CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY DISTRICT LIBRARIES

Central Hawke's Bay Libraries Blog is moving

2011-03-25T12:10:00.000+13:00

Yep. We are heading off to Tumblr. You can find us over there at http://www.chblibraries.tumblr.com

A little potpourri of Non Fiction reviews for your delectation

2011-03-01T16:43:00.000+13:00

Down-to-Earth Garden Design by Phil Dudman. ABC Books

This garden design book takes you through the planning and design process and gives you the practical skills, knowledge and construction ability to make your ideas a reality.

From Coast to Country: Waterwise Garden Designs by Neil and Jenny Delmage. Fremantle Press

In this book the husband-and-wife team take us on a magical journey from coast to country, revealing some of their most spectacular landscape designs.

Food From Many Greek Kitchens by Tessa Kiros. Murdoch Books

Who better than Tessa to take you on a colourful and magical journey into the kitchens of her friends and family, cataloguing the traditional Greek foods for festivals, feast days and fasting in her own enchanting way.

Football - Bloody Hell! by Patrick Barclay. Yellow Jersey Press

Britain’s most respected sportswriter takes on the greatest football manager of all time

Sir Alex Ferguson is without doubt the most controversial and compelling figure in football today. For many he ranks as the greatest manager of all time. He is certainly the most successful. His reign at Manchester United has seen him win every major footballing honour. And then win them again.

Villages of Britain: The Five Hundred Villages That made the Countryside by Clive Aslet. Bloomsbury

Villages of Britain is the history of the countryside, told through five hundred of its most noteworthy settlements. Many of Britain’s villages are known for their loveliness, of course, but their role in shaping the nation over the centuries is relatively untold, drowned out by the metropolitan bias of history.

So just a little selection from the new book shelf at your CHB Libraries. Check out the catalogue for other new books, or if you want to reserve books or renew.

NZ Book Month is almost here

2011-02-18T11:26:00.004+13:00

March is New Zealand Book Month.

Check out the fantastic website at http://www.nzbookmonth.co.nz/home.html

New Zealand Book Month announces four “reading role model” ambassadors, each of whom will feature on ¼ of the voucher mailers distributed during New Zealand Book Month. They will also appear on point of sale, advertising and publicity material.

In support of the Books Change Lives campaign for March 2011, these ambassadors have generously donated their support, their time, and the story of the book that changed their life:

Stephen Fleming – Former International Cricket Captain

talks about Politically Incorrect Parenting (HarperCollins)

Sir Peter Jackson – Oscar-winning Film Director

talks about The Lord of the Rings (HarperCollins).

This March, NZ Book Month hope to put books into more homes across the country than ever before, by distributing four million $5 book vouchers as part of our Books Change Lives campaign.

Join NZ Book Month in the celebration of books in March 2011. Find heroes. Untangle mysteries. Hook up with personal and national histories. Have a good belly laugh. Shed blood and tears or discover true love. It’s all there between the covers...

New Year at your CHB Libraries

2011-01-21T13:30:00.010+13:00

Holidays are slowly drawing to a close and it's time to reflect on what was a fabulous Summer Reading Programme. Thanks so much to Eastern and Central Community Trust for the sponsorship and special thanks to all you wonderful kids in CHB who participated in the programme.

The Read Plus Finale held out at Ashley Clinton was a great success. The Severinsen family were our co hosts and everyone had a fantastic time at our 'Flights of Fancy' event where we had a trebuchet, cannons, Flappy Yaks, Strikers and Hot air balloons - all of varying shapes and sizes.

We were also lucky enough to visit the local museum where everyone had their first glimpse of the elusive Jackalope.

A great night was had by all.

The Summer Reading Finale was held at Lindsey Bush and was extremely well attended with kids going on a bird hunt with a tiger and bumblebee for guides. Presentation of prizes and certificates was followed by an early evening barbecue enjoyed by all on a beautiful CHB night.

Thanks CHB for making both these events such a great success.

2010 About to be Done and Dusted

2010-12-31T11:39:00.004+13:00

I've been scanning CHB newspapers from 1955 for the CHB Kete and came across some of the top books of that year and thought I would share them with you and then tell you what CHB liked this year.

H.M.S Ulysses by Alistair MacLean

The Valley of the Vines by Joy Packer

We Die Alone by David Howarth

Sara Dane by Catherine Gaskin

Requiem for a Wren by Neville Shute

Let's keep Christmas by Peter Marshall

A Man called Peter by Peter Marshall

Banner in the Sky by Jas. Ramsay Ullman

Reach for the Sky by Paul Brickhill

The Batfut Eagles by Gerald Durrell

Amberwell by D E Stevenson

The Dollmaker by Arnow

Doctor at Large by Richard Gordon

The Shiralee by D'Arcy Niland

Having just run the 2010 top issues report I have been very surprised to find that the top reads were by Nora Roberts.

The Bride Quartet series came out on top followed very closely by Three Fates.

Stieg Larsson was also right up there too.

Others were:

Cold Harbour by Jack Higgins

The Enemy by Lee Child

Double Cross by James Patterson

At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks

Gone North by Fiona Kidman

Shooting the Moon by V M Jones

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

And my top reads this year were also surprising because they are mainly NZ reads and I'm not known for my love of NZ books except the NF stuff published by the amazing Craig Potton.

However there were some great NZ reads that arrived on the scene this year especially:

Heir of Night by Helen Lowe.

A stunning 1st adult novel and a great fantasy read.

Bloodlines by Tania Roxborogh.

Book 2 of the Banquo's Son trilogy. Fantastic.

Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier. (NZ born).

Never met a book of hers I didn't love! I'm currently waiting on her new one Seer of Sevenwaters to arrive from Fishpond.

A Life on Gorge River by Richard Long.

Quite inspiring. Although I would have loved to have heard from his wife about the nitty gritty of bringing up their children in such a remote area.

Words Chosen Carefully: NZ writers in discussion.

A very revealing look into the NZ literary scene. Most enjoyable.

So that's it for 2010. We look forward to having you in the libraries in 2011.

Remember you can keep up with us on Twitter @chblibraries and on Facebook as Chblibraries

Merry Christmas to all

2010-12-22T09:27:00.005+13:00

The team at Central Hawke's Bay District Libraries - Sue, Karen, Rachel, Kylee, Miriam, Ngai, Sharon, Lee, Andy and the student librarians would like to thank all our community members for their support this year and we wish you happy and safe holidays.

It has been a big exciting year for us in CHB Libraries with the highlight being our new space in Waipawa. We love being in the refurbished library and from all the comments we have been receiving, so do you.

It is time now to stock up on your Christmas reading. Here is a list from Ngai of some good stuff for the holidays:

For the Fiction Quest/Mystery lovers try:

The Eden Legacy by Will Adams
The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry
Mozart's Ghost by Julia Cameron
The Poet Prince by Kathleen McGowan

For lovers of contemporary non fiction try:

A life in frocks by Kelly Doust
Dewey's nine lives:
The legacy of the small-town library cat who inspired millions by Vicki Myron & Bret Witter

General Non Fiction:

Tasman Trespasser II by Shaun Quincey
All Blacks Don't Cry by John Kirwan
Forever Today: A memoir of love & Amnesia by Deborah Wearing
Kahurangi Calling: stories from the backcountry of Northwest Nelson
by Gerard Hindmarsh

Crime Fiction:

Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell
The Bone House by Brian Freeman
Body Work by Sara Paretsky
Indulgence in Death by J D Robb

Fantasy Fiction:

Dragongirl by Todd McCaffrey
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan
The first collected tales of Bauchelain & Korbal Broach by Steven Erikson

Science Fiction:

Guardians of Paradise by Jaine Fenn
The Evolutionary Void by Peter F. Hamilton
Zones of Thought: A fire upon the deep by Vernor Vinge

New Fiction:

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie
Blackout by Connie Willis
Rescue by Anita Shreve
The Small Hand by Susan Hill

Remember that we are closed on Saturday 25th December and reopen on Wednesday 29th December. We then close again on Saturday 1st January and reopen on Wednesday 5th January, 2011.

Read Plus is coming this Summer

2010-11-12T10:27:00.005+13:00

Read Plus is a Reading Programme for Tweens & Teens

The books you review must be from the Library.

When you have completed your first review bring your booklet to the library for a bonus.

When you read and review 3 books you get to choose a book to keep. (If you are reading a really long book this might count for more than one review.) You can earn 2 books in any one week, and up to 6 over the

Programme.

Check at your Library for the

Programme dates

Done 3 reviews? You can come to the Finale!!

Talk & Taste Wine in Central Hawke's Bay

2010-11-10T13:00:00.006+13:00

Thanks to Hachette New Zealand, Lime Rock Wines and Friends of the CHB District Libraries we will be hosting Author & Wine Expert Michael Cooper at Waipawa Library to talk about his book Buyer's Guide to New Zealand Wines (Hachette).
Come and join us on the 18th November @ 6pm for an evening of tasting and insider tips on the best new season's wines from the Hawke's Bay Region.
Michael will answer all your questions and introduce you to some of his favourite wines. He will also recommend the Best Buys of the 2011 vintage and guide you through tastings of some of his top reds and whites.
Tickets are available from Waipukurau & Waipawa Libraries

The Great Bush Read is here

2010-11-05T12:10:00.005+13:00

Summer holidays are almost upon us and once again CHB Libraries are pleased to host a Summer Reading Programme - The Big Bush Read. Te Panui Ngahere Nui. The programme is brought to you with the fantastic support of the Eastern and Central Community Trust.

Registrations open at Waipukurau and Waipawa Libraries on the 22nd November and Check In's start on the 6th December.
We will be giving you a sneak peek of The Big Bush Read at the CHB A & P Show on November the 13th. Come and talk to us at the CHB District Council tent. We will also be having a Bush Read competition going so bring your binoculars for spying out bush birds and animals!

Book Club Reviews

2010-10-21T12:53:00.005+13:00

Karen has been very busy with her bookclub lately and has passed on some great reviews which I will share with you below. Be warned though that anything that Sallie recommends that I haven't read yet I usually take out straight away. Can you beat me to it...?

AUTHOR: Helen Lowe

TITLE: The Heir of Night (Published by Orbit)

CATEGORY: Fantasy

The violence of an age-old war on a world far, far away means mercy is seen as weakness and conflict is a way of life.

Malian is the heir and only child of the Earl of Night, lord of the Keep of Winds, the last bastion between civilisation and the dreaded Swarm.

Expected to rule after her father, Malian is brought up in the strict traditions of her people, but when her hidden magic flares into life, to protect her and her home from utter destruction, she and her father are caught in a dilemma.

This is an exceptionally good fantasy, by New Zealand author Helen Lowe. A well-realised world and convincing characters kept me racing through the book – with a few back steps to check for vital points I’d missed – and some impatience that the second book is not already available!

Sallie recommends this:

A very good read for anyone who likes fantasy. Helen Lowe has a light touch, keeping the action going without exhausting her heroes or the reader, with everyone – reader included – discovering the intricacies of the plot and supporting characters as they go along.

‘A richly told tale’ says best selling fantasy author Robin Hobb…but Helen Lowe is better than Robin Hobb.

Check out Helen Lowes website here and get to reading and supporting our fantastic New Zealand authors

AUTHOR: Rachel Neumeier

TITLES: Lord of the Changing Winds & Land of the Burning Sands (Published by Orbit)

CATEGORY: Fantasy

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

The first two books of The Griffin Mage trilogy.

Griffins, huge and predatory creatures who live in fiery deserts, are invading neighbouring countries Feierabiand (in Lord of the Changing Winds) and Casmantium (in Land of the Burning Sands).

Griffins create their desert homes out of their own essence, converting farmlands and towns into habitats impossible for humans…but why are they leaving their northern home for human civilisation?

Terrific books. Always a joy to find a new author and Rachel Neumeier is a keeper. It takes a very competent writer to approach a subject from opposite sides in successive books, and she does this very well, without compromising the original ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’ from the first book.

Sallie recommends this:

An excellent fantasy series which should appeal to any fantasy fan, from young adults upwards.

You should also check out Rachel's Neumeier's great website

Spotlight on Maeve Binchy

2010-10-14T15:30:00.004+13:00

The boss has just pulled the new Maeve Binchy book off the binding shelf and said she took it home over the weekend and remarked that it was just like visiting an old friend. In other words - She was very impressed.
The new book is called Minding Frankie (published by Orion Books)

Here's the blurb from Orion:

"Baby Frankie is born into an unusual family. Her mother is desperate to find someone to take care of her child and she doesn't have much time.

Noel doesn't seem to be the most promising of fathers but despite everything, he could well be Frankie's best hope.
As for Lisa, she is prepared to give up everything for the man she loves; surely he's going to love her back?

And Moira is having none of it. She knows what's right, and has the power to change the course of Frankie's life . . . but Moira is hiding secrets of her own.
MINDING FRANKIE is a story about unconventional families, relationships which aren't quite what they seem, and the child at the heart of everyone's lives . . ."

Sue says there is lovely interaction between characters and the relationships are beautifully written. Sounds like a great recommendation for a wet day read to me.

