Superheroes in Hastings Library

Photo: Our Superhero Children's Librarians and student staff members are ready to welcome you. Wear your own costume when you call to report in if you wish - applies to the kids too, Mums and Dads!

Hi everyone. Report-ins are going well, although today, being Christmas Eve, is a little quieter.

Remember, if you didn't get a chance to register, children can still come to the entertainment programmes running through the school holidays. We'd love to see you. Details are on the library website

Help! Someone is stuck in the chimney

Havelock North Library looks very Christmassy with a new fireplace, complete with stockings on the mantlepiece.

But look...there's some boots in the fireplace and legs in a red suit. It's not Superman because there's fur around the boots. Now we wonder who that could be?

Maybe the Havelock North children might guess when they call in to choose some holiday reading. Maybe, if they talk (quietly - this is a library) to Santa while he busy climbing down the chimney, he may hear their requests for presents... but only if they have been verrry good and read lots of books! This is a literary Santa.

Super Readers Reporting In

The Summer Reading programmes are well under way, with our keen Super Readers calling into the libraries to report their progress to our Super Librarians. The Children's Sections are looking super cool. Above is the Flaxmere Library report-in area - well worth a visit. As school winds down for the year, children can really get into reading for pleasure.

Bookish Betsy Wraps up Christmas

Christmas is by far my favourite time of year.

Although my life is a frenzy of activity at the best of times, Christmas is the one occasion when the frenzy really comes through with the goods. Somehow the Christmas spirit of giving allows me to really unleash my creative side. Surrounded by burning festive candles, listening to good music, and sampling the Christmas sherry (just a little), I am one of Santa’s most enthusiastic helpers.

Ah, the Christmas gifts, the Christmas baking, the Christmas cards I have created in my whirlwind of goodwill and joy.

At Hastings District Libraries we have some great titles that will help you too unleash your inner Christmas elf.

Here is my recipe for a joyous pre-Christmas frenzy:

1. Set the scene with good Christmas music with -

Absolute Best Christmas Album in the World…ever!
Accents: Christmas harp with gentle accompaniment O Come All Ye Faithful – featuring Kings College ChoirHandel’s Messiah – featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

2. Sing while you gather inspiration from -

Tree top Decorations – Emma Hardy
Wreath making for the first time – Pat Poce & Deon Gooch
300 ways to make the best Christmas ever! – Mimi Tribble
Christmas cards: 100 fast & festive cards & tags – Elizabeth Moad
Christmas Details – Mary Norden

3. Pull out the baking tins and create with -

Christmas - Good Housekeeping Institute
Christmas – Australian Women’s Weekly
Classic and contemporary Christmas Cakes – Nadene Hurst
Christmas Made Easy – Mary Cadogan
Celebration: the Christmas Recipes you must have – Kitchen Classics

4. Take a compulsory stop to breath in the pine tree goodness, the baking smells, and admire your creations

5. Reach for the Christmas issue of your favourite magazine and/or add a good Christmas movie to the blend. Try -

It’s a wonderful World
Love Actually
The Family Man
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
The Christmas Specials from The Office & The Vicar of Dibley

6. Christmas is ready and wrapped. ENJOY!

You may have noticed library staff wearing unusual footwear on Friday. All three libraries took part in staff competitions for the best decorated jandals for National Jandal Day, with our gold coin donations going towards Surf Life Saving. More at http://www.nationaljandalday.co.nz/

The overall winning jandals were the Pavlova creation by Raewyn from Havelock Library - very ingenious. Look out WOW! See the display case in Hastings Library.

Photo - some of the Hastings jandals - most were conventional and entered two feet but we had an odd right foot entered.