The in between time

Well Christmas has come and gone again and we can all recover once again. As usual we'll only close for the Stat days over the holiday period. We will however be closing at 5pm instead of 8pm this week.

Below are photos of the annual Christmas carols in the library foyer by the lyrical librarians.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and have an even better new year.

We'll see you all 2011.

Juno Of Taris

As I may have mentioned we are running a summer reading competition for teenagers aged 15 – 18 this year. They have to send us a review for each of the books they've read over the summer and at the end they could win themselves some cool prizes. See the post “Win an iPad and other Apple products by simply reading a few books” for more information. Anyway because we've got reviews coming in I though it would be good to put one or two of them up for the world to see. The reviews you will see here have been chosen randomly by me for the worlds viewing pleasure. If you like any reviews leave a comment to tell us and the library member who left it. This first one I've picked because it was the first review we received for the competition. So read and enjoy.

Warning, may contain spoilers.

Juno Of Taris

Fleur Beale

This book is set in the 23rd century, on an island in the middle of the Southern ocean covered in artificial dome that protects the island, gives it it's own climate and was created by people in the 21st century, so that if people on earth perished, Taris and the people carefully chosen to live there could survive. The lead character in this novel is Juno, a descendent from one of the first settlers 200 years ago...or so she thought. Juno and the other inhabitants of Taris were lied to by their leaders, who created a false history that stated that Taris was 200 years old and that humanity on earth had self destructed due to pollution and pandemics that wiped out most of earth's population. when really, Taris is only 32 years old and the government companions have been trying to keep Taris inhabitants isolated from the outside world, which is slowly becoming functional again.

I really enjoyed this book and was really happy about the sequel 'Fierce September' I loved how Juno never stopped questioning the motives of the government companions and how she refused to comply when she knew that what she was being asked to do was wrong.

(Reviewed by Aliesha)

Rebel with a cause

Ray Avery (Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year 2010)

I’d never heard of Ray Avery until I’d seen his book reviewed in the Listener. Avery is a successful scientist and businessman who invented low-cost lenses for cataract sufferers, incubators for babies, as well as other scientific solutions for factories in Third World countries. He spent some time helping to set up the infrastructure to manufacture interocular lenses in North Africa for the Fred Hollows Foundation

Rebel with a Cause describes Avery’s childhood growing up in England, neglected, abused, fostered out to strangers and even living under a bridge. His story is truly inspiring – to overcome such an appalling childhood and then turn out to be so successful as a businessman. An absorbing read, Rebel with a Cause is deeply moving and at times, very funny.

(Reviewed by Jill)

Room

Emma Donoghue

Nominated for the Man Book Prize in 2010, this is an almost unimaginable story. Five-year-old Jack lives in a locked room - "Room" - with his mother, Ma, and has done all his life. He believes that Room is the only "real" part of the world. Everything he sees "in TV" is "Outside" and therefore not real.

One day Ma lets it slip to Jack that there is actually a world outside Room and she suddenly realises that they must now try to escape. Once they finally emerge into the world, Jack has a hard time coping with anything, as does Ma.

Written from Jack's point of view, this book really makes you think about what we take for granted every day in "Outside".

Not at all sensationalist (as books about kidnap and imprisonment can be), this is a very well-written book that grips you from the start, about a woman re-entering the world and a boy encountering it for the very first time as a five-year-old.

(Reviewed by Angela)

Rock and Roll 50s

Last week we had our annual housebound party. The theme this year was the rock and roll era so the show feature young rock and roll dancers, and Elvis impersonator and that old classic game show; The money or the bag.

For those who aren't aware we have a housebound service for roughly 100 patrons who are unable to get into the library. Our hard working housebound librarian, Alison, picks books, DVDs and spoken word for each housebound patron. These are then delivered by volunteer couriers.

Once are year we organise for as many housebound patrons and their couriers as possible to come along to the library were we give them afternoon tea and put on a show.

This years show was a great success due to many staff members and other helpers donating their time and skill. I made the ultimate sacrifice this year dressing up as a woman for the show. It disturbs me how many people told me I made a good woman. As I have promised that I will never do this again the only evidence is the photos below.....

Well those and the video other staff are threatening to put on You tube.

