Books and More Issue 15 February/March 2015

Books and More

What’s in this issue?

Welcome from Cath Reviews from our Readers Love Libraries Waitangi Day Feature Local History New Books Around the District #WeNeedDiverseBooks LibraryPlus Information

Welcome Welcome to the first More than Books for 2015, although you might notice it is now Books and More! We found most people, staff included, get the title round the wrong way so decided to go with the flow. The name may have changed, but the purpose is still to showcase all the great things our LibraryPlus offer.

Late last year we said farewell to Lynne Walker who retired after 13 years here in South Taranaki. I have been appointed Libraries and Cultural Services Manager and am excited to be leading a wonderful team of staff.

I’m a Patea girl – my parents, Pam and Mansel Barker, opened a grocery store there in the 1950s. I returned to Patea in the early 1990s and late last year marked 21 years with STDC. I’m involved in libraries at a national level; in today’s connected world living somewhere small is no barrier to national and even international engagement.

I’m a strong believer in libraries as safe welcoming places for everyone, and an advocate for collections which reflect the diversity in our communities. Our youth deserve loving and nurturing, and libraries have a role in that. I love technology, and think libraries are the ideal place for people to learn about what’s new and cool, or not so cool, and get assistance from staff who are prepared to learn alongside them.

I am an avid user of social media, both personally and professionally.

You can find me on Twitter as @kiwilibrarian.

My office is in Hawera LibraryPlus – if there’s something you want to share with me about how we are doing, feel free to drop in for a chat or email me on cath.sheard@stdc.govt.nz.

Cath Sheard RLIANZA ALIANZA

Reviews from our Readers

Sufficient Grace

by Amy Espeseth I found this book absorbing. The descriptive writing about life in rural surroundings in the sub-zero winter of northern Wisconsin is skilful, covering the effect of the freezing cold on people, wild life and landscape.

However, to appreciate the story it helps have some familiarity with conservative Pentecostal church life.

The author was brought up in such a small community but has as an adult moved away to live in Australia.

The narrative centres on two girls losing the innocence expected by their parents.

Reviewed by Heather

The Homesteader’s Daughter

by Harriet Cade This is one of the very best Westerns that I have read.

The story is told by an elderly lady looking back at the time when she was just 15 and her family were homesteaders on the prairie. As a typical, stroppy teenager, she stands up for herself and her family against the villains and, when tragedy strikes, she sets out to take revenge.

I don’t think I have ever recommended a Western before but I certainly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good tale, well told.

Reviewed by Roger

Dinner at Rose’s

by Danielle Hawkins I loved this story, it was full of great characters and well set in New Zealand.

It was natural and easy to read and I hope this author has written more novels. It dealt with a feisty aunt who calls a spade a spade - and her niece who is recovering from a broken engagement.

Cancer raises it’s ugly head too but in a realistic manner.

Well worth reading give it a go over summer.

Reviewed by Lynne

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.

Local History

Interested in local history? Wonder what people were reading about 100 or even 50 years ago or perhaps in the year you were born?

Grandparents born, married or died here? You may be able to read all about them in the Hawera and Normanby Star. Come along to Hawera LibraryPlus and try out our new microfilm scanning machine. Thanks to the generosity of the former Hawera Star we have the local newspaper from its beginnings in 1880 until 1967 on microfilm.

Microfilm is a special format that photographs each page of a newspaper, shrinks it to microscopic size and saves it onto film. The new machine scans the film and displays it on a computer screen.

You can browse through the paper, enlarge anything that takes your interest, save anything you want to print onto a USB stick then either print it on one of the library’s computers or take it home to your own computer. Someone special turning 50? We may have their birth notice or you can report on what was news when they were born.

The Star used to be a daily paper so there are lots of pages of news, views and advertisements to choose from and plenty of ways the information can be used.

If you are looking for information from 1880 to 1924 you will also find this online at paperspast.natlib.govt.nz where it is fully searchable, making it faster than browsing the microfilm. LibraryPlus staff are happy to help you find your past!

South Taranaki Libraries have a collection of Maoritanga books to be borrowed. You can go on in to any of our seven libraries to view their range of Maoritanga books - however, you can also check out the entire collection online through our catalogue.

Visit ils.stdc.govt.nz to see more.

Contact your local LibraryPlus to find out how you can celebrate Waitangi Day 2015 with us.

Love your Library this Valentine’s Day Find out how your local LibraryPlus centre is celebrating Valentine’s Day this year.

Contact 0800 111 323 or pop in and chat to one of our friendly staff.

New Books

Baking Mash-Up

by Victoria Glass Torn between plumping for a cheesecake or a brownie?

Now you can have double the fun in every bite! Brought to you by expert baker Victoria Glass, this book provides you with a whole host of hybrid sweet treat ‘mash-ups’.

Cancel the Wedding

by Carolyn Dingman A heartfelt fiction debut that will appeal to fans of Emily Giffin’s Southern charm and Jennifer Weiner’s compelling, emotionally resonant novels about the frustrations of blood ties, Cancel the Wedding follows one woman’s journey to discover the secrets of her mother’s hidden past—and confront her own uncertain future.

On the surface, Olivia has it all; a high-powered career, a loving family, and a handsome fiancé. She even seems to be coming to terms with her mother Jane’s premature death from cancer. But when Jane’s final wish is revealed, Olivia and her elder sister Georgia are mystified. Their mother rarely spoke of her rural Southern hometown, and never went back to visit—so why does she want them to return to Huntley, Georgia, to scatter her ashes?

These reviews are from the Good Reads website.

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

Around the District

Paepae in the Park is a community event to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi This one day festival is held on Waitangi Day (6 February) in Memorial Park, Patea - behind the iconic Aotea waka. Musical entertainment includes national and local bands.

Other attractions include a hangi, food and craft stalls - the event is free and is always a popular day out for all the family!

South Taranaki Libraries are proud to support the diverse books movement. Check out our collection of diverse books at your LibraryPlus centres.

You can also find them online; ils.stdc.govt.nz To read more about #WeNeedDiverseBooks visit weneeddiversebooks.org

LibraryPlus Information Public Holidays February/March Please note all LibraryPlus Centres will be closed on Friday 6 February for Waitangi Day. Libraries will also be closed for Taranaki Anniversary Day on Monday 9 March and will reopen for normal hours on Tuesday 10 March

Like Us. Share Us. Follow Us. Tweet Us

South Taranaki Libraries have a number of social media pages. You can find us at 'South Taranaki LibraryPlus' on all our social media.