Don't forget we have a heap of other Maeve Binchy books. Whitethorn Woods is a particular favorite of mine as is Heart and Soul. Check out the catalogue for other titles.

So indulge in some 'me' time with the lovely Maeve Binchy. If you can't be in Ireland this is the next best thing

Spring into your garden

2010-10-08T14:09:00.007+13:00

I've been nabbing all the gardening books from the library lately as Clint continues the gardening move from our giant garden to a series of raised beds in front of the house. Fantastic to step out the kitchen door and be amongst the tomatoes, lettuce, mange touts and strawberries. Not to mention the tyres liberated from the local transfer station.

So in honour of all his hard work here are a few of the amazing books available from the library that have really helped our gardening odyssey:

Organic Vegetable Gardening by Annette McFarlane (HarperCollins 2010)
An Australian based book with some great advice. Annette McFarlane also has a great website with lots of info.

The small edible garden -growing organic fruit and vegetables at home by Diana Anthony (David Bateman 2008).
A New Zealand book which gives tips on planting, growing and caring for a wide variety of vegetable, herbs and fruit.

Organic vegetable gardening by Xanthe White (Godwit 2009)
Another New Zealand book that "takes readers by the hand and shows them how to transform their backyard bombsites to organic Gardens of Eden in just one year".

The Cook's Herb Garden Revisited by Mary Browne, Helen Leach & Nancy Tichborne (Craig Potton 2010)

This classic NZ book has been updated and is chock full of great stuff about how to grow, harvest and use herbs.

It goes hand in hand with another revised NZ classic:

The Cook's Salad Garden Revisited by the same author and also published by the wonderful Craig Potton Publishing
For cooks who garden and gardeners who cook.

And don't forget that the libraries hold copies of magazines like New Zealand Gardener and New Zealand Lifestyle Block as well as others like Home & Garden and Country Living.

So enjoy all this lovely Spring weather whilst we have it and take the kids, the books and go and enjoy your gardens.

Spotlight on William Horwood

2010-10-04T16:00:00.007+13:00

From the writing genius that produced the Duncton Wood Chronicles comes a new series - 'Hyddenworld'.
I have had the pleasure of reading the first book Spring and it is no doubt going to be the start of a gripping series.
From William Horwood's website:
"The beginning of an epic new, series Hyddenworld: Spring is a quest-story on a vast canvas, with a cast of unforgettable characters whose loves, fears and courage lead us on a journey of deep feeling and epic ideas to the very edges of the universe. Set in the world we know and the one we have forgotten, the journey begins here..."

The interplay between the human world and the hydden world and history and fantasy is beautifully written.
Hyddenworld will have 3 more books each named after the seasons and published one a year.
It will be a long wait for those who love well written fantasy.

Here is the official blurb:

Hyddenworld: Spring

At the heart of the series is the legend of Beornamund, 7th-century founder of ‘Brum’ or Birmingham as it became. He was a Mercian CraftLord, or maker of objects of great beauty and power. When his young lover Imbolc or Spring died he made a sphere of glass and metal, which he hurled in anger at the Gods. They broke it into a thousand pieces but could not destroy its power. Four of the fragments became gems each of which ‘stole’ something of the fires of the universe and earthly seasons.
Over the centuries these gems were lost to mortals. But it was said that when they are found and brought together again, Beornamund’s Sphere will be recreated and the fires of the dying Universe saved.
The story’s protagonists are humans and little people called Hydden who live in parallel but connected worlds. The Hydden lives and cities are intertwined with those of humans, who they can see but who cannot see them.
One day a Hydden called Jack, aged six, who is a ‘giant-born’ and as such is seen as threat to the Hyddenworld, is sent to live in the human world for his own survival. When he saves the life of Katherine, a human girl his own age, their futures become entangled with the quest for the first of the gems. So begins Hyddenworld: Spring and an extraordinary journey leads Jack and his Hydden and human friends to find all the gems and save a dying Universe.

You can reserve a copy at Waipukurau or Waipawa Libraries by going to the catalogue now

My visit to the Library!

2010-09-07T14:33:00.004+12:00

Hello! My name is Hannah and I am todays guest writer. I work part time at the Hasting Central Library, mainly processing the new items that come through, mending the old items that need some love and also taking my turn on the issues desk. I was lucky enough to take part in a "Swapportunity Day" being run beween the Libraries along the East Coast of the North Island so I have been spending the day down here in CHB. I spent 2 hours at the Waipawa Library this morning and I am now at the Waipukurau Library. Its been a lot of fun seeing how things are done in a smaller library than the one I work in, a lot of job-sharing etc which I found a nice change to the segregated sort of task specific roles in Hastings. Huge kudos to Karen for putting up with my aimless-ness. I didn't come with any direction in mind, I just wanted to see how it all worked and she was very patient. Explained all the systems and answered my questions so many thanks!

Generally speaking I split my time between Hastings and Takapau, and I have a little boy who keeps me very busy. Making time to read is important to me, so I tend to read when ever I get the chance-when I'm cooking, eating, walking round the house. If I could read while I was driving or walking my dog I would! At the moment I am reading Lynn Flewellings series 'Nightrunners' which I am finding very similar to David Eddings series 'The Belgariad' so if you like one you should try the other. While I wait for the next one in that series I am reading the Anita Blake series by Laurel K Hamilton (i'm a closet Twihard who's having withdrawal).. My all time favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and Bill Bryson, with *coughStephenieMeyercough* coming in a close third.

Its taken me a long time to write this small blurb so I suppose I had better go, thanks for having me!

Lots happening in September in Central Hawke's Bay

2010-08-25T12:27:00.004+12:00

Don’t Miss Out! Support your local events!

Wednesday 1st September

CHB Anglers Club. @ the Shooters Clubrooms, 7.30pm Winter, or 7pm daylight saving.
Marlborough St, Waipukurau .P: Debbie or Trevor 8566744. Learn tips and skills on how to catch that elusive trout.

Thursday 2nd – Sunday 5th September

CHB The Festival opens at Pukeora Estate. 10.am – 4pm. Free Shuttle buses available at the bottom of the hill. $7.50 entry fee per day or, $10.00 unlimited entry.
Traditional art, garden art, art workshops, art seminars, designer jewellery and more.
More than 90 fabulous stalls. Go to www.thefestival.org.nz

St Mary’s Clothing Sale. St Mary’s Church Hall, Waipukurau 8.30am-1pm

Friday 3rd September

CHB The Festival at Pukeora Estate. 10.am – 4pm. Free Shuttle buses available at the bottom of the
hill. $7.50 entry fee per day or, $10.00 unlimited entry.
The Warratahs at The Festival $65 p.p. Pukeora Estate, Waipukurau. Tickets are available from
the CHB Visitor Information Centre. P: 06 8586488
New Zealand’s fabulous nationally renowned band. Their music is known to most of us, so put on your dancing shoes, it promises to be a good night out...

Saturday 4th September

CHB The Festival at Pukeora Estate. 10.am – 4pm. Free Shuttle buses available at the bottom of the
hill. $7.50 entry fee per day or, $10.00 unlimited entry. The Big Red London Bus will transport visitors from town to the Festival for a small cost.
The Festival Market Day and the Great Ypuk Chilli Cook-Off. Ph 858 8986 for a stall.9am – 2pm.
Join in the fun down town - madness and mayhem where teams challenge your taste buds to select the best chilli dishes . Street stalls, bargains and entertainment abound so you can shop 'til you drop in Waipukurau's main street.
A London bus is available to shuttle folk from Waipukurau to The Festival at Pukeora Estate.
Otane Arts & Crafts Corner celebrate 40th Anniversary. 2.30pm.

Monday 6th September

CHB U3A St Peters Church Hall, Kenilworth St, Waipawa. $3.00 cover charge 1.30pm

Thursday 9th September

Inter Primary Schools Cross Country Event. (TBC)

Takapau WI Meeting. RSA Hall. Charlotte Street, Takapau 11am. P: 06 855 8148

VIP ( Visually Impaired People) meet @ Woburn Home, Holyrood Terrace, Waipukurau 1.30pm.
P: Clarice 06 858 9317

Sunday 12th - 19th September

Conservation Week ‘We Love You New Zealand’
DOC - No Ivy League Meet at Gwavas Garden Homestead (5740 SH 50) Sunday 12 September
Time: 9:30 am contact Kay Griffiths on 06 857 7291
Help to restore this grand old bit of lowland podocarp bush by pulling out small bits of ivy, an
opportunity to see Puahanui Bush, the renowned Gwavas garden and recently restored homestead.
Please bring your lunch and drink. Gloves will also be useful!

Monday 13th September

CHB Probus. St Mary’s Church Hall. Waipukurau 10.am. P: 06 858 9791 Guest speaker CHB Budget Services.

Tuesday 14th September

Waipawa WI Meeting at Waipawa Senior Citizen’s rooms Waverley St, Waipawa. 2.pm. P: 857 8835.

Thursday 16th September

Te Radar performing " Eating the Dog" CHB College Hall Tavistock Rd, Waipukurau 7.00pm
Tickets: $30 single, $50 double: available from Westpac Bank Waipukurau, Super Liquor Waipawa or Dallas Manning on 858 8386
This multi award-winning show will help raise money for Waipukurau Scouts to get to Jamboree!

Waipawa Senior Citizens meet at Club Rooms in Waverley Street 1.30pm. P: 06 857 8839

Friday 17thSeptember

Mainly Music. For children and toddlers at St John’s Hall Waipawa.9.30-10.30am. P: 06 857 8146
$2.00 per Family.

Saturday 18th September

Tramping 101 to Sunrise Hut Sunrise Hut, Central Hawke’s Bay 9:00 am – 4:00 pm To book,
contact DOC on (06) 834 3111
Have you ever been tempted to give tramping a go but aren’t sure if it’s for you? Join DOC Tramping 101 up to Sunrise Hut.

Waipukurau Herb & Garden Society. New members welcome. If you are interested in joining this group P: Marjory 06 858 8674 or Kay 06 858 8674

Waipukurau Arts & Crafts Exhibition (Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th), 5 Coughlan Road, 10am-
4pm.

St Joseph’s School Spring Second Hand Ball . Pukeora Estate, Pukeora Scenic Road, Waipukurau
8pm til Late. Tickets school office. 06 858 589221 $25.00 single, $40.00 double.
Dress up in anything fit for a wedding, eg; Bride, Groom, Flower Girl, Priest etc. Supper provided and bar facilities available.

Sunday 19th September
Carters Hatuma Half Marathon. It's count down to this fun annual sporting event around scenic Lake Hatuma.
Starts and finishes at the Waipukurau Racecourse. Registrations at 8am.. Patrice CHB Sport HB
P: 06 858 6523
Get off the couch and lace up your runners! Run it or walk it, but do it!
Entry Fee: $15 walker / runner $20 per team
Start Times: Walkers: 8.30 am Runners: 10.00 am Prizegiving:12.30pm

Waipukurau Arts & Crafts Exhibition (Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th), 5 Coughlan Road, 10am-
4pm.

Monday 20th September

CHB Primary Schools Rotary Speech Competitions. Waipukurau School 7.00pm.

Wednesday 22 September

CHB Business & Professional Women’s Club AGM 7.30pm Bowling Clubrooms, Harker Street,
Waipawa P: 06 855 4707.

Thursday 23 September

CHB Promotions Inc. Annual General Meeting Tavistock Hotel cnr Bar, Waipukurau. 5.30pm
P: 06 8586488 E mail: info@chb.co.nz
Everyone is invited to attend our Annual General Meeting. “Planning for the Future”.

CHB Brewers & Winemakers Meeting, Masonic Lodge Hall 7.30pm P: Ian 06 858 7190

Friday 24 September
School Term Three Ends

Saturday 25 September

Hawkes Bay Secondary Schools Mountain Bike Champs at Pukeora Hill MTB Park

Waipawa Lions Car Boot Sale. High Street. P: 06 857 5144
CHB Dirt Bike Riders Club Family Day. 10am-2pm. P: Tony 06 856 6606. Sausage sizzle and drinks available for purchase and loan bikes available.

Sunday 26th September

Daylight Saving Begins 2am –Spring forward 1 hour

Porangahau Spring Fair Chapelwick Coastal Estate 482 Hunter Rd, Porangahau,
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm Contact: Raewyn 06 855 5119 Website: www.chapelwick.co.nz
Arts, Crafts, Wine tasting, Food, Exhibitions, Fresh Produce, Music, Licensed Cafe, Devonshire Teas.
View Porangahau Station's historic chapel! Something for all the family.
The Spring Fair will held on the large flat area next to the Chapel and orchard. Reserve your stall.

CHB Country Music Club Monthly concert. 59 Ruataniwha St, Waipawa. 1.30pm.. P: Norm or Mary
06 8577858. $2.00 entry for members and $3.00 for non members
Great country music. Guest artist is to be announced. Afternoon tea & raffles available..
Tuesday 28th September

CHB Red Cross Branch Meeting at Waipukurau Club, Russell Street, Waipukurau. 9.30am P: 06 858 8731

Wow, September is going to be a busy month in Central Hawke's Bay. Remember that the libraries are open Monday-Friday & Saturday Mornings. Late nights are Thursdays.
We also have pre- school programme Rhyme Time running every week. Give us a ring on 06857 8123 for details

Library Week 2010

2010-08-20T15:38:00.005+12:00

Well that wraps up Library Week for another year.
"Ask Me - you might be surprised" was a great success. We had been a little worried after our Library Week article in the Local Newspaper said we knew everything.

