Summer Reading Programme - Craig Foss visits

As part of the Summer Reading Programme, Tukituki MP Craig Foss visited Flaxmere Library and read to children from Irongate School on Monday.

He also read to a large groups of children (and parents) at Hastings Central Library and Havelock North Library.

Photo: Children at Flaxmere Library absorbed in a story.

Havelock North Library wins POD Award

Havelock North Library was nominated for a Havelock North Village POD award (Point Of Difference) for outstanding customer Service - WOW customer service in the Community, Arts and Culture Section.

There were 16 nominations for this category and staff were thrilled to win against so much competition.

"We appreciate the recognition you have given us by voting for us in ‘The Pods’ and will endeavour to continue to WOW you with great customer service. If there is any way we can enhance your library experience please let us know!"

The Awards were held on Friday 30th November at 7pm at the roundabout (or pod centre). It was an excellent opportunity to meet and network with businesses and other organisations in the village. Pods have a special significance for Havelock North, of course.

Photo: HN Library staff were represented by Kim and Kura.

National Jandal Day

If Havelock North Library staff are looking a bit more casual today it is all in a good cause. They have been supporting Surf Life Saving New Zealand, raising awareness (and funds) for this important cause.

Did you know that 80% of New Zealanders wear jandals? Kim is a bit outnumbered in the photo - his are the toes without nail polish.

"Last year 1,440 lives were saved by Surf Lifeguards. We have a drowning rate twice that per capita of Australia (shocking eh?)" Read more on the National Jandal Day website >>

Publish Me - Free Seminars

Every Kiwi has a book in them – including you!

Publishme.co.nz held two one hour seminars at Hastings and Havelock North Libraries to very interested audiences totalling 90 people. There are a lot of budding authors in our district!

Launched in May 2007 by Zenith Publishing, publishme.co.nz has since attracted over 800 members, all with a common goal to be, or to assist others in becoming, a published author. Read more at http://www.zenithpublishing.co.nz/publishme/index.php

Women's Expo - Flaxmere Library

Be Indulged! Be Inspired! Be Informed on women's health issues.
- At Flaxmere Library
- Thursday 29 November, all day

Choices Medical Centre
Your health is your greatest asset - come and have a chat with the nurses.

Rachels Beauty Salon
Come along and talk to Rachel and receive a complimentary hand massage or eyelash tint.

Morgans Edu-Care
Are you thinking of going back to the workforce? Paula and the ladies will be available to talk from 10:30-11:30am.

Flax Rock
Wendy will be available to talk to you about some of the great services available for women. Don't be shy, come along and make a change for the future.

Plus lots more...
Like New Generation Liquorice who will be doing taste testing...yummy...

Newcomers' Guide Launch

In a truly international event, Settlement Support Hawkes' Bay's Newcomers' Guide was launched in Hastings Library last night by Judi Altinkaya, Director of Settlement Division, Department of Labour.

This marked the culmination of the work carried out by Settlement Support Hawke's Bay over the last year, and is aimed at introducing new settlers to the region and assisting them to understand the services and support available to them.

Above: Judi Altinkaya and Nina Siers, Settlement Support Hawke's Bay Co-ordinator.

More photos on the Hastings District Libraries' New Settler's page >>

Christmas Cheer Appeal

You are welcome to leave your gifts or donations for the Hastings Christmas Cheer Appeal at Flaxmere, Hastings or Havelock North Libraries.

24/ 12/07 -- Ho ho ho - -Many thanks to everyone who donated to the Christmas Cheer Appeal. Your contributions will be very much appreciated.

Movember - Men's Health

Movember - Changing the face of Men's Health

Movember (the month formally known as November) is an international charity event held during November each year to raise awareness about men's health. Council and library staff (male) took part in this event, so if they are looked hairier than usual, you will know why.

At the start of Movember guys register with a clean shaven face. The Movember participants known as Mo Bros then have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their moustache and along the way raise as much money and awareness about male health issues as possible.
In New Zealand funds raised are made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand [ www.prostate.org.nz ].

