Books and More August/September

Tena Koe

Books and More

Nau Mai

Kia ora

Haere Mai

What’s in this issue?

Welcome Reviews from our readers Emojis Reading Connection Introducing New Books What’s been happening?

Makerspaces LibraryPlus Information

Welcome

By the time you read this Te Wiki o te Reo Māori will be over for another year and we’ll be gearing up for The Reading Connection.

The Reading Connection is a fun few weeks where we focus on reading for adults with quirky themes, cool displays, and great prizes.

This year you can expect a little Wanderlust, a mocktail or two and something Hot & Steamy. Look for further information in your local LibraryPlus or ask one of our friendly staff.

Across the world Maker Spaces are increasingly popular and provide resources and experiences not normally available for customers in those communities. A Maker Space is an area where people can make things, and share their skills with others if they want to. In some libraries the Maker Space movement has equipment for sewing, woodwork, jewellery making and classes in subjects as diverse as organic gardening and meat butchery.

Rather than dedicate a space to the “maker movement” in our libraries, we have introduced Creative Crates. These are small portable kits with colouring for adults, Lego, Meccano and duct tape art supplies, as well as Raspberry Pi - the smallest computers in the world! Why not come in and try your hand at some colouring in?

It’s a worldwide trend that’s gaining popularity, even in the business world, as it helps people relax and refocus.

Of course, we’re still firmly in the books and information industry so if you’d like help finding a new author, a specific title, or information on anything from aardvark to zygotes, just ask – we’re always happy to help.

Reviews from our Readers

Blood, Wine and Chocolate Julia Thomas This is currently topping the NZ Listener’s top 10 selling books, and with blood, wine and chocolate in the title that’s not a surprise!

Its divided into five parts and the last three reflect the title. For me this is where the story got going. The first two parts set the scene, introducing the characters first as children, then as they grow up.

I found this drawn out but I’m glad I persevered as once the ‘real’ story kicked in it was a real page turner.

I look forward to reading Julie Thomas’s other books.

Reviewed by Kaye

Etta and Otto and Russell and James Emma Hooper A delightfully quirky book!

Etta, in her early 80s, gets up early one morning, leaves some recipes and a note for her husband Otto to tell him not to worry, packs a bag and sets out to walk halfway across Canada to see the ocean. “I’ve never seen the water, so I’ve gone there.”

Russell, the neighbour who also loves Etta, follows to make sure she is all right.

And James is a friendly coyote who joins her. The story moves between Etta’s present travels and her memories of the past.

The book is both funny and wise.

Reviewed by Heather

The secret life of Luke Livingstone Charity Norman I am very glad I pick books by the author not the content, otherwise I would have missed this one.

It’s one of those books that everyone should read for the good of mankind.

If you have ever sniggered at the thought of cross-dressers or transgender people you will find this book sobering and moving and a thoroughly good read.

Reviewed by Kath If you would like to see your reviews featured here, go to ils.stdc.govt.nz and add a comment on the book you are reading.

Emojis

the 2015 change in language Hey! Have you heard what the latest craze for messaging is?

No, what is it?

Talking in Emoji...

Uhh... what are 'Emojis'?

Well, you know these things, ? They're called emoticons. They're images and characters to express emotion in a txt based message.

Emojis though, are a more sophisticated extention of emoticons. They look like these

Ohh... so that's what those pictures are called. So why are they the new craze?

I was reading the Finding Heroes blog and according to the BBC emoji is the fastest growing language! Their use is becoming more common in communication. Emojis are used because they take less time to type and use less characters.

Cool huh?

Oh wow! The things people come up with these days... We’d better get practicing if we want to keep up with all these young ones!

Check out this website for more information! http://ďŹ ndingheroes.co.nz/2015/06/30/doyou-speak-emoji/

Adult Reading Progr 10 August - 18 Septe

&

Relax Read Review with

Enquire today at any LibraryPlus

ramme ember

T h e m e s

Wanderlust at Eltham & Kaponga LibraryPlus Book vs.

Movie at Hawera LibraryPlus Hooked on a Hobby at Manaia LibraryPlus A clearer view at Opunake LibraryPlus Hot & Steamy at Patea LibraryPlus Murder & Mystery at Waverley LibraryPlus

Introducing...