But the trickiest question we were asked most was "Where is the newspaper today?".
It seems a few days there, our daily newspaper went walking!

New Zealand's Biggest Storytime was enjoyed by lots of under 5's on Wednesday at both Waipukurau and Waipawa Libraries and the book Mr Muggs The Library Cat by Dave Gunson was hugely enjoyed.

Thanks CHB. Let's do it again next year!

One staff book review & one author review

2010-07-22T16:15:00.004+12:00

A Loyal Spy by Simon Conway

This book is set mainly in the Middle East and the UK, and revolves around Jonah and his sort-of wife Miranda. The book moves between both of their viewpoints, and follows them as they foil a terrorist plot on London.

This was an interesting book. It's not a typical military-thriller book. The emphasis seemed to be on the characters rather than the action, which I found a little boring at the start but after I learnt a bit more about them it became a lot better. There was a bit of Al Qaeda history discussed which was quite interesting, as well as a sort of behind the scenes look at a spy's life.

The author, Simon Conway, served in the British Army, and then The Halo Trust where he cleared landmines.

I liked this book and will probably read it again. In my opinion it's one of those books that are better to read when you already know what will happen. If you like military themed books but without a lot of gore and with some interesting ideas then this is a good book for you.

This book is available at both the Waipawa and Waipukurau library.

James Rollins

I absolutely love James Rollins books. The first five books he wrote, (Subterranean, Excavation, Deep Fathom, Amazonia, and Ice Hunt), are quite bloody and slightly unbelievable at times, but if you can suspend a bit of belief then you'll enjoy them.

Neither the Waipawa or Waipukurau library have any of James Rollin's early books, but they are available to buy on the internet, and if you enjoyed any of his latest books I would recommend buying the earlier ones. I've done so and I've read them quite a few times since I got them. Not at night though because they can be a bit scary at times.

The Sigma Series is newer and is definitely a step up from the above books. It revolves around Sigma Force who are an elite arm of the U.S. Defense department. These books are just as bloody as his first books but are different in the way that they are often heavy on science, which confuses me sometimes but it also makes for a slightly educational read. These books are good to read again because they have so much detail so it's easy to miss things.

All the Sigma Force books are available to borrow from both branches of the library, and though it's not essential to read them in order, it does help.

Altar of Eden is the latest James Rollins' book and is a stand-alone novel that is written in the same vein as the Sigma Force novels, just with a U.S. Border Patrol agent as the main character rather than a U.S. Defence Department agent as one.
It was quite a good read and as most of his books are, was educational as well.

If you like James Rollins then I would definitely recommend Matthew Reilly , who is one of my favourite authors.

Ana. :)

Waipawa Library is back, bigger and better

2010-07-15T16:19:00.013+12:00

First weeks back in the new renovated Waipawa Library and the staff are still wandering around:

A. Looking for stuff we stored whilst we were renovating
B. Marvelling at the new beautiful fittings
C. Just generally enjoying our new space.

Personally as the IT librarian I spend most of my time admiring the new Comms Cabinet. (I know, I'm a sorry sad individual). But honestly take a look at these before and after pictures.

I call this sequence- From Triffid to Terrific

And for the interested here are some more pics of the whole renovation.

You can check out some others on our Flickr photostream

Exciting Times Ahead

2010-06-21T11:49:00.002+12:00

Central Hawke's Bay District Libraries Update:

Waipawa Library will close its temporary premises on Monday the 28th June, 2010 to allow for the move into the NEW (refurbished) premises.

ALL GOING TO PLAN THE WAIPAWA LIBRARY WILL REPOPEN MONDAY 5TH JULY

We will look forward to seeing lots of you come to check out the new improved library. We have to tell you the space is coming together beautifully and is looking quite a picture.

OTHER NEWS:

Both the Waipawa and Waipukurau Libraries are going to trial a late night closing on Thursdays. We will close at 6pm instead of 5pm starting in July. This will only become permanent if our patrons take the opportunity to come in. So instead of rushing home on Thursdays you can take your time and come on in and browse for that special book and then go grab takeaways and head home for a great night of food and reading.

July Holiday Programme

2010-06-21T11:40:00.002+12:00

It is almost school holiday time again and along with running the Winter Warmers Programme we will have some fun craft sessions scheduled and also storyteller Tanya Batt will be joining us.

Here is the timetable of events:

WAIPUKURAU LIBRARY

7th July 2pm -3pm Window Lights

9th July 10.30am -11.30am Straw Danglers

13th July 3.30pm -4.30pm Storyteller Tanya Batt visits

WAIPAWA LIBRARY

6th July 2pm -3pm Window Lights

8th July 10.30am -11.30am Straw Danglers

14th July 10.30am -11.30am Storyteller Tanya Batt visits

We look forward to seeing you at the new Waipawa Library. You will be able to relax and enjoy our craft sessions and Storyteller Tanya Batt in our new Children's section.

Non-fiction Book Reviews

2010-05-20T10:15:00.008+12:00

Hi there from the newest member of the team at CHB Libraries. My name is Andy Lyver and my favourite genre as a reader is non-fiction.

The Fight for Fordhall Farm by Ben and Charlotte Hollins (published by Hodder & Stoughton) is an English rural story. After their father died, Ben and Charlotte resisted the landlord's attempts to evict the family from the farm. This is the inspiring story of two young people who raised hundreds of thousands of pounds against great odds to enable them to continue the family tradition of organic farming.

Hell West and Crooked by Tom Cole (published by Ulverscroft Large Print) is an autobiography of a man who was born in 1906 and left home in London at 17 to emigrate to Australia. With no experience, he went to work in the outback where life was hard and the rewards were few and far between. This is the vivid account of a life lived at pace with many scrapes and misadventures, told with clarity and dry humour.

NZ Post Children's Book Awards

2010-05-11T12:33:00.005+12:00

Central Hawke's Bay Festival Programme until 19th May

May 11th
Author Des Hunt is visiting Pukehou School for an author's talk. In the afternoon he will be in Southern Hawke's Bay at Dannevirke Library (1.50pm). Be prepared for some great fun and some surprises

May 12th Childrens Librarian Kylee will be visiting Argyll School at 10am to read Piggity-Wiggity-Jig & do the Wonky Donkey Dance.

May 12th
Sharon will be hosting a special NZ Post Book Awards Rhyme Time session at Waipukurau Branch at 10.30am. Come along for some great fun and games.

May 12th
Kylee will be visiting Waipawa Kindergarten at 1.30pm for some jigging and dancing and possibly even some great story reading.

May 13th
Kylee will be visiting Waipukurau Primary School at 11am to read E3 and do the Wonky Donkey dance.

May 14th
Kylee will be hosting a special NZ Post Book Awards Rhyme Time session at Waipawa Library. Bring all the children and come celebrate NZ Post Book Awards Week.

May 14th
Kylee will be visiting Waipawa Primary School to read E3 and do the Wonky Donkey Dance. Check with the school for times.

May 17th
Today Kylee wil be visiting Hunter Park Kindergarten at 12pm

May 17th
Kylee's road trip continues with a visit to Tikokino Primary School at 1.40pm

May 18th
Last stop on the NZ Post Children's Book Awards tour is Omakere Primary School at 1.40pm

So a very busy week for Kylee and Sharon. They have some fun stuff planned so come along and help us celebrate NZ Post Children's Book Awards. You can also check out the finalists in the book awards here

Update from the Sunshine Coast

2010-04-16T16:26:00.004+12:00

So how are you all back in CHB. I'm living it up large on a sunny Noosa beach catching up on lots of reading. Thought I'd let you know about a couple of great books which will make great holiday reading for any of you lucky enough to still be on holiday or are heading off.

Christian Jacq's Tutankhamun The last secret (published by Simon & Schuster) is a great read for all you lovers of Da Vinci Code type books. It doesn't have all the twists and turns of a Dan Brown novel but is still a great read for a sunny afternoon beside the pool. Or if you are in New Zealand tucked up in bed.

Traci Harding's Being of the Field (Triad of Being Book One) (published by HarperVoyager) is a really good read. Almost a new genre. Science Fiction/Fantasy meets Chicklit. A little bit of Quantam theory, a little bit of mysticism, a little bit of romance and you have what is the first in a great series. I haven't come across a Traci Harding book I don't like so give this one a try.

Here's a little blurb about it:

The power to control the driving force of the universe has finally come to light.

At the university on Malaldaan, Taren has studied everything from genetics and cell communication to Quantum Physics, Astrophysics and ESP. She believes there is an ocean of microscopic vibrations connecting everything in the universe to every other universe - an inter dimensional field theory.

Unbeknownst to Taren, however, her research and psychic talents are being noticed.

So it's back to the pool for me with my next book Edward's Rutherford's New York....This one could take awhile:-)

What has Kylee got planned this holidays?

2010-04-06T12:52:00.003+12:00

As I type this I can hear Kylee's first school holiday session starting upstairs. Twenty excited Scallywags children are having what sounds to be a lot of fun making balloon men. In case you didn't make it today Kylee will be doing the same at Waipawa Library tomorrow at 10.30am.

Here is the rest of the holiday schedule:

Waipukurau Library 8th April 10.3am-11.30am - Mosaic craft
Waipukurau Library 13th April 2pm-3pm - Leaf puppets
Waipukurau Library 15th April 10.30am-11.30am Mosaic craft

Waipawa Library 7th April 10.30am-11.30am Balloon people
Waipawa Library 9th April 2pm-3pm Mosaic craft
Waipawa Library 14th April 10.30am-11.30am Leaf puppets
Waipawa Library 16th April 2pm-3pm Mosaic craft

Conspiracy 365

2010-03-30T15:04:00.004+13:00

Callum Ormond has been warned. He has 365 days. The countdown has begun

On New Years Eve Cal is chased down the street by a staggering sick man with a deadly warning:
"They killed your father. They'll kill you. You must survive the next 365 days."

Thus the phenomenon that is Conspiracy 365 began. Twelve books over twelve months written by Gabrielle Lord.
The libraries now have January, February and March in stock and we are a week away from having April. These are great reads for ages 10-15.

You can also check the website and become a Conspiracy 365 member where you can enter competitions and have sneak peaks at what is coming up.

http://www.conspiracy365.com/index.php

CHB Aero Club 75th Jubilee

2010-03-14T19:09:00.005+13:00

Here is some more great video taken from the CHB Aero Club's 75th Jublilee on the 27th February 2010.

Thanks to Ruatuki for the great footage

High Tea at the Waipawa Municipal Theatre

2010-03-12T16:19:00.005+13:00

PEARLS AND GLOVES ON THE CARDS FOR POSH AFTERNOON TEA AT THE WAIPAWA MUNICIPAL THEATRE

The Waipawa Municipal Theatre will be dressed to impress for the first of three community fundraising events planned for the Theatre redevelopment. A traditional old-fashioned high tea will be served on Sunday 28th March from 2.00 till 4.00pm, with entertainment from Julie Appleton-Seymour School of Dance, the Waipawa Primary School Choir and local band Rothko.

“We thought a High Tea would reflect the era the building was built in and so it will be a nice way to celebrate the building’s history as we prepare the Theatre for a refurbishment that will be high-tech behind the scenes, while keeping all the nice bits that already exist” says High Tea organiser Meredith Kingston.

Check out the article on the CHBD Council website for more info

New Book Selection

2010-03-11T14:41:00.005+13:00

We have had some wonderful books come into the library this month already. Here is a couple of reviews for you off our recommended list:

February by Lisa Moore. Published by Chatto & Windus (Random House NZ)

Here is the RadioNZ review for you to listen to or check out the review below:

This poignant novel traces the life of widow Helen O’Mara, who lost her husband Cal on a Newfoundland oil rig on Valentine’s eve, while pregnant with her fourth child.

The story and related memories are triggered 26 years later by a late night call from her son John, as he informs her that a woman he had a brief fling with is now pregnant.

Each chapter flashes between Helen’s life since that fatal night, alongside the thoughts of John and those of the mother of his unborn child, Jane, as they travel to meet each other in Toronto and return home.

The merging of their separate stories delicately portrays the immensity of the emotions felt, and hints he chose a life travelling away from home as a result of his mother’s struggle to admit her loss.

For Helen, there is the unconscious hope that this new life will ultimately be what forces her to face her grief. An intense and absorbing read. Highly recommended.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. Published by Viking Penguin

Here is the blurb from Sarah Blake's website and here is a great review from ReadingGroupGuides.com

"Those who carry the truth sometimes bear a terrible weight...

It is 1940. While war is raging in Europe, in the United States President Roosevelt promises he won’t send American boys over to fight.

Iris James is the postmistress and spinster of Franklin, Massachusetts, a small town on Cape Cod. Iris knows a lot more about the townspeople that she will ever say. She knows that Emma Trask has come to marry the town’s young doctor. She knows that Harry Vale, the town’s mechanic, inspects the ocean from the tower of the town hall, searching in vain for German U-Boats he is certain will come. Iris firmly believes that her job is to deliver and keep people’s secrets, to pass along the news of love and sorrow that letters carry. Yet one day Iris does the unthinkable: she slips a letter into her pocket. And then she does something even worse --- she reads the letter, then doesn’t deliver it.

