities’ needs, as Christchurch does.
It’s awesome to see how libraries of all sizes work together across New Zealand, to achieve all of this. Now is a great time to change how society perceives and uses libraries. It is time to empower people with their rights to access resources, free training, technology, social gatherings and community events.
One thing is for sure, the old adage is true, there is no place like home and there’s no place like our libraries.
What’s On
Exhibitions
#CaptureYourHorowhenua: Matariki, photo competition entries, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō Gallery, July
Leon van den Eijkel Retrospective: A Colourful Nation – Kleur Bekennen, 7 July to 25 July.
Heritage Room:
The Heritage rooms at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō are manned by volunteers Tuesday to Saturday at the following times:
Tuesday, 10.00am-12.30pm, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, 10.00am-12.30pm and 1.00pm-3.00pm, Saturday, 10.00am-12.30pm
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom Heritage Room has the Research Librarian available all day every Friday.
Children’s Holiday Programme 12 -23 July
Fun activities & Robo Riots reading programme from 28 June until 6 August.
- Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10.00am – 12.00pm
- Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10:30am – 12.00pm
- Shannon Library, 1.00pm – 5.00pm
Friday 16 July
Local Music Showcase: Friday Concert: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 12.00pm
SeniorNet: Get help with your tablets, phones and laptops
- Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10.00am-12.00pm
- Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 2.00pm-4.00pm
Sunday 18 July
Jazz Jam: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 2.00pm-3.00pm FREE
Monday 19 July
Library Meet Street: Te Takeretanga o –Kura-hau-pō, social group, coffee and chat, all welcome, 10.00am-11.00am
Tuesday 20 July
JP Service: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 11.30am-1.30pm
Coming up Friday 23 July
Youth Space Nerf Wars: Experience the adrenaline rush that is the Youth Space Nerf Wars. Battle your way around our indoor arena dodging over and under obstacles.
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō Youth Space:
- 10am – 2pm (age 8+)
- 5pm – 8pm (14+ only)
Saturday 24 July
Taitoko Seasons Winter Market, Pop Up Library: Thomson House Park, 9.00am – 2.00pm