Movember culminated at the end of the month at the Gala Partés. These glamorous and groomed events saw Tom Selleck and Richard Hadlee look-a-likes battle it out on the catwalk for their chance to take home the prestigious Man of Movember title. More on the Movember website >>

Havelock North Library are followed the progress of council staff and their Mo Growing escapades with weekly updates on display.

Flaxmere Library - 21st Birthday

On Saturday the 13th of October Flaxmere Library celebrated 21 years since first opening their doors within the Flaxmere Community Centre. It was a day of fun, food and entertainment with staff, both old and new, celebrating alongside valued patrons.

Children had the pleasure of being entertained by the district's much loved story teller Mary Kippenberg, whilst adults were able to choose from the great selection of books on sale. A thoroughly good time was had by all and no doubt there will be many more celebrations to come.

The day was also an opportunity for everyone to farewell library manager Karen Shields who (sadly for us) was leaving for foreign shores.

Special Pre-school Storytime

Library week was buzzing in Havelock North Library.

We held a pre school session for the little ones on Tuesday 16 October, with songs, and stories set in libraries. We made spring lambs and free giveaways were handed our to children and their caregivers.

New Zealand's Biggest Storytime

Melanie Drewery's newest book The Grumble Rumble Mumbler was read at libraries all across New Zealand on Wednesday 17 October in New Zealand's Biggest Storytime, including Flaxmere, Hastings and Havelock North Libraries.

The Grumble Rumble Mumbler tells the age-old story of a child that can’t get to sleep because of night noises.

Ethics Through Sport

HB Olympians and people from the community involved in the coaching and administration of sport attended the event “Ethics through Sport” held at the library on Tuesday 16th October. Murray Gilbertson, the CEO of Hastings District Council, spoke about the importance of sport, both to the individual and to society. Charles Callis from the Olympic Museum in Wellington spoke about the Museum’s part in New Zealand’s sporting performances overseas, and the role of the Museum itself in Wellington where they keep and preserve archival information and sporting history.

They then showed an “Ethics through Sport” DVD which has been added to the DVD collection at Hastings Library.

Book Binge

Pass it on...Jo Morris spoke on "readalikes" and what to read next in our Book Binge for teens.

This gave an excellent insight into the wonderful literature available for teens, and was enjoyed by the teens, parents (and librarians).

Photo Exhibition at Havelock North Library

Pass it on...During October there was an exhibition of photographs by Josefine Beech at Havelock North Library. In the artist's own words, "images capturing those fragile moments of people's everyday lives".

Havelock North Library - Publishers' Road Show

The 2007 Publishers’ Roadshow was held at Havelock North Library on Tuesday 2nd October, attended by enthusiatic crowd of book-lovers. Publishers’ Reps from Random House, Hachette Livre and Reed enthralled the audience with sneak previews of popular book releases.

The Havelock Library team also tried their hand at presenting, introducing the upcoming books from Harper Collins.

The audience were unanimous in their praise of the special guests, local authors Judy Siers and Joy Watson, who spoke about their newly published books: The Life and Times of James Chapman Taylor, and Worms Squirm, respectively. Photo: Judy Siers and Joy Watson

Monster Book Sale

Thank you for supporting the Monster Book Sale held last weekend by the Friends of the Library. It is great to know that stock no longer needed in the library has found new owners. The Friends of the Library will use the proceeds for special projects.

Introducing Language Line

Hastings, Havelock North and Flaxmere Libraries are now participating in Language Line, along with the Hastings District Council. Language Line is a telephone interpreting service to improve communication between our patrons and library staff available from Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm.. There is no charge to patrons. Read more about Language Line on the Office of Ethnic Affairs website. Click here for a list of languages available.
See also our New Settler's page.

Ruapehu Eruption

Click here to go to GeoNet's Volcano Camera for images of Mt Ruapehu. Photos at half hourly intervals.

GeoNet provides real-time monitoring and data collection for rapid response and research into earthquake, volcano, landslide and tsunami hazards.