Meanwhile, seemingly fearless American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, reporting from the Blitz in London. Frankie’s radio dispatches crinkle across the Atlantic, imploring listeners to pay attention to what is going on as the Nazis bomb London nightly. Then, in the last, desperate days of the summer of 1941, Frankie rides the trains out of Germany and reports what is happening. But while most of the townspeople of Franklin are convinced the war “overseas” can’t touch them, Iris and Emma --- unable to tear themselves away from Frankie’s voice --- know better.

Alternating between an America on the eve of entering into World War II, still safe and snug in its inability to grasp the danger at hand, and a Europe being torn apart by war, the two stories collide in a letter, bringing the war finally home to Franklin."

A remarkable read - Highly recommended

Geraldine Brophy is coming to town

2010-03-11T14:26:00.005+13:00

Friends of the Central Hawke's Bay District Libraries are bringing Geraldine Brophy to the Waipawa Town Hall on Saturday April 24th at 6.00pm.
They would love you to join them for an evening of entertainment and food.

Tickets for this exciting CHB event are available from both Waipawa and Waipukurau Libraries. The cost is $50 which covers dinner and entertainment.
You can contact either library for more details: 858-9154 or 857-8123

NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2010

2010-03-05T11:01:00.000+13:00

A great list of fantastic New Zealand authors are contenders for this year's awards.
Here they are:

PICTURE BOOK CATEGORY

Cowshed Christmas
Gavin Bishop, illustrated by Joy Cowley
Random House New Zealand

Old Hu-Hu
Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Rachel Driscoll
Scholastic New Zealand

Hū-Hū Koroheke (Te reo edition)
translated by Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira

Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig Goes to Dad’s Cafe
Diana Neild, illustrated by Philip Webb
Scholastic New Zealand

The Wonky Donkey
Craig Smith, illustrated by Katz Cowley
Scholastic New Zealand

The Word Witch
Margaret Mahy, illustrated by David Elliot, edited by Tessa Duder
HarperCollins Publishers

Non-Fiction Category

Ben & Mark: Boys of the High Country
Christine Fernyhough & John Bougen
Random House New Zealand

Dear Alison
Simon Pollard (editor)
Penguin NZ

E3 Call Home
Janet Hunt
Random House New Zealand

Rangitoto
Maria Gill, illustrated by Heather Arnold
Puffin Books

Willie Apiata, VC: The Reluctant Hero
Paul Little & John Lockyer
Puffin Books

Junior Fiction

Cry of the Taniwha
Des Hunt
HarperCollins Publishers

Friends: Snake and Lizard
Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop
Gecko Press

The Lobolly Boy
James Norcliffe
Longacre Press

My Story: The Mine's Afire!
Susan Battye & Thelma Eakin
Scholastic New Zealand

Sting
Raymond Huber
Walker Books

Young Adult Fiction Category

Banquo's Son
T.K. Roxborogh
Penguin NZ

The Beginner's Guide to Living
Lia Hills
Text Publishing

Blood of the Lamb: The Crossing
Mandy Hager
Random House New Zealand

Brainjack
Brian Falkner
Walker Books

End of the Alphabet
Fleur Beale
Random House New Zealand

For all the info you need and heaps of other great stuff head to the Booksellers website and you can click on the publishers to go to their websites for all their book news.

If you want to know what we are up to this year with our NZ Post Children's Book Awards then you can contact our co-ordinator Kylee on 857-8123 or 858-9154. She has some great events planned.

CHB Aero Club 75th Anniversary

2010-03-04T16:11:00.004+13:00

Saturday 27th saw a fantastic selection of aircraft coverge on the Waipukurau Aerodrome to celebrate the CHB Aero Club's 75th Anniversary. From a Mustang and a Citation to a Hercules, the aircraft put on a great show for the many who turned out to watch. Not many people in Waipukurau would have been able to ignore the event as the Hercules made a great flyover. There will be lots of videos on this event coming your way but for starters check out the C130 Hercules footage.

Congratulations must go to the Aero Club members for organizing the show.

150th Celebration

2010-02-16T13:12:00.005+13:00

What a fantastic weekend for Waipawa Township celebrating its 150th birthday. We at CHB libraries joined in the parade with the theme 150 years of service to CHB. Books, costumes and props through the years made up our float and we had a great time.

Check out a slideshow of Saturdays events below.

The day started with a wonderful parade through the streets of Waipawa and continued with stalls, games, tours, picnics and music throughout the weekend.

Be proud of yourselves Central Hawke's Bay. You rock!

New Sara Donati

2010-02-11T16:16:00.000+13:00

The wait is over for all you Nathaniel & Elizabeth Bonner fans. Endless Forest has arrived in.
Just to refresh your memory it all started with Into the Wilderness when Elizabeth Middleton, twenty-nine years old and unmarried, leaves her Aunt Merriweather's comfortable English estate to join her father and brother in the remote mountain village of Paradise on the edge of the New York wilderness .

In Endless Forest it is the year 1824 and the Bonners must deal with a devastating flood and the repercussions of family reunions.

You can reserve Endless Forest here

You can also read Sara Donati's other books written under the name Rosina Lippi

Author: Keri Arthur

2010-02-11T15:50:00.001+13:00

Since we have just had the trilogy of books The Damask Circle series arrive in, it seems an opportune time to do a blog posting about Keri Arthur.

From her website:
Here's The Bio: I’m a born and bred Melbourne (Australia) gal, and grew up sharing my life with dragons, elves, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters and the occasional talking horse. Which worried my family no end. Of course, now that I’m actually make a living sharing my life with the abovementioned creatures, they no longer contemplate calling the men with the little white coat. When not at my keyboard, I can be found at the gym, sitting front of the TV, or taking my two dogs for a walk.

Here is a list of her books currently on our catalogue:

Dangerous games / Arthur, Keri. 2007.

Holdings:

Waipawa

Rental Fiction

ART

Shelved

The darkest kiss / Arthur, Keri. 2008.

Holdings:

Waipukurau

Rental Fiction

ART

Issued

Deadly desire / Arthur, Keri. 2009.

Holdings:

Waipawa

Rental Fiction

ART

Shelved

Embraced by darkness / Arthur, Keri. 2007.

Holdings:

Waipawa

Rental Fiction

ART

Shelved

Full moon rising / Arthur, Keri. 2007.

Holdings:

Waipawa

Rental Fiction

ART

Shelved

Generation 18 / Arthur, Keri. 2004.

Holdings:

Waipawa

Rental Fiction

ART

Shelved

Kissing sin / Arthur, Keri. 2007.

Holdings:

Waipawa

Rental Fiction

ART

Shelved

Memory zero / Arthur, Keri. 2004.

Holdings:

Waipawa

Rental Fiction

ART

Shelved

Penumbra / Arthur, Keri. 2005.

Holdings:

Waipawa

Rental Fiction

ART

Shelved

Tempting evil / Arthur, Keri. 2007.

Holdings:

Waipawa

Rental Fiction

ART

Shelved

If you want to read the Damask Circle series which consists of Circle of Fire, Circle of Desire and Circle of Death you will need to reserve them here These are actually reprints from 2001,02 & 03.
If you like vampires, mysticism, secrets, love & magic you'll love these.
Keri Arthur also twitters at:
http://twitter.com/kezarthur

Come and join us for Waipawa's Big Day

2010-02-01T13:13:00.000+13:00

On Saturday 13th February. Central Hawke's Bay residents will be out in force to help Waipawa township celebrate 150 years.

We have a lot of great things planned so come out and join us.
The day will start at:

10am with a Grand Parade.
We will begin at the Town Hall and head down the main street and thence to Coronation Park

11am Have fun at the Family Gala. Lots of stalls and sports and games.

3pm Starting at Coronation Park there will be a Historic Homes Walk. Enjoy and learn a little about the old houses of Waipawa and the stories of the families.

6pm The offical opening of the new Children's Playground at Nellie Jull Park with a fly-over by the CHB Aero Club and we will finish with a Picnic in the Park Concert.

There is no entry fee and we have two big red London buses coming from Napier and Hastings to join the parade.

YA evening at Mary Kippenbergers

2010-01-13T12:11:00.000+13:00

The Read+ participants gathered together at Mary Kippenberger and Peter Charlton-Jones property for some sun, swimming, food and theatre sports last week. Much frivolity ensued and a great evening was had by all. Check out the pics...

Holiday Fun at your libraries this holidays

2009-12-29T14:55:00.000+13:00

Lots of fun stuff at your local libraries this holidays.

At Waipukurau this week we have an activities table going non stop. Pop in anytime. Next week on the 5th January we have Under the Sea crafts at 3pm and on Friday 8th January we will be joined at 1pm by Pete the Pirate.

At Waipawa this week we also have an activities table going all week and next week the Under the Sea crafts session will be on Wednesday 6th at 3pm and Pete the Pirate will be appearing at 10.30am on the 8th January

Christmas Greetings from your team at CHB Libraries

2009-12-18T15:49:00.001+13:00

Just a reminder that we will be closed on Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Monday 28th December and will reopen Tuesday 29th.

Ngai's Top Ten Reads of 2009

2009-12-15T16:34:00.000+13:00

I have just been back over the 448 books I have had out this year (looks quite a lot when you see it in print) and have picked out my top ten reads for 2009. These are not necessarily new books and I notice that none are in the libraries top ten borrowed items. Just goes to show you we've got books for everyone at the CHB libraries.

10. Whitebaiters never lie - Anita Peters/Murray Hedwig (David Bateman Publishers)
A celebration of the characters who catch that iconic Kiwi food - the whitebait. Whitebaiters are a breed apart, and photographers Anita Peters and Murray Hedwig spent over three years travelling the country talking to and photographing New Zealanders about their passion, and documenting the, at times, complex unwritten 'rules' that surround it. With an opening essay (and a few recipes) from Keri Hulme.

Fantastic photography and a book chockful of colourful characters.

9. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (Allen & Unwin Publishers)

A lovely story of post-war friendship, love and books, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society is an entrancing read of enormous depth and heart.

It's 1946, and as Juliet Ashton sits at her desk in her Chelsea flat, she is stumped. A writer of witty newspaper columns during the war, she can't think of what to write next. Out of the blue, she receives a letter from one Dawsey Adams of Guernsey - by chance he's acquired a book Juliet once owned - and, emboldened by their mutual love of books, they begin a correspondence.

Dawsey is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and it's not long before the rest of the members write to Juliet - including the gawky Isola, who makes home-made potions, Eben, the fisherman who loves Shakespeare, and Will Thisbee, rag-and-bone man and chef of the famous potato peel pie. As letters fly back and forth, Juliet comes to know the extraordinary personalities of the Society and their lives under the German occupation of the island. Entranced by their stories, Juliet decides to visit the island to meet them properly - and unwittingly turns her life upside down.

You often hear people talk about an 'honest' read and this is definitely one of those. The story shines out with clarity and vision.

8. The Hatshop on the Corner - Marita Conlon-McKenna (Bantam Books)

Hats! Hats! Hats! Upbrims, sidesweeps, silks, ribbons and trims all become part of Ellie's life when she inherits the little hat shop on Dublin's South Anne Street. But the city is changing and Ellie must decide if she wants to follow the hat-making tradition of her mother or accept a generous offer to sell the shop. Encouraged by her friends, Ellie takes on the hat shop and her quirky designs and tempting millinery confections soon attract a rich assortment of customers all in search of the perfect hat. Creating hats for weddings, shows, fashion and fun, and falling for the charms of Rory Doyle along the way, Ellie is happier than she has ever been before. But as her fingers work their magic she discovers a lot can happen in the heart of a city like Dublin.

Don't like hats much but just love this book. A feel-good read that is perfect for your Summer Holidays

7. Banquo's Son - T.K. Roxborogh (Penguin Group NZ)

For Fleance, the only son of Banquo, Thane of Lochaber, the time has come to make a choice. Since his father's brutal murder ten years ago, he has hidden in the woods of Northern England, keeping his identity a secret from all. Now Fleance must unmask his enemies and discover why he is plagued by his father's ghost.

But everything in life has a price. Fleance must sacrifice his love for Rosie and journey back to his homeland if he is to find the answers and fulfil his father's dying wish. The choices he makes will change his life forever while the secrets from his past threaten to bring down the throne of Scotland.
An epic tale of love, loss and revenge set amidst the turmoil of Scotland after Macbeth.

I reviewed this book a little while ago and now put it in my top 10 because it is a brillant read for people from ages 12 to ...whenever. It was entertaining, well written and inspired me to go looking for more information about the history of Scotland. Tania Roxborogh has written a masterpiece

6. Warprize - Elizabeth Vaughan (Gollancz)

Xylara is the Daughter of the Warrior King, Xyron. With her father dead and her incompetent half-brother on the throne, the kingdom is in danger of falling to the warring Firelanders. Before she was old enough for a marriage-of-alliance, Xylara was trained as a healer. She can't usurp her brother or negotiate a peace--but she can heal the brave ones injured in battle. But not only her countrymen are wounded, and Xylara's conscience won't let Firelander warriors die when she can do something to save them. She learns their language and their customs and tries to make them as comfortable as possible, despite their prisoner-of-war status. She never expects that these deeds, done in good faith, would lead to the handsome and mysterious Firelander Warlord demanding her in exchange for a cease-fire. Xylara knows must trade the life she has always known for the well-being of her people, and so she becomes..The Warprize.