True Spirit: the Aussie girl who took on the World

Jessica Watson

What an awesome story! You may remember last year when there was a bit of controversy over a young (16years old) Australian girl wanting to sail solo, round-the-World. Well, True Spirit is her story. Watson and her family lived on a boat for several years and this was when she developed her love of sailing. She loved to read about sailors and their solo journeys around the World. At around age 14, she decided that she would like to become the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the World. This was her dream and for the next two years, her main focus. She spent all her spare time reading books, talking to the sailors, crewing for local yachties, and generally mentally preparing herself. Single-minded, determined and ultra focussed, Watson won many supporters who not only helped her to organise sponsorship but also to prepare and equip her yacht.

Watson’s parents certainly copped some flak, both in the media and from strangers on the street, but they had brought all their children up to be responsible and independent - and I don’t think that they could have stopped her from her round-the-World attempt even if they tried!

True Spirit is an awe-inspiring, exhilarating read for boaties and non boaties of all ages. It includes excerpts from her blog, a chart of her circumnavigation, a glossary of sailing terms, lots of photographs as well as a detailed list of the equipment and supplies required for a round-the-World trip.

Reviewed by Jill

Book Trailer - Monsters of Men

Breakout and Fundview

Yes it’s nearly the end of the year and you may have plans for academic study or maybe you are seeking support for a voluntary group for 2011. Is that important financial backing what’s holding you back? Have you heard of Breakout and Fundview?

Here is the perfect solution for all of you who are seeking funding as an individual or as a part of a group. These are both comprehensive databases that provide details of various institutions and organizations that provide money for scholarships and voluntary group/team activities.

Go to www.ilibrary.co.nz and click on Databases.

Breakout: This is the option for individuals.

This database provides access to information on over 2000 awards, scholarships, and grants. This database may be accessed in library or from your home – click on the appropriate link.

Fundview: This is the option for voluntary organisations seeking funding and contains over 600 different funding sources.

This database may be accessed in library or from your home – click on the appropriate link.

All that is required is that you answer the criteria questions to build your profile. Then ask the database to complete the search and it will cross-reference your profile with all the options and you will be provided with a list of possible funding sources.

Both Breakout and Fundview have calendars and alphabetical lists of the funding organisations. The calendar lets you see the closing date for the funding applications. Some of the criteria factors can be age, geographic location, gender and nationality.

One of the most important things to note when gathering the funding opportunities from the databases is the “application close by date”. They all vary.

When you have generated a list of possible funding organisations you can then print off the results. There are no guarantees that your application will be successful but, as the old saying goes, “nothing ventured, nothing gained” - so why not give it a go!

Article by Vanessa.

Christmas library hours

Library opening hours over the Christmas period are as follows:

CENTRAL LIBRARY—DEE STREET

December

Friday 24 9.00am-5.00pm

Saturday 25 CLOSED

Sunday 26 CLOSED

Monday 27 CLOSED

Tuesday 28 CLOSED

Wednesday 29 9.00am-5.00pm

Thursday 30 9.00am-5.00pm

Friday 31 9.00am-5.00pm

January

Saturday 1 CLOSED

Sunday 2 CLOSED

Monday 3 CLOSED

Tuesday 4 CLOSED

Wednesday 5 Normal hours resume

BLUFF LIBRARY

Fri 24 Dec Closes 4.00pm

25 Dec - 4 Jan CLOSED

Wed 5 Jan Normal hours resume

Extended issue period available:

If you are going away on holiday over December/January and need your books for longer than the usual issue period, please let the staff member on the Issues desk know before they start issuing your books and they will be happy to oblige.

Burt Munro Challenge

As you may or may not know every year at about this time hordes of motorbike enthusiasts flock to Invercargill for the Burt Munro Challenge. For the last several years the outside of the library has become a parking place for bikes of all types and sizes. This year I couldn't resist taking a few photos of some of the bikes parked outside.

New Teen books for the school holidays

Win an iPad and other Apple products by simply reading a few books

Here at the library we have had a summer reading progam for children for quite a few years now.
“But what about those of us too old for the children's summer reading program?” we hear you say....
Well this year the Invercargill City Libraries is providing a fun and interactive summer reading challenge for young adults aged 15 – 18 years.
We did our homework and found something we think will encourage you to read more over the summer holidays. We're going to give away an Apple iPad and some other apple products.
We've set it up as a reading challenge. The more you read the better the prizes you could win.
If you want to know more visit our website or follow the link on the logo below.

