Senseless entertainment
To celebrate this year's New Zealand Book Month, we've lined up several exciting events. We had a great night last night, when we were visited by Kiwi author Andrea Jutson, who read from her crime novel Senseless and shared her experiences on being published in New Zealand and the writing process. You can listen to some of her reading here - but beware, some of the language is unsuitable for children! (By the way, that's our shelver Tina with her sound effect machine in the background - thanks to the Durham Theatre Company for the loan!)
And don't forget, Andrea's novels Senseless and The Darkness Looking Back are both available from North Libraries! You can also purchase them from the Paper Plus in Whangatiu if you would like to support a local author.
Upcoming NZ Book Month events:
19 September -
Poetry slam (7pm-10pm)
Amateur (and not-so-amateur) poets, bring along your creations to read aloud. Drinks and nibbles provided, gold coin entry.
28 September -
Hairy Maclary book reading with Lynley Dodd (1pm)
The creator of Hairy Maclary and The Nickle Nackle Tree among other favourites will read to young children. The session is free.
Make a children's picture book with Lynley Dodd (3.30 pm)
Kiwi legend Lynley Dodd shows how she creates her well-loved characters from Hairy Maclary, and provides tips on writing picture books for children. Session $5.
SOURCES
Sound effects: FreeSFX. http://www.freesfx.co.uk
Reading: Jutson, A. (2005). Senseless. Auckland, New Zealand: Random House New Zealand. (No permission required, as I am the author.)
Thursday 19 September 2013
Tuesday 13 August 2013
Become a reviewer and win!
Hi everyone
Here's your chance to see yourselves published online, and go in the draw to win a $25 voucher from Mighty Ape as well. We're looking for willing volunteers to help us write book and DVD reviews for the blog. As long as the item is available from one of the three North Libraries branches, you can review it. (If not, send us a suggestion for purchase through our website!)
The details are in the presentation box below. Just press play. You can hit pause at any time to stop the show. And don't forget, even after the competition closes, we still want you to send us your reviews. This could be the start of a beautiful writing career...
(PLEASE NOTE, NEITHER NORTH LIBRARIES NOR THE COMPETITION ARE REAL - THIS IS AN ACADEMIC EXERCISE. SORRY!)
Tuesday 6 August 2013
New at North
Welcome!
You are visiting the brand-new blog of (THE FICTITIOUS) North Libraries, a small library consortium based in Northland, New Zealand.
Our librarians are always scouting for new books, DVDs and magazines to bring to our patrons. As we are in a youthful part of New Zealand with a strong Maori heritage, we place great importance on stocking material to get children and teens reading and thinking of our libraries as their spaces too. We have a fantastic range of picture books, graphic novels and study guides for young people.
We also focus on making our range of Maori material as broad as possible, including whakapapa resources and items in te reo, while still stocking a great selection of popular titles.
Each month, we plan to feature New Items to show you what's new and hot for adults, kids and teens. Do feel free to comment on our choices, and make your own recommendations. Bookmark this page now to make sure you don't miss out.
Every Monday we'll also feature special items or reviews, and talk about the things that interest us. There'll be a special blog for teens on Tuesdays, and children on Thursdays - and we'll be running your reviews too! Contact us at hinemoa@northlibraries.org.nz if you're interested in taking part.
Who we are
The North Libraries consortium was established in 1993, as part of an initiative to improve access to education in rural corners of Northland and share resources among these more isolated areas. We are part of the SCOT (Sole Charge Out There) network of libraries, dedicated to improving skills for librarians in small and rural libraries. Since our foundation, literacy in the area has increased by twenty-five per cent.
Librarians at each branch are responsible for purchasing material, which can be requested from any of the three branches at no cost.
Free high-speed internet kiosks are available at all branches, bookable for one hour.
August new titles
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A FICTIONAL LIBRARY FOR AN ACADEMIC EXERCISE!
This month our trolleys are groaning with new items, a result of the end-of-financial-year spend. Those of us on the review team have been gorging ourselves like they're cakes, but it's probably time we shared. Lynette was seen in the corner last week, crooning "My preciousss" to a DVD of Parade's End. Good thing they're really not cakes, or I think we'd be dead.
So here are our picks for the best new books for August. For your safety, don't read them all at once!
A fantastic sequel to The Last Policeman, featuring Hank Winters of Concord, New Hampshire. What happens when everyone on Earth knows the world is going to end in a few months' time, when a big asteroid hits? People kill themselves, go "bucket list", and civilisation crumbles. Countdown City begins only 77 days from impact. Newly laid-off detective Hank is enlisted by his old babysitter to find her missing husband. Is it just a typical case of abandonment by someone who wants to live out his dreams in his final days? Or is it something a lot more sinister? And could Hank's crazy little sister really be right about a weapon that could neutralise the asteroid? So well written, it'll have you turning pages all night.
The latest by Amulet of Samarkand funnyman Jonathan Stroud. This book is every bit as good, with great dialogue and humour that will appeal to adults as well as kids. Ghosts are popping up all over an alternate London, which only kids can see. Psychic Detection Agencies with child agents are set up to get rid of them. Lucy teams up with Anthony, the leader of Lockwood & Co, a small agency run entirely by children. They and their wise-cracking colleague, George, are pulled into an investigation of one of the most haunted houses in England: Combe Carey Hall. Will Lockwood & Co. survive the Hall's legendary Screaming Staircase and Red Room to see another day? Gripping and fun! Film rights have already been sold.
Features everything a reader could want: romance, comedy, swordfights, magic, tragedy and fairy tale. If you liked Stardust or The Princess Bride you're going to love this. As a child, Princess Alyse is turned into a hag by a sorceress, and cursed to remain that way forever unless a knight should fall in love with her - without knowing who she is. Spending her days in a lonely forest, all seems lost, until an old friend returns. Florent is next on the sorceress's list, unless Alyse can manage to save him. And possibly save herself into the bargain. Some truly hilarious moments, and scenes that will make you go "awww" - plus a villain you'll love to hate. Once you've finished, give it to your mum.
This month our trolleys are groaning with new items, a result of the end-of-financial-year spend. Those of us on the review team have been gorging ourselves like they're cakes, but it's probably time we shared. Lynette was seen in the corner last week, crooning "My preciousss" to a DVD of Parade's End. Good thing they're really not cakes, or I think we'd be dead.
So here are our picks for the best new books for August. For your safety, don't read them all at once!
Adult fiction
Countdown City - Ben H. WintersChildren's fiction
The Screaming Staircase - Jonathan StroudTeen fiction
Cursed - Emma Benedict
Features everything a reader could want: romance, comedy, swordfights, magic, tragedy and fairy tale. If you liked Stardust or The Princess Bride you're going to love this. As a child, Princess Alyse is turned into a hag by a sorceress, and cursed to remain that way forever unless a knight should fall in love with her - without knowing who she is. Spending her days in a lonely forest, all seems lost, until an old friend returns. Florent is next on the sorceress's list, unless Alyse can manage to save him. And possibly save herself into the bargain. Some truly hilarious moments, and scenes that will make you go "awww" - plus a villain you'll love to hate. Once you've finished, give it to your mum.
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