The first in the Chronicles of the Warlands, all of which are great reads and then there is her series Epic of Palins which is also fantastic. Put under the genre Paranormal Romance which makes them sound more True Blood than Graceling but don't be put off by that. These books are superb reads with great story lines.

5. 4. 3. 2. The Troy Game - Sara Douglass (HarperCollins)

Consisting of Hade's Daughter, God's Concubine, Darkwitch Rising and Druid's Sword.

Every day millions of children world wide play hopscotch. Every morning and evening hundreds of thousands of commuters use London’s railway and road systems. Deep in the highlands of Wales isolated shepherds cut strange symbols into the turf in order to protect their flocks.

These otherwise totally unrelated groups are all unwitting participants in the same activity.
They are playing the Troy Game.
Here is what Sara Douglass has to say about them:

Hades' Daughter. This is set in c. 1100 BC, describing the catastrophic events in the Aegean after the eruption of Thera, and the establishment of the Game, and of Labyrinth-London, in late Bronze-Age Britain.

God's Concubine. The tale now moves into the eleventh century, and the bitter struggle for power between Harold Godwinson and William the Conqueror - both vying for control for the Game.

Darkwitch Rising. It is now the early-to-mid-seventeenth century. England is embroiled in civil war, kings are murdered, exiled and restored, and Cornelia-reborn is living the high life at Woburn Abbey. All have returned, dragged back this time by the Troy Game itself rather than by Asterion, and all are more powerful than ever. Moreover, Ariadne is back as well, creating mayhem and mischief (together with one of my ancestors, no less!) in the Tower of London. Darkwitch Rising is a pivotal book, because this is one of those books that just when you thought you knew where things were headed ... I've gone and changed everything. Several huge surprises, and by the end of the book some highly strange alliances are formed.

Druids' Sword (a late change of title). Set during 1939-1941, mainly during the period of the London Blitz, from 7th September 1940 to 10th May 1941, the book centres on Jack Skelton's (Brutus') desperate search for a means to not only save London, but the Faerie and all those he loves. He seems helplessly trapped, unable to find a solution, watching many of those he loves best lost to death for all time, until one day he finds himself in a long forgotten crypt, staring at a piece of marzipan fruit on a chipped plate, a half-full decanter of whisky and two dirty glasses, and a receipt from a seedy hotel, all of which sit on a crumbling altar. Suddenly, he has an idea ...

Okay so I'm cheating a bit here but these books are so amazing I had to put them in separately. Sara Douglass's breadth of storytelling skill is astonishing. Fantastic reads. You may well be like me and finish the last only to go back to the first and start again.

1. The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein (HarperCollins)

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: he thinks and feels in nearly human ways. He has educated himself by watching extensive television, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo realizes that racing is a metaphor: that by applying the techniques a driver would apply on the race track, one can successfully navigate the ordeals and travails one encounters in life.

Enzo relates the story of his human family, sharing their tragedies and triumphs. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations as a dog, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family.
The Art of Racing in the Rain is a testament to a man's life, given by his dog. But it is also a testament to the dog, himself. Though Enzo cannot speak, he understands everything that happens around him as he bears witness to his master's problems. His enforced muteness only refines his listening ability, and allows him to understand many of life's nuances that are lost on most humans. With humour, sharp observation, and a courageous heart, Enzo guides the reader to the bittersweet yet ultimately satisfying conclusion: there are no limitations to what we can achieve, if we truly know where we want to be.

Before this the only other book or movie to make me cry was The Incredible Journey.
It is Enzo who makes this story rock, makes this story moving, makes this story the beautiful thing it is.

Popular Books of 2009

2009-12-15T15:37:00.000+13:00

So what books did CHB people read the most this year. Well below is a little list for you:

Fiction:

Cross country Patterson, James
Assegai Smith, Wilbur
Gone tomorrow Child, Lee
Heart and soul Binchy, Maeve
Fishing for stars Courtenay, Bryce
Lessons in heartbreak Kelly, Cathy
Scarpetta Cornwell, Patricia
The business Cole, Martina
The pagan stone Roberts, Nora
A good woman Steel, Danielle

Non Fiction:

The Pourerere road Ballantyne, Pam
Willie Apiata, VC Little, Paul
That's another story Walters, Julie
The official New Zealand road code for New Zealand. Land Transport NZ
Jo Seagar Seagar, Jo
Parky Parkinson, Michael
Can we help it if we're fabulous? Mathias, Peta
The house at Salvation Creek Duncan, Susan
The Duchess Foreman, Amanda
Daddy was a German spy and other Edwards, Brian

Great to see so many New Zealand books in the NF section.

Great new titles coming from Penguin this Summer

2009-11-20T16:08:00.000+13:00

A great mix of fiction, non fiction and childrens books will be arriving in from Penguin this Summer for your holiday delectation.

Here's a few titles to whet your appetite:

Bed In a Tree:
And other amazing hotels from around the world by Bettina Kowalewski (published by Dorling Kindersley)

27 weird and extraordinary hotels from around the world each offering an unforgettable and original place to stay. Hotels include an aeroplane in New Zealand, the Ice Hotel in Sweden, an actual bed in a tree in South Africa, a snooze in a suitcase in Germany and even a night in a stone pineapple in Scotland!
This is a unique book with great photographs

Slow Death by Rubber Duck by Rick Smith

Provocative and groundbreaking, Slow Death by Rubber Duck reveals how the living of daily life creates a toxic soup inside each of us.
Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, two of Canada's leading environmental activists, tackle these questions head on by experimenting upon themselves. Over a four-day period, our intrepid (and perhaps foolhardy) authors ingest and inhale a host of things that surround us all every day, all of which are suspected of being toxic and posing long term health risks to humans. By revealing the pollution load in their bodies before and after the experiment - and the results in most cases are downright frightening - they tell the inside story of seven common substances.

Wild Encounters:
A Forest & Bird Guide to Discovering New Zealand’s Unique Wildlife
by Forest & Bird (published by Penguin NZ)

Wild Encounters is your complete guide to more than twenty of the best nature experiences New Zealand has to offer. Each entry contains maps, travel details and what to see and do, all accompanied by beautiful photography. You’ll have all the information you need to discover the wildlife in places as diverse as Great Barrier Island, Tongariro and Kaikoura.

Where the Wild Things Are: Colouring and Activity Book (published by Puffin)

If you were king of all the wild things, what would your crown look like?
If you could make a delicious feast for your subjects, what would it be?
Make and colour some great things based on the movie.

Containment by Vanda Symon (published by Penguin)

Vanda Symon’s third novel features the feisty young policewoman Sam Shephard who was the central character in her two previous books Overkill and The Ringmaster. In Containment, Sam is training as a detective at Dunedin Central when she is assigned to investigate what seems to be a routine diving accident off the Otago coast. But the forensics reveal that the man didn’t die from drowning. And that the body was stuffed in its wetsuit after death.

If you are wanting some more info on the extremely talented Vanda Symon check out her launch event here

John Perriam entertains CHB

2009-11-20T12:18:00.001+13:00

On Wednesday night John Perriam (author of Dust to Gold: The Inspiring Story of Bendigo Station: published by Random House) entertained around 120 people at the Waipawa Town Hall. Guests were treated to a feast of stories regarding John's experiences on Bendigo including the finding and resulting publicity of Shrek the Sheep, the growth of the merino wool industry and the wine making arm of the station.

A CHB slant on John's stories was provided by local girl Claire McCutcheon who was visiting Bendigo Station at the time Shrek was brought down from the high country and was instrumental in giving him his name. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Alder. Scrapbookin' 2 D Max

Dive into Books

2009-11-19T16:48:00.000+13:00

Summer reading is almost upon us.
Thanks to the Eastern and Central Community Trust once again we present the Central Hawke's Bay Summer reading programme.
This year our theme is Dive into Books and the Waipawa and Waipukurau Libraries will be taking registrations from next Monday 23rd November.
Kylee our children's librarian has some great things planned. Dive into Games at A'Deane and Nelly Jull Parks, a disco and a great new story teller.

Nicole, Ana, Hannah, Kim, Crystal and Angel are hanging out to hear all your story reviews so get ready for some great sessions.
We look forward to seeing lots of CHB kids at the libraries this Summer.

Spotlight on Kate Mosse

2009-11-16T14:34:00.000+13:00

Kate Mosse is certainly an incredibly talented writer. Labyrinth, Sepulchre and Crucifix Lane are all great books and in her new novel The Winter Ghosts published by Orion Books she has produced another beautiful read.
The story journeys through loss, sorrow, mystery and redeemption with the main character Freddie Watson who has lost his brother in the Great War and cannot come to terms with the loss. Wound up with this is a 600 year old mystery that Freddie becomes involved in.
This is not a long or heavy read which is probably very good as you may (like myself) want to read it in one sitting. It is very nicely illustrated throughout and has one of the simplest yet eye-catching covers I have seen for awhile.
Highly recommended

2009-11-12T16:28:00.005+13:00

Followers of Sara Donati

Sara has just published the 6th volume of her Into the Wilderness series -:

Published by Random House

With a master storyteller's skill and a historian's precision, Sara Donati has delighted readers and critics alike with her bestselling novels of the nineteenth-century New York frontier. Now she brings us The Endless Forest, set in the remote village of Paradise, where the Bonner family that readers first met in Into the Wilderness make their home.The spring of 1824 is a challenging one for the inhabitants of Paradise N.Y. when a flood devastates the village. But for Nathaniel and Elizabeth Bonner, it's also a time of reunion as their children return from far-off places: Lily and her husband from Italy, and Martha Kirby, the Bonners' ward, from Manhattan. Although Lily is nursing her own grief, it is Martha, fleeing a crushing humiliation, who brings with her trouble that will reverberate in all their lives.In the sudden peace that follows the storm, as families struggle to rebuild, childhood friends Martha and Daniel, Lily's twin brother, suddenly begin to see each other in a new light. But their growing bond is threatened when Martha's mother arrives back in Paradise a decade after abandoning her daughter. Jemima Southern is a dangerous schemer who has destroyed more than one family, and her anger touches everyone, as do her secrets. Has Jemima come to claim her daughter-or does she have something else in mind? Whatever happens, Martha and Daniel and all the Bonners must stand united against the threats to both heart and home.Painful secrets and hidden sorrows, joy, heartbreak, and passion follow the Bonners through a season of change and renewal. A rich, passionate, multilayered portrayal of family strength and endurance in a fascinating place and time, The Endless Forest will be remembered long after the last page is turned.

Spotlight on Talking Books

2009-11-11T14:51:00.000+13:00

I've had the pleasure of listening to a couple of great Talking Books recently.

Talking Books are books available on CD and/or Cassette Tape and both Waipukurau and Waipawa libraries have an extensive collection available for the sight impaired, those families taking long journeys, truck drivers etc.

The unlikely voyage of Jack de Crow (Louis Braille Audio Binding: CD) is an absolute gem of a story. I first got this book in print form and liked it very much. However it wasn't until I heard the author read it that I fully appreciated it. That is the beauty of the talking book. So much more can be taken out of the story if the book is read well and A J Mackinnon reads this wonderfully with all the experience of his drama teaching background. He has a compelling story telling voice and this is a great journey,

From the ABC Book Show interview in 2008 A J Mackinnon had this to say about how his voyage came about:

"Well, it's a funny old story really. I never intended to do the whole thing in the first place. I had just decided...I wanted to leave the school I was working at, I'd been there for a very happy six years, and thought...I'm a drama teacher, so I thought let's do it in style. I borrowed this little Mirror dingy and thought wouldn't it be good to have a party in the woods, put it in the canal and do the classic thing of, as everybody raises a toast to me, rowing away into the sunset. I was intending just to go for about three days down the river Severn, and the guy who'd lent me the boat had said, 'Yes, that's fine, wherever you get it to I'll come and pick it up,' leaving me to continue on my way in whatever method I chose. And so I did just that; I rowed away into the sunset after a party in the woods, went for three days, and then thought this is fantastic, let's just see if I can get around the next bend, and the next bend, and the next bend, and I got slightly carried away really, and 14 months later I'd got to the Black Sea in this dingy."

I highly recommend this title in Talking Book format. Read it and then go to the internet and see a picture of A J Mackinnon. Is that how you envisaged what he would look like from his voice? I certainly didn't. Lovely surprises all round.

Tolkien by Michael White is another good title to read in print or listen to.