Somewhere inside:

One sister’s captivity in North Korea and the other’s fight to bring her home

by Laura Ling and Lisa Ling

You may (or may not) recall last year when former US President, Bill Clinton, went on a rescue mission to North Korea and brought home two journalists who had been captured by North Korean soldiers. There hadn’t been a lot of coverage by the media of the capture of the two women because, at that time US relations with North Korea were particularly sensitive. Somewhere inside tells what happened to the girls, how they were violently apprehended, charged with trespassing and other “hostile acts”, and imprisoned (separately) for nearly five months. Author Laura Ling recounts her experiences, enduring months of daily interrogations, having little contact with the outside world, and all the while not knowing where her fellow journalist, Euna Lee, was being held (or even if she was ok). From another perspective, Laura Ling’s sister, Lisa describes in alternating chapters, what was happening back in America – how the families were coping, the unrelenting efforts to secure the girl’s release using the media and social networks such as Facebook, as well as the drama involving people at the highest levels of government.

“Somewhere inside” is not just a gripping read, it is also an insight into the political game-playing of the North Korean government and, more than that, it is the inspiring story of the bond between two sisters. Awesome.

Reviewed by Jill

We've got some new toys

There is a great new toy on the market for people who listen to audio books. It's called the Playaway and it is essentially a stylised MP3 player with a book pre-loaded onto it.

We all know how annoying it is to have to change CDs during an audio book. Lets face it some books are huge. I was looking through a catalogue for audio books the other day and found you can buy War and peace as an audio book. It's two volumes long totaling 51 CDs and retails for around $300 NZ. Unfortunately as much as I like Tolstoy I just couldn't splash out on that for the collection.

Well with a Playaway they can often put the whole book on one wee machine. It's simple to use as well. There are only 8 buttons; A power button, play/pause, volume up, volume down, reverse, forward, a graphic equalizer and narrator speed. The graphic equalizer button cycles through 6 different settings while the narrator speed has three voice settings. So if you have trouble following the story just slow the narrator down.

At the moment we are just trialling Playaways in the library. We have a small selection of children's titles already and I have just ordered 10 adult's titles. 

We will be treating them just like spoken word items. This means you can borrow them for four weeks free of charge. They come with 2 batteries (to be returned with the item) and you can either use your own ear phones or buy a pair off us for $2.

So next time you're in the library check out our new toys. You might just find a book you'll love.

Library Press Display: Read all about it!

So what is “Library Press Display” you ask? Well, it is an online database that provides you with access to a range of newspapers. To access this database there is a link to choose for either “in the library” use or home use. If you are in the Library you will be connected to the database main page.
From the home use link you will b e prompted to enter your library card number . This is the eight -digit number located on the reverse of your library card (under the barcode), beginning with the numbers 200. After you enter the number you will then be given access to the database main page. From the main page you can then choose from the extensive range of newspaper titles available. There are daily national and international titles to choose from as well as weekly newspapers and tabloids. You can choose a paper by country, language or alphabetically. Navigation aids are on the top, bottom and right hand side of the screen within the database. The first page of the newspaper shows as a single page and then the second and third show as a doublespread as with the hard copy paper. If you are searching within the New Zealand newspaper titles you will see
that papers that start with the word “the” such as The Southland Times are all listed together alphabetically after the word “the” in the “T’s”. Please remember that as comprehensive as the database is, not all newspapers are included, for example, the Otago Daily Times is not included. From within the operational features of the database you can email or print off pages or articles. You have the ability to use the magnification tool to decrease or increase
For those people who wish to print off a family notice, for example, you can use the selection tool that puts a red line border around the exact notice that you require and print off just that small piece of text. The newspapers are on a 60-day cycle, so there are approximately two months worth of issues for a particular title to choose from in the issue archive. There is a calendar navigation option that you can use to select a specific issue. A point to note is that the international newspapers all depend on the various time zones for their respective publication times. So bear this in mind when
searching those titles. So go forth and seek out the news to your hearts content. Solve all your current events information needs in one hit and keep informed!

By Vanessa