Patea and Waverley LibraryPlus Patea and Waverley LibraryPlus are the warm and friendly hubs of each of these communities. Lots of laughter and chatter go hand in hand with library and STDC council services. All the staff enjoy meeting and helping their community with all sort of queries ranging from family research, to place name meanings and the occasional favourite recipe is given out too.

We all love to read so usually have all sorts of book suggestions at our fingertips. We have a range of activities happening regularly so feel free just contact us to see what might be of interest to you. If you think of an activity, speaker or event that might be useful to have, then please suggest it to the staff.

We welcome families and visitors who are keen to relax and enjoy our comfortable places-to-be. Read the papers, check your email or pick up a book and read. Come and say hi to us, sign up for a library card and if it’s a never-fail choccie cake recipe you’re needing, or those old fashioned cheesey toastie rolls your Grannie used to make, just ask.

Narlene, Kathy & Shelley from Patea LibraryPlus

Sarah from Waverley LibraryPlus

Kay from Waverley LibraryPlus

New Books The Fantastic Laboratory of Dr. Weigl Arthur Allen Few diseases are more gruesome than typhus. The disease plagued the German army on the Eastern Front and left the Reich desperate for a vaccine. For this they turned to the brilliant and eccentric Polish zoologist Rudolf Weigl.

In the 1920s, Weigl had created the first typhus vaccine using a method as bold as it was dangerous for its use of living human subjects. The astonishing success of Weigl’s techniques attracted the attention and admiration of the world.

The team engaged in a sabotage campaign by sending illegal doses of the vaccine into the Polish ghettos while shipping gallons of the weakened serum to the Wehrmacht.

Drawing on extensive research and interviews with survivors, Arthur Allen tells the harrowing story of two brave scientists who put their expertise to the best possible use, at the highest personal danger.

Go set a Watchman Harper Lee Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch ”Scout” returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise’s homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town and the people dearest to her.

Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in a painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past--a journey that can be guided only by one’s conscience.

These reviews are from the Good Reads website.

To view more reviews about other new books check out www.goodreads.com

What’s been happening?

Hawera LibraryPlus held a Soup Fest, the staff made 5 tasty soups to share with the community.

They served up over 140 cups of delicious hot soup.

Eltham LibraryPlus held a morning tea where special guest, photographer Mark Bellringer, spoke to members of the public about his work.

Manaia and Opunake LibraryPlus ran a teen BINGO reading programme in collaberation with Opunake HIgh School. Teens read books from both their school library and the public libraries and then went in the draw to win a range of prizes.

Waverley LibraryPlus doesn’t let soggy weather get in the way of having fun and learning new games. A large hopscotch appeared on the carpet and the kids enjoyed learning about this ‘old fashioned’ game. A few adults gave it a go too. All part of the fun and laughter that makes the place special.

Patea LibraryPlus relived the 1960s with music, memories and school photos in May. People spent hours talking and musing over the identity of people in the school photos. Weeks later there are still people popping in to add names to the range of 1960s photos from Patea and Kakaramea schools.

Members of the Opunake Community attended a Recipe Swap. They were able to take along their favourite recipe to share with others as well as enjoy some tasty hot soup.

Creative Crates; full of fun and quirky activities are popping up all over our libraries.

So what are they and why are they in our libraries?

You’ve seen the latest craze of pop-up stores around the country? Well Creative Crates are South Taranaki’s pop up Maker Spaces. These are red hot right now and embraced by libraries the world over. The Maker culture involves hands-on creation based learning.It can take many forms, from being dedicated space set aside in the library, to temporary workstations set up for a limited time. These can tend toward being high-tech oriented or traditional making like crafting, knitting, mosaics and fibre art.

In South Taranaki we want our Maker Spaces to empower our creative community through tinkering, design and invention and taking learning to a whole new level. Creative Crates are one of the ways we are doing this. Inside the crates there are resources for both adults and children.

The resources include art activities, Lego and Meccano and crates that introduce new technologies.

So come in and give it a go… better still, do you have a skill you could pass on? Get in touch with us!

LibraryPlus Information From 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 South Taranaki Libraries issued 197,912 items to library users.

283,947 people visited the LibraryPlus offices.

1,118 new members joined the library.

The Aotearoa Peoples Network Kaharoa computers were used 70,509 times.

736,211 WiFi sessions were activated and used.

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