In the book Michael White describes the early life of this most respected of writers, the early death of J R R Tolkien's parents, and his close relationship with his younger brother. He goes on to look at Tolkien's academic success and his years as a professor at Oxford University and the long creation of The Lord of the Rings which was destined to become the biggest selling novel of all time. Narrated by Gordon Griffin who has also recorded works by Thackeray, Kipling, Plato, Melville and was Dr Nakazawa in Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. Griffin has also recorded other biographies such as those of Geoffrey Wenham, Trevor Baylis and Bruce Forsyth.
A great biography to both read and listen to. Well worth having on the ipod or MP3 player

Spotlight on Author: Traci Harding

2009-11-09T16:50:00.000+13:00

As I was browsing in Dymocks bookstore in Napier I came across an Australian author Traci Harding and the first in her Mystique Trilogy - Gene of Isis. A great yarn with elements of Dan Brown, Juliet Marillier, Beth Vaughn and Sara Douglass. I highly recommend this author to all fantasy genre fans. The next two books in the trilogy are The Dragon Queen and The Black Madonna. This is a very good series of books. You can check out more information on her at the fantasticfiction website . Interestingly they have put her in as similar to author: Stephanie Meyer (Twilight series). I'm sorry I totally disagree with that. The only thing these two authors have in common is "blood". However whilst the twilight books about vampires and blood the Mystique Trilogy is about Sangreal and the line of royal blood, Mary Magdalene and more.
If you get hooked on Traci Harding you can also move on to her other series Ancient Future and the Celestial Triad.

Try her... she is a great storyteller.

Creating Waves

2009-11-05T16:16:00.000+13:00

Creating Waves:
How surfing inspires our most creative New Zealanders

Author: Aaron Topp
Publisher: HarperCollins

First up the cover image is fantastic. Rising Swell Raglan by Tony Ogle.

Central Hawke's Bay Author Aaron Topp had the enviable task of journeying around the country talking to some of NZ's most creative souls and what inspires them. The result is a literary inspiration.
Creative Waves profiles nineteen of our incredible artists, photographers, carvers, film directors and musicians and finds out how their love of surfing has influenced what they do, and how they do it.

Full of fascinating insights into New Zealand's surfing world, Creating Waves will make you want to pick up a surfboard and head for the beach.

Banquo's Son Book Review

2009-11-05T14:32:00.000+13:00

Okay, so I'm a bit late with my review but I did have 32 other must reads before I got to this.
However Banquo's Son has renewed my enthusiasm for young adult reads.

Banquo's Son by T K Roxborogh. Published by Penguin Books

"Just as William Shakespeare used real history as the basis for the characters in his play, this novel draws on his created history contained within 'The Tragedy of Macbeth'.
I have done what Shakespeare often did: take a real story and people from history and asked, 'I wonder what would happen if....?' Though many of these characters did exist and some of the events contained within this story did happen this is a work of fiction and should therefore, not be read as an accurate historical account of events at the time.
I have tried as much as possible to draw upon the vocabulary that was in use during the Elizabethan era rather than from 11th-century Scotland, as I imagined myself sitting at Shakespeare's desk penning this sequel."

This is the author's note from the book and pretty much sums up all the good things about it.
Highly recommended for all.

Karen's book review

2009-10-15T11:42:00.003+13:00

For those of you who read chik lit here is a highly recommended title.

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella (the author of Shopaholic) Random House Publications

This is the story of a young woman who has plenty of personal problems in her life - from her business to her so called boyfriend. She attends the funeral of her great aunt who died at the age of 105 and is visited by her ghost. Her great aunt Sadie sets her a challenge to find a long lost necklace, along the way she meets a new man and solves a long-time mystery surrounding a painting. This is a highly amusing story of a mischevious ghost and a woman who learns to love herself.

Girl gets guy in the end but there is an interesting story to follow, I highly recommend it

Waipawa Market Day

2009-10-14T12:16:00.001+13:00

Waipawa turned out in force for 'Duck Day' on Saturday despite the very cold weather. Unfortunately the Waipawa River was running too high to hold the duck race but there was still lots to do around the main street and Centrecourt. Lots of children (and I suspect adults) put great effort into making some fantastic ducks and here are some of the results:

The eventual winner was Ella Malcolm

The Tug o War was once again fiercely contested with the Chote Brothers' team coming out the winners.

Waipawa Library was a hive of activity for the day with Hannah and Lottie doing a brisk business outside with book sales, lucky dips and raffles.

Dust to Gold

2009-10-14T11:09:00.003+13:00

Random House New Zealand and CHB Libraries are proud to present:

Dust to Gold: The Inspiring Story of Bendigo Station

Come and hear John Perriam - Station Owner, speak about his experiences on Bendigo Station

Shrek may be the star of Bendigo Station, but the back-story of the station is rich and fascinating, from its earliest days as the scene of New Zealand's richest quartz reef gold strike in the 1860s to its establishment as a 11,000 hectare sheep station producing many of New Zealand's highest quality top price Merino clips. As well as this it's now home to several leading Pinot Noir vineyards, public walkways, a historic reserve and fishing and game hunting.None of this recent development would have come about if it weren't for the far-sighted, entrepreneurial and innovative owners, John and Heather Perriam. They took on Bendigo in the late 1970s after the Clyde Dam project forced them off the nearby family farm. They had spent several years in ultimately fruitless battles with bureaucracy, trying to stop the dam project from going ahead.Things weren't easy at Bendigo Station either. Chief among their problems was a rabbit plague which was costing the station close to $120,000 a year in poisoning and shooting. In the late 1990s the property was the centre of farmer-led initiatives that led to the formation of Merino New Zealand. Added to that has been the multi-million-dollar transformation of the lower slopes into what's now seen as a significant new wine area.But the Perriams still run merinos on their higher country and John says that's something he hopes will never change. His latest venture is developing a company to promote the strong wools of New Zealand in the same way that his earliest organization did for merino wools.

VENUE: Waipawa Town Hall

DATE: Wednesday 17 November

TIME: 7pm

TICKETS: Available at the libraries $15

Refreshments will be available and you also will be able to purchase a signed copy of the book.

Focus on Craig Potton Publishing

2009-09-25T15:18:00.010+12:00

We had the Craig Potton rep come through yesterday. Always a pleasure and got to order some fabulous books:

Backroads: Reflections on a Poet’s Life
Sam Hunt
Craig Potton Publishing $49.99

Here's a bit about it taken from the Muirs bookstore website. Muirs is a great bookstore that I discovered in Gisborne last month.
Sam Hunt's life as a poet and performer has always strayed far off the straight and narrow, more akin to following a series of winding backroads that have led to places and people away from the mainstream. As a child, Hunt was surrounded by 'a lot of words, a lot of poems,' and from the age of eight, he knew he wanted to live the life of a poet. His parents and grandparents were his earliest influences, and later it was the likes of W. B. Yeats, Pablo Neruda and Dylan Thomas; while within New Zealand, Alistair Campbell, James K. Baxter and Denis Glover, among others, inspired and nurtured him. Backroads is a memoir, a series of reflections by Sam Hunt on his life as a poet. He talks about inspiration and its unwelcome antagonist, drying up; the importance of performing, of 'saying poems out loud'; his good friends, like artist Robin White and his faithful canine companion Minstrel; his early publishing ventures and his experiences with maverick publisher Alister Taylor; and his touring and collaborations with musicians such as Mammal, The Warratahs and David Kilgour. The narrative is enriched by many of Hunt's poems, as well as work from other poets who have been important to him.

When I was a child I had the pleasure of meeting Sam Hunt at Bottle Creek. My Dad Tony Jackson wrote poetry a lot back then and worked for School Pubs and he took me down there. It had quite an influence on me and I have never forgotten the boatshed and this wonderful character with a beautiful dog and a unique way with words both spoken and written.

Encircled Lands: Te Urewera 1820–1921 By J Binney

Here's the scoop on this book from Scoop
For Europeans during the nineteenth century, the Urewera was a remote and savagely enticing wilderness; for Tühoe (and others) who lived there, it was a sheltering heartland. This history documents the !rst hundred years of Te Rohe Pötae o Te Urewera – the encircled lands of the Urewera – following European contact.

Dave Dobbyn: The songbook

Be Mine Tonight, Outlook for Thursday, Loyal, Whaling, Slice of Heaven, Welcome Home - these are only some of the remarkable songs that have framed Dave Dobbyn's long career and made him one of New Zealand's most enduring and best-loved musicians. While generations of New Zealanders have grown up with his music, his songs have never been collected together and published in written form before. Produced to coincide with his new album of greatest hits (to be released in November by Sony Music), Dave Dobbyn: The Songbook will contain 40 of his most celebrated and loved songs. It will be a book of two halves; the first will contain writing about each song from Dobbyn, along with photographs and the lyrics (with guitar chords). The second half of the book will be the score for piano and guitar for every song. Dave Dobbyn: The Songbook is an innovative and substantial book, and in its dedication to the actual music, a significant tribute to one of New Zealand's national treasures.

You can check out info on it at Arts Centre Bookshop - New Zealand Books Online. Booksnz

That was just a few of the great books we have ordered. You can check out the others on the catalogue and whilst online you should check out the Craig Potton Website. Especially if you are a tramper. Some fantastic books there

Bowling through India

2009-09-18T11:16:00.005+12:00

Come and join us at the Waipawa Town Hall on October 1st at 7pm for a night of Top Gear meets the Long Way Round..........WITH CRICKET!

A blokes' weekend away. Yarns, jokes, sledging . . . The usual guy-time thing, right?

But for five Kiwi chaps - a high-country farmer, a radio DJ, a businessman, a photographer and a shoestring traveller nicknamed Blanket Boy - things get a bit more extreme when they decide to go to India. To play cricket. From Kolkata to Agra, Darjeeling to Delhi, they take to the pitch in the weirdest of locations to face off against kids who can bat and bowl like demons. Along the way the Black Craps, as they name their team, learn about life, love, death, compassion and the fascination of India.

Justin Brown & Brendon O'Hagan - writer and photographer of this great book will be entertaining you for the evening.
Grab your tickets quick from the Waipawa and Waipukurau Libraries. We will even be giving you supper!

Where on earth is our District Librarian - The Final Countdown

2009-09-17T19:58:00.003+12:00

Last stop - London.
And finally some rain. However this has not stopped our intrepid travellers from putting in 12 hour days sight-seeing.
Stonehenge was at the top of the list apparently and some time exploring the nooks and crannies of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
We look forward to seeing them back in NZ next week.

Meanwhile back here at home. Rachel has been busy unpacking new books and Karen has been busy cataloguing. I caught glimpses of a new Richard Dawkins book and a new Sophie Kinsella. I'll sneak back tomorrow and get some more details for you.

Spring Holiday Programme

2009-09-17T16:56:00.006+12:00

Come and join us at the libraries this Spring holidays for lots of fun.
We will also be assisting for a couple of days with the YMCA programme too. Check the timetable out at the Westpac Pool

WAIPUKURAU

Tuesday 29th September: Look at what you can make with tubes @ 2pm
Thursday 1st October: Fun with Science @ 10.30
Tuesday 6th October: Wind-socks and bubbles @ 2pm
Thursday 8th October: Look at what you can make with tubes @ 10.30

WAIPAWA

Wednesday 30th September: Fun with Science @ 10.30
Monday 5th October: Wind-socks and bubbles @ 2pm
Wednesday 7th October: Look at what you can make with tubes @ 10.30

Where on earth is our District Librarian - Sue

2009-09-15T09:32:00.003+12:00

Aaah...Paris

Monet, Rodin. The Arc de Triomphe, Versailles, Sacre Cour, Notre Dame.

Yes the latest missive is from Paris where there was so much name dropping of famous sites we were sick with jealousy. There were even chandeliers in their apartment.

Wonderful French food and leisurely picnics beside the canal and river rounded off the update.

Enjoy these last few weeks Sue.

Spring is Sprung

2009-09-09T12:00:00.006+12:00

It is that lovely time of year again when you can head off to all the fantastic gardens we have in CHB. Here are a few Sunday drive ideas:

Taniwha Daffodils is open everyday in September

Venue: Taniwha

Location: S/Highway 2, Takapau Plains, Sth of Waipukurau

Entry: Free

Cost: 1 bunch of 30 daffodils $3.00

Beautiful daffodils, of every variety, are available for picking, with proceeds to Plunket Society.

The daffodils at Taniwha are a truly awesome sight with the stunning backdrop of the snow covered Ruahine Range at this time of the year.

Take a picnic, take a friend and enjoy a stroll amongst the beautiful blooms.

Gwavas Garden - Two entrances on SH 50, 7km north of
Tikokino
Nine hectares of woodland garden, first planted in 1880.
It is a "Registered Group of Historic Trees" (RNZ;Inst.Hort)
containing a wide collection of trees and shrubs; also a
native bird habitat. Camellias and Magnolias from August,
Rhododendrons and azaleas from September.
Open: Saturday Labour Weekend for a month or by
appointment anytime.

The lovely Whites will greet you at their beautiful garden at Sentry HIll in Ashley Clinton. Great mixture of woodland, pond and formal gardening. Contact them for opening hours.

Check out the website http://gardens.co.nz/gardenstovisit/HawkesBayCentral.htm
for information on these and other great gardens.

And if you are inspired to get into your own garden we will have a book to help you with ideas. We have a huge collection of gardening books. Check out the catalogue using keyword gardening.

