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.