Fun and magic at the Libraries

Havelock North Library
Oh my goodness! Half the families in Havelock decided to come to the library on Tuesday morning to see Peter the Wacky Wizard. He wowed, zapped, clapped and had all in fits of laughter with his wacky escapades, including the parents. Many children (and a couple of mothers) had the honour of becoming Wizard Assistants during the show.

His amazing doves and rabbit (yes real!) were so well received he had trouble leaving the library after his show due to the amount of children lining up for a pat. Thanks Peter for a great morning.


Hastings Library
Remy from Ratatouille was the star on Wednesday, with a large group of children enjoying stories of his adventures.

Then it was down on the floor with crayons and scissors, and everyone made paper versions of Remy to take home. Photo: Monique with her Remy.

Rugby World Cup

Bonjour mes amis. Rugby World Cup is all over for another four years.
We have some new rugby books (and a DVD) in our libraries, all published in 2007.

• 101 moments of World Cup rugby by Wynne Gray.
• All Blacks : the authorised portrait edited by Ron Palenski
• Celebrity portraits : Andrew Mehrtens : a tribute to a rugby genius by John Matheson
• Inside the All Blacks (DVD)
• Jerry Collins' road to the World Cup with Tim Castle
• Magpie magic : Hawke's Bay rugby heritage : vol. 1 growing to glory (1875-1946) by Frank Long
• Paddy O'Brien's couch guide to rugby by Paddy O'Brien
• Quinn's quirks : the rugby wit and wisdom of Keith Quinn by ...Keith Quinn!
• The reign of King Henry : how Graham Henry transformed the All Blacks by Gregor Paul
• Rucking & rolling : 60 years of international rugby by Peter Bills
• The ultimate guide to weight training for rugby by Robert G. Price
• Unshaven jaws : sixty All Black test captains, 1903-2007 by Richard Lawrence ; foreword by John Hart
• Watching the Rugby World Cup by Spiro Zavos

2007 has been a busy year for publishing rugby books, and there will be a quite a few more before the year is over...

School Holiday Programmes

Above: Peter the Wacky Wizard, an unflappable dove, and just some of the hundreds of children trying to guess how he did his tricks - Hastings Library

We were thrilled with the response to the recent holiday programmes held in our three libraries. Watch Holiday Programmes for details, times and dates of future events. Of course the next big programme is the Summer Reading Programme! Where did that year go?

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Avast ye landlubbers! Today be Talk Like a Pirate Day. We here on the good ship Hastings Library be some of the first in the World to greet this day!

Dress of the day for library staff be their best pirate gear... or walk the plank. So thar be swaggering pirates on deck behind the desk and in the stacks. Beware! Fines must be paid in pieces of eight...or walk the plank. Busy plank.

Above: Vicious Viv, Boisterous Barb and Nasty Nige fighting over the Pirate display in the Children's Section.

Oh Aye..below be 'orrible 'annah on the Returns Desk deck. Landlubbers with overdues beat 'asty retreats - 'annah is very 'andy with her cutlass for a lass.

Read more...if you dare: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

Adult Graphic Novels - New!

We have a new collection in Hastings Library - Graphic Novels for adults.

The collection started with 79 titles, and these issue for two weeks.

Have a look for the Graphic Novels collection in the Fiction Wing.

Sorry - no loans to junior members from this collection.

Hastings Blossom Festival

Hastings has celebrated Spring with a Blossom Festival since 1950.

During this year's Blossom Festival week (Sept 14-23) we had a display in Hastings Library showing the history of the festival, and featured copies of the Hawke's Bay Photo News from this era.

Please ask at the Reference Desk upstairs to see our issues of the Photo News. We do have some gaps in our collection, so if you have any copies of the Hawke's Bay Photo News we would love to have them.

See also the new page on the library website: http://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/libraries/blossom_festival.htm

New Zealand Book Month - Flaxmere Library

Borrowers of New Zealand books in Flaxmere Library were able to go in the draw to win one of two copies of The Six Pack Two. Flaxmere also held a colouring competition for juniors. All through September there were changing displays of New Zealand books for both children and adults.