Festival Time In CHB

2009-08-28T12:50:00.001+12:00

The Festival 2009

The Annual Celebration of Art, Music & Food on a Spectacular Hilltop Venue

Overlooking Beautiful Central Hawkes Bay

3rd - 6th September 2009

10am - 4pm daily

Pukeora Estate

Pukeora Scenic Road • Waipukurau

HIGHLIGHTS

The Weta School Art Awards

A showcase of the talents of our region's youth.

An exhibition not to be missed.

Centalines Art Extravaganza

An Exhibition of paintings by leading North Island and Local artists.

The region's premier art event.

Pukeora Estate

Enjoy great coffee, a glass of wine with lunch.

Take in the breathtaking views from historic Pukeora Estate.

Downtown Waipukurau - Sat. 5th

The retailers have organised a street market bonanza you won't forget - 9.30 onwards

“The Great Ypuk Chilli Street Day”
The Time of it is from 9.30am onwards

Madness & Mayhem in the street from 9.30am – 2.00pm
Best chilli judging from 10am – 12noon with winners announced at 1.00pm

Ride the big red bus shuttle to and from The Festival.

 The Lady Killers 

Jackie Clarke, Tina Cross , Suzanne Lynch and Taisha.

New Zealand's dream team of finest female singing entertainers.

These Divas make beautiful music,dripping in harmony.

Friday 4th • 7.30pm at Pukeora Estate

Where on earth is our District LIbrary Manager Sue

2009-08-27T16:31:00.003+12:00

Well she started in Crete - Chania. We had reports of wonderful food, warm sea swims and erratic driving techniques...
They then progressed to Santorini where there was more amazing food, blue seas and skies..
Off to Athens they went where they walked around taking in the amazing sights and getting very hot...

and onto Venice where there were fantastic churches and a lot of staring around with open mouths...

Where next. Well they are off to Rome shortly so we will keep you posted.

Rachels New Book Selection

2009-08-27T15:59:00.003+12:00

The Concubine's Secret
Kate Furnivall
Published by Sphere

China 1929. For years Lydia Ivanova believed her father was killed by the Bolsheviks. But when she learns he is captive in Stalin-controlled Russia, the fiery-haired girl is waiting to leave everything behind - even her Chinese lover. Chang An Lo. But Chang knows things about her father that she does not and must race to protect her. What consequences will there be when Lydia discovers the truth?

Another epic novel from the author of "The Russian Concubine".

Galileo's Dream
Kim Stanley Rbinson
Published by Harper Voyager

In a novel of stunning dimensions, the acclaimed author of the MARS trilogy brings us the story of the incredible life -- and death -- of Galileo, the First Scientist. Late Renaissance Italy still abounds in alchemy and Aristotle, yet it trembles on the brink of the modern world. Galileo's new telescope encapsulates all the contradictions of this emerging reality. Then one night a stranger presents a different kind of telescope for Galileo to peer through. Galileo is not sure if he is in a dream, an enchantment, a vision, or something else as yet undefined. The blasted wasteland he sees when he points the telescope at Jupiter, of harsh yellows and reds and blacks, looks just like hell as described by the Catholic church, and Galileo is a devout Catholic. But he's also a scientist, perhaps the very first in history. What he's looking at is the future, the world of Jovian humans three thousand years hence. He is looking at Jupiter from the vantage point of one of its moons whose inhabitants maintain that Galileo has to succeed in his own world for their history to come to pass. Their ability to reach back into the past and call Galileo "into resonance" with the later time is an action that will have implications for both periods, and those in between, like our own. By day Galileo's life unfurls in early seventeenth century Italy, leading inexorably to his trial for heresy. By night Galileo struggles to be a kind of sage, or an arbiter in a conflict ...but understanding what that conflict might be is no easy matter, and resolving his double life is even harder. This sumptuous, gloriously thought-provoking and suspenseful novel recalls Robinson's magnificent Mars books as well as bringing to us Galileo as we have always wanted to know him, in full.
(Review from Fantastic Fiction)

For a beautiful and captivating read try:
The Sea Bed
Marele Day
Published by Allen & Unwin

A novel of esire, duty and secrets.
This is the journey of a buddhist monk who leaves his mountain monastery to carry out the dying request of a fellow monk. When he encounters abalone diving women in a remote coastal village he is torn between dedication to this task and surrendering to desire. An illuminating story of love, family and change.

Hunter Park Kindergarten

2009-08-07T15:19:00.004+12:00

http://hunterparkkindergarten.blogspot.com/

Had a visit from one of the lovely staff members up at Hunter Park - David Berry to tell us all about the Hunter Park Kindergartens blog so here is a heads up for all of you to go take a look at the great things the kindy kids and staff have been up to.

Here's a little example from back in June Entitled Frozen Hands

Library Week 2009

2009-08-07T13:44:00.003+12:00

10th - 16th August is Library Week

Library Week is a week-long celebration of libraries and librarianship in New Zealand taking place in libraries all across the country.

Here at the CHB District Libraries we will be celebrating all week.

We will be having some college students coming in to read Itiiti's Gift by Melanie Drewery as part of New Zealand's biggest story tim e. As well we will be heading out to some of the schools to share some of the biggest story time with students.

Friday the 14th is "Love your Library Day" and we are expecting lots of you to come in and spread the love around!!

So Escape, Explore, Discover at your local libraries this coming week.
Ki te whai ao, ki te ao mārama.

Whakanuia Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2009

2009-07-29T11:14:00.003+12:00

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

Celebrate Māori Language Week 2009

Come into the libraries and check out our Māori Language displays.

What can you do for Māori Language Week 2009:

Here are some ideas from http://www.korero.maori.nz/news/mlw/ideas

Create supportive Māori language spaces. Your workplace or school could develop ideas to support te reo Māori. Support staff/students/colleagues with resources on pronunciation, conversation etc.

Schedule some Māori language time. Perhaps you could allocate time for a Māori language class. Māori language is used all the time - in place names, personal names etc, so basic Māori language skills are always useful.

He whakaaro anō mō Te Wiki Reo Māori:

Bilingual signs. Put bilingual signs up where you are - signs are a visible way of showing that te reo is valued at your workplace, school etc.

What's the Māori word for ...? There's nothing like a note when it comes to naming common items. Let your workmates/colleagues/students know you're going to use the Māori word for that thing. Label several items.

Listen to or view Māori media. Māori language have never been more accessible. Watch Māori Television or listen to your local Māori radio station. Visit the library to borrow Māori music, DVDs, videos and books. Add Māori books your workplace shopping list!

Use the Internet: http://www.tokureo.maori.nz/ or http://www.maorilanguage.net/ Learn basic commands and phrases in these booklets: 'Using Māori in the Home'; 'Kei Roto i te Whare'.

Winter Warmers Finale

2009-07-29T10:18:00.003+12:00

There has been some fantastic reading done by CHB young people over the last 6 weeks and we are going to celebrate with a disco on Friday night (that's the 31st July) from 5.30pm to 7pm at the Waipawa Town Hall.

Come and join us for some games, dancing, spot prizes and presentations. Ring Kylee on 857 8123 or 858 9154.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

Montana Poetry Day 2009

2009-07-24T11:24:00.005+12:00

Today is 2009 Montana Poetry Day.

The day provides a rare opportunity to catch such acclaimed poets as Sam Hunt, CK Stead, Karlo Mila and Glenn Colquhoun perform live. And if you’ve been harbouring a desire to perform a piece of your own, this is the day to throw caution to the wind. Established in 1998, Montana Poetry Day has since become one of the most anticipated events on the arts calendar.

Sam Hunt will be appearing at the Pipi cafe in Havelock North tonight at 8.30. If you haven't caught Sam live yet then get on down there - believe me you will be well entertained!

If you can't, we have Sam's book of poetry Doubtless - New and Selected Poems in the library for you to borrow. Published by the wonderful Craig Potton publishing company. Check out their website here.

We also have some other great titles as well including:

New New Zealand poets in performance edited by Jack Ross and Jan Kemp and published by Auckland University Press.

Mirabile dictu by Michele Leggott. Also published by Auckland University Press.

A Well Written Body by Karlo Mila with paintings by Delicia Sampero. Published by Huia.

To check out more great New Zealand poetry head to the catalogue and select Subject Search and type in Poetry.

Central Hawke's Bay District Council is now on Twitter

2009-07-22T12:01:00.004+12:00

Central Hawke's Bay District Council is now on Twitter at http://twitter.com/chbcouncil.

Keep up with events, Heads up! CHB Youth Council, Road Closures, issues and more.

You can also keep up with Library events on Twitter at http://twitter.com/chblibraries.

New teen reads

2009-07-17T15:04:00.005+12:00

Lots of great teen reads are on order for the libraries. Here is a little assortment for your delectation.

My Year in Agony by Lara Fox. Published by HachetteLivre

This is the first in a series. The second will be My Summer on the Shelf coming in 2010.

Here is a great review from the Fantastic Fiction website. Great for girls 13-19 or so.

The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliott. Published by HachetteLivre

If you like a little bit of history with your mystery and intrigue then this is for you. Sophie is shut up in her school whilst the French revolution rages around her. But the conflict is getting closer all the time. Great read.

Brigand M.C. by Robert Muchamore. Published by HachetteLivre

Book 11 in the Cherub series. "Every CHERUB agent comes from somewhere. Dante Scott still has nightmares about the death of his family, brutally murdered by a biker gang. Dante is given the chance to become a member of CHERUB, a trained professional with one essential advantage: adults never suspect that children are spying on them. But when Dante joins James and Lauren Adams on a mission to infiltrate Brigands Motorcycle Club, he's ready to use everything he's learned to get revenge on the people who killed his family !"

The Glittering Eye by L J Adlington. Published by HachetteLivre

Amy arrives in Egypt to join her archaeologist father on an excavation. All around her tombs are unearthed, opened, entered. Left to her own devices, Amy discovers a rock. But not just any rock. A great tawny cat stares back at her from its smooth surface, its shiny gold eyes glittering. Questions. Where did it come from? And what should she do now?When past, present and future collide, it's clear that some things are best left buried ...

One of the best book covers I have seen for awhile and with a plot reminiscent of a Clive Cussler novel this will be a pretty cool read.

Books for the ladies

2009-07-13T09:28:00.004+12:00

Changing Grooms by Sasha Wagstaff. Published by Headline. Here is a review from fantastic fiction.

Champagne, confetti and carnality in the Cotswolds... Take a gorgeous country pile much in need of funds. Add a glamorous film-star couple planning the Wedding of the YearSprinkle a host of unforgettable characters, each with a juicy secretResult: one long, hot summer of very, very bad behaviour...Meet the Forbes-Henry family of Appleton Manor. Aristocratic, attractive - and decidedly down on their luck. When eldest son Will decides to turn the Manor into a luxury wedding venue, he hopes to attract the rich and famous and save his family from financial ruin. But has he put the family in more danger than ever?

Black Hills by Nora Roberts. Published by Piatkus.

Reviews:
Praise for Nora Roberts:
'Women are addicted to her novels as chocoholics are to Godiva. Roberts is a superstar' New York Times
'Sheer entertainment' Guardian
‘The most successful novelist on Planet Earth’ Washington Post

The Horse Dancer by Jojo Moyes. Published by Hodder & Stoughton.

I have just finished this one and it is a great read especially if you like horses and a bit of family angst. It would probably make a great movie as it is set in some amazing parts of both London and France. Quite a long winded plot but does finally come to a slightly surprising conclusion.

CHB Libraries & Random House present Dr Dave Baldwin

2009-07-08T09:53:00.006+12:00

An evening with Dr Dave Baldwin at the Waipawa Town Hall @ 7pm.

$20.00 - Supper provided, Raffles
Tickets available from Central Hawke’s Bay District Libraries
Prescribe yourself a course of Dr Dave and Healthy Bastards and you will be the Healthiest Bastard around.
Healthy Bastards is a one-stop shop for the average bloke. Dr Dave explains all common health problems and major diseases, how to get them fixed and how to avoid them in the first place.

Check out the Random House NZ website for some great new books

Central Hawke's Bay Youth Council

2009-06-24T11:49:00.005+12:00

This is your chance to tell us why you want to join Central Hawke's Bay District's Youth Council and what you have to offer.
The purpose of the Youth Council is to:
Strengthen engagement between the Central Hawke's Bay District and young people and build young people's knowledge of Council processes to enable them to participate in the Council's decision-making processes and build the Council's knowledge of the needs of young people and how these can best be met.

For more information you can contact Shelley Burne Field on 857 8060. You can also access application forms by going to the Central Hawke's Bay District Council Website

July Winter Holiday Programme

2009-06-23T13:29:00.010+12:00

Lots of cool stuff happening at the libraries this holidays:

Winter Warmers has started. There are only a couple of places left at Waipukurau so be in quick.

Read and review library books from 22nd June to the 31st July, 2009. Travel from Auckland to Wellington to receive your first incentive and get an invitation to the finale then continue on your reading journey down the country to Gore.

Once again this July we are presenting Maths is Fun at Waipawa Library between the 6th and the 9th July. Registrations are still open for all levels so register with Kylee, Miriam, Sue or Karen on 857 8123 or 8589154. Maths is Fun is a great holiday programme supported by the Eastern and Central Community Trust.

Book Reviews

2009-06-18T14:14:00.004+12:00

I've been a bit busy this last two weeks doing more IT work than Library work so will turn over the blog to some of our local book club members for their reviews:

Sharleen:

The Perk by Mark Gimenz

"A great read, combining small town feuds, corruption and racial tension with the story of a widower with two young children returning to his roots and learning to let go of his idealised memories of his dead wife and form new relationships."

I found this book to be a real page turner with great characters and plot. I think it would appeal to a wide range of readers from John Grisham fans to those who like "The Horse Whisperer".

The Winter Queen by Boris Akukin

"This is a highly entertaining series featuring a young 19th Century Russian aristocrat and his Japanese servant as detectives.

The plots usually involve murder, political espionage and sometimes a love interest. The author is humorous and introduces us to 'newfangled' inventions of the time e.g. psychiatry and cruise ships."

Once you have read one, you may well be addicted - I think there's five in the series.

New YA books

2009-05-26T09:32:00.005+12:00

Three good YA books are coming out of binding today. So I asked my girls to read them and give them a rating. Here are the results:

Girl Next Door by Alyssa Brugman Published by Random House
A great read apparently. Jenna-Belle's family is falling apart around her ears. Her Dad has disappeared and her Mum won't talk about it. The questions are - what is a home?
What happens to a family when life has turned into a disaster zone.
5 Star read for teenagers.

Running on the Cracks by Julia Donaldson and published by Egmont Press is an absolute gem of a read. Leo is running away from grief. She finds Finlay and Mary but someone is trying to find Leo and not for a good reason. Brilliantly written, great characters. First class read. Loved it.

Fate by Jennifer Lynn Barnes published by Random House is a follow-on to Tattoo which was a fabulous fantasy like novel about Bailey, Zo and Annabelle and their discovery of an ancient prophecy.
In Fate Bailey struggles with her double life. Ancient mystical being by night and high school student by day. Fate is all about choices. Will Bailey make the right ones? Find out by checking out this great read. 5+ stars.

Arriving Next Week

2009-05-22T14:24:00.005+12:00

Coming into the library next week is a series with aspects of Nora Roberts, Christine Feehan, Beth Vaughan and Juliet Marillier in it. Jean Johnson's Sons of Destiny series is a great winter read.

So if you like your books to have a bit of romance and some frogs into princes plots then email Ngai to reserve your copy or hopefully by Thursday 28th Karen should have them on the system and you can reserve them from the catalogue.

(Cyber chocolate fish for the first person to spot the frog!)

NZ Post Childrens Book Awards

2009-05-22T12:20:00.005+12:00

Congratulations to the winners of the 13th annual New Zealand Post Book Awards.

THE NEW ZEALAND POST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2009 and
Young Adult Fiction Winner

The 10pm Question by Kate De Goldi. Published by Longacre Press

The Non-fiction Winner is:

Back & Beyond: New Zealand Painting for the Young and Curious by Gregory O'Brien. Published by Auckland University Press

The Junior Fiction Winner is:
Old Drumble by Jack Lasenby. Published by HarperCollins

The Picture Book Winner is:
Roadworks by Sally Sutton & Brian Lovelock. Published by Walker Books

The Picture Book Honour Award goes to:

Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig by Diana Neild & Philip Webb. Published by Scholastic New Zealand

The Children's Choice Award goes to:

The Were-Nana by Melinda Szymanik & Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson. Published by Scholastic New Zealand

Best First Book Award Winner is:
Violence 101 by Denis Wright. Published by Puffin

CHB Green Kiwi Trust Inc.

2009-05-22T11:58:00.003+12:00

Background
Following the success of the Spring Clean Week last year, a small acorn formed in the minds of like minded people and an idea was born......To reduce our carbon footprint by the promotion of environmental awareness in Central Hawke's Bay and to further beautify our area for the future.

The Idea
Why not Adopt a Highway? As we know the stretch of road between Waipawa and Waipukurau is being extensively upgraded ......this seems a great place to start. To unite the two centres together seems a good idea...from that small acorn a huge Oak tree is now starting to sprout.

How?
To achieve this, money is required and there is none, so, it has been decided to form a charitable society to enable the access of funds from the various charities.
Once the Trust is formed, a public meeting will be held to give all Central Hawke's Bay residents the opportunity to be a part of this initiative to preserve the beauty of the area for the future.

Goals for the Future

To invite all members of our community to be involved in this initiative by way of a public meeting.
To extend the Adopt a Highway to the stretch of road between Otane and Waipawa, the Takapau Road between Pukeora and Waipukurau and other main roads leading into Central Hawke's Bay.
To access "Share the Road" signage for our main roads.
To invite residents to Adopt a Street. This is to engender pride in our urban streets.
To beautify the shopping areas by introducing hanging baskets in our main streets.
To investigate the possibility of a communal vegetable/fruit garden.
To expand the Spring Clean Week.
To investigate the possibility of further cycle/walk paths.

Contact Ann Strong at the Council for further info.

Read a good biography lately

2009-05-12T09:13:00.011+12:00

Come into our Waipukurau Branch this week and you will find a great new display done by Karen showcasing some of our great Biography titles. Whoops - I just thought we should probably say "and Autobiographies" too.

Here are just a few:
The House at Salvation Creek by Susan Duncan. A Bantam book published by Random House.
This is the follow on from Salvation Creek and while I personally did not find it as good I still am glad I read it as it was lovely to know there was still hidden places like this so close to a major city and Susan Duncan has a very lovely way of telling a tale.

For you poetry readers try The Man who went into the West - The life of R.S. Thomas by Byron Rogers published by Aurum Press.

In front of the fire
With you, the folk song
Of the wind in the chimney and the sparks'
Embroidery of the soot - eternity
Is here in this small room,
In intervals that ou love
Widens; and outside
Us is time...

(From "The Hearth")

Lovely!
A very perseptive biography of an extremely complex man

Of course at the other end of the spectrum you could have a rollocking read of On the Edge: My Story by Richard Hammond (Yes - from Top Gear). Published by Orion books. This reads just like Richard Hammond is on TV. Honest, funny, touching and real. Also has chapters written by his wife whilst Richard was in hospital after his jet-powered dragster crash. Recommended.

Aspiring by Kieran Kelly. Published by Pan Macmillan. A story of a man's personal journey both to his past and to the slopes of Mt Aspiring here in New Zealand. A very powerful read.

I'm going to finish with possibly one of my favourite biographies.
Forever Today: A Memoir of Love and Amnesia by Deborah Wearing. Published by Doubleday.
Imagine every time you wake up you are waking up for the first time. Imagine holding something in the palm of your hand and repeatedly covering and uncovering it with the other hand and knowing it as new everytime. This is the life of Clive Wearing.
"As it seemed impossible to fix anything in his mind, it was as if every waking moment was the first waking moment. Clive was under the constant impression that he had just emerged from unconsciousness because he had no evidence in his own mind of ever being awake before."(pg127).
This is a story not only of Clive but of his partner Deborah and her amazing love and care for him.

I found I had to read this book over and over because of its profound affect on me.
Do read this - As reviewer Andrew Motion did - you will find it "harrowing, haunting and heartening".
"When they open the front door, he is there, already awake, and I am the first person he has seen and he clasps me to him and sings a high G and waltzes me into the living room. 'My eyes have just come on,' he says. 'I can see everything normally for the first time'." (pg 337)

Photos courtesy of Frontier Images

Friends of the Library

2009-05-08T12:21:00.006+12:00

Central Hawke's Bay Friends of the Library Inc

More than Books...

This year a Friends of the Central Hawke's Bay Libraries was established, with the steering committee meeting applying to become an Incorporated Society. This has now been successful and the Friends are waiting for an application response for charity status.

The idea of establishing a Central Hawke's Bay Friends of the Library is not new but the fact that Waipawa and its wider district need a new library has been the incentive the Friends have needed.
The Council currently lease the former ANZ Building in Waipawa to house the library but due to restrictions on space and the expiration of the lease a new space is needed.

Of the many options explored - the most attractive was the construction of a new library on a Council owned site adjacent to the Council's offices in Waipawa but with access onto the Waipawa Town Hall site for parking and convenience. The new building would incorporate Council's archives as the present archive building will not meet the mandatory storage standard issued under the Public Records Act 2005. It will also provide limited leasable additional office space.

We invite you in to discuss our library proposal. Concept plans are available for viewing and we welcome all your feedback. We would also welcome wider community involvement in the Friends of the Library and invite interested parties to join us at the Waipawa Library for our launch on Tuesday 26th May at 5.30pm where we will will provide some light refreshments and featured guest Mary Kippenberger will entertain.
The Central Hawke's Bay Friends of the Library Inc will be instrumental in helping the new Waipawa Library come into being but the goal of the Friends will also be to provide long-term support for projects and events for both libraries.
For further information contact us on 06 857 8123 or 06 858 9154

What's new in thrillers

2009-05-02T11:20:00.002+12:00

It's time for a new hero...
Introducing Joe Hunter in Dead Men's Dust.

That's what the front cover of Matt Hilton's book says so who am I to doubt it.

Published by Hodder & Stoughton

From the back cover:
Dead Men's Dust introduces Joe Hunter, an all action hero with a strong moral code. Like the gunslngers of the Wild West, Hunter is not afraid to use his weapons and his fists - but only to save the victims from the bad guys.
Peter James calls this novel 'Vicious, witty and noir, Hilton is a sparkling new talent'.

Robert Wilson's The Ignorance of Blood is a new Javier Falcon thriller. Published by HarperCollins.
A dead gangster and a suitcase filled with millions in cash means the prospect of a serious Russian mafia presence on Inspector Jefe Javier Falcon's beat.

Dark Places is American Gillian Flynn's second book. Her first Sharp Objects was a CWA Dagger winner. Published by an imprint of Orion Books.
An old family murder comes back to haunt a brother and sister. Spooky and surprising.

And finally a new Karen Robards book called Pursuit. Published by Hodder & Stoughton.
A car crash, a dead first lady, a survivor and a suspicious Secret Service agent all add up to an exciting tale of romantic suspense.

Most Popular Titles in April

2009-05-01T16:03:00.003+12:00

So what have been the most popular books in the library over the last month.

Well once we take Stephanie Meyer's Twilight saga out of the equation (as they show no signs of giving up the number one position) the next popular were:

1. Bryce Courtney

Fishing for Stars

2. Michael Parkinson

Parky

3. Lee Child

Gone Tomorrow

4. Wilbur Smith

Assegai

5. Nigella Lawson

Nigella Christmas

6. Rhonda Byrne

The Secret

7. Sarah-Kate Lynch

On Top of Everything

You can reserve them for yourselves by heading to the catalogue

New Zealand Post Book Awards

2009-05-01T14:31:00.003+12:00

New Zealand Post Book Awards Festival week is almost upon us. From May 11th to May 19th there will be lots of activities happening in Hawke's Bay culminating in the NZ Post Book Awards winner being announced on Wednesday May 20th.

This year we are lucky to be able to have Fleur Beale come visit. Fleur is nominated in the Young Adult category for her fabulous book Juno of Taris published by Random House.
Fleur Beale will talk to students at Central Hawke's Bay College on 14th May @ 11.30.

For a full list of activities have a look at the timetable available on our website.

We are looking forward to hosting the local primary schools for the mastermind quiz on the 12th May @ 10.30. Come along and join us.

Check out the new website

2009-04-28T10:37:00.004+12:00

Finally we have our new Council website up and running. Here is a little screenshot of it. But do go and check it out at http://www.chbdc.govt.nz

The website was created by the company Silverstripe who have been fantastic help during the development and implementation phase.
Go and have a play with some of the new features like the "I want to" section. We now also have an A-Z section for Services and don't forget to use the search tab if you can't find something.
WE would love to get some feedback from you, so take a look at the "Have your say" section
Enjoy. Richard and I have worked long and hard to try and provide an accessible and user friendly site.

Offerings from New Zealand

2009-04-23T14:19:00.008+12:00

So I've got three very different New Zealand book reviews to do for you.

New Zealand Portraits by Richard Wolfe Published by Penguin

This is a visual feast from New Zealand artists starting from Sydney Parkinson in the 18th century and his pen and wash painting entitled Portrait of a New Zealand Man through to Hamish Foote's egg tempera on gessoed panel portrait of Thomas Cheesman and the Linnean Medal 2007. Personally I love Martin Ball's work. Included here is an oil on linen portrait of Tim Finn. Absolutely sublime. Other artists in the book range from Douglas MacDiarmid to Liz Maw. There is a vast wealth of talented New Zealanders out there. Check them out.

Next is Over the Wide and Trackless Sea: The pioneer women and girls of New Zealand by Megan Hutching. Published by HarperCollins
There are eleven stories of women immigrants who came to New Zealand: Eliza White, Betty Guard, Juliette Daniell, Amey Daldy, Lady Barker (Mary Anne Broome), Catherine Ralfe, Christine Nielsen, Jensine Thomsen, Nielsine Paget, Kirstine Nielsen and Jerolima Erceg.

The section on Christine Nielsen, Jensine Thomsen, Nielsine Paget, Kirstine Nielsen is very interesting to Central Hawke's Bay people as these ladies were at the vanguard of settlement at the foot of the Ruahines. A great read.