More on New Zealand Book Month>>

New Zealand Book Month - September

Celebrating NZ Books and NZ Writers

Havelock North Library
Havelock North Library held a preschool reading as part of their NZ Book Month celebrations. Lynette entertained a small but enthralled group of children with lovely New Zealand stories and sung songs. To welcome spring the children, with help from parents, made lovely spring flowers.

New Loyalty Cards for CDs, DVDs and Videos

We are very pleased to have new loyalty cards in the three libraries.

A new offer for CDs: pay for 5 music CDs, then get the sixth one for no charge. There are two of these offers printed on the one card.

For DVDs and Videos, the offer is the same as in the past: pay for the first 5 then the sixth one is free. There are also two offers printed on one card.

Author Visit - Heather Hapeta

Heather Hapeta, author of Naked in Budapest : travels with a passionate nomad spoke to an appreciative audience in Hastings Library on Tuesday 25 September.

After the deaths of her husband and son, she ran away from home at fifty and travelled around the world with a backpack, a youth hostel card, a sleeping bag, a year's work of savings and no plans. From Alaska to Zimbabwe, from cooking in Athens to an island monsoon - it's no wonder she reinvented herself as a travel writer.

Mr Pip in Booker Shortlist

New Zealand author Lloyd Jones' novel Mister Pip was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2007. The winner turned out to be The Gathering by Anne Enright. The shortlist was:

Darkmans by Nicola Barker (Fourth Estate)
The Gathering by Anne Enright (Jonathan Cape)
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid (Hamish Hamilton)
Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones (John Murray)
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan (Jonathan Cape)
Animal’s People by Indra Sinha (Simon & Schuster)

More at: http://www.themanbookerprize.com/news/stories/82

Lloyd Jones was a guest author at the Hastings Library earlier this year.

New Zealand Book Month - September

Celebrating NZ Books and NZ Writers

Flaxmere Library

Held readings of some of our fabulous New Zealand books for children.

New Zealand Book Month - September

Celebrating NZ Books and NZ Writers

Hastings Library
Held storytime and activity for pre-schoolers
Readings from a selection of New Zealand children's authors

Flaxmere Library Mural

He Taonga Tuku Manawa

"This is a gift that comes from the heart; expressed from each student's perspective. And it spreads into the heart of our local community."

Bel Stevens-Sebley

The sun is shining over the Young Adult section at Flaxmere Library. Call in and see the wonderful gift to the Library - a mural created by 13 Flaxmere College students.

They have contributed their time and talents to this project as part of a 3 day Enrichment Programme, undertaken by the whole school. (Paint kindly donated by Resene Colourshops.)

Poetry Reading at Hastings Central Library

To celebrate Montana Poetry Day, a poetry reading by local poets Jenny Dobson and Angus Macdonald was held at lunchtime on Fri 27 July in Hastings Library.

The winners of Hastings Library Poetry Competition were also announced at this event. Congratualtions to the winners:

1st prize: Anne McCormick for Moments

2nd prize: Ngaire Bryant for Winter Weekend at Waimarama

3rd prize: Dave Sharp for Winter

Weaving Exhibition at Flaxmere Library

An exhibition and display of the work of Te Taurahehe o Paharakeke was held at the Flaxmere Library on from Tuesday 24th to Thursday 26th of July.
This is a newly established weaving group who recently had their work displayed at the Hawkes Bay Maori Tourism Matariki Wearable Art Show.

New Zealand Post Book Awards Winners Announced

The winners of the 2007 New Zealand Post Book Awards For Children and Young Adults have been announced:

Book of the Year and Non-fiction Category:
Illustrated History of the South Pacific, Marcia Stenson (Random House)

Picture Book Category and Children’s Choice Award:
Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! Kyle Mewburn, Ali Teo and John O’Reilly (Scholastic New Zealand)

More winners can be seen at: http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/events/awards/nzpostfinalistwinners.html

All the books involved are available from Hastings District Libraries.

Self Check Machines

Hastings and Havelock North Libraries both have self check machines for issuing books and magazines.

Any items with charges, e.g. DVDs, CDs, need to be taken to the desk to be issued on your card.

If you have an outstanding charge on your card, e.g. for reserves, overdues, interloans, you will need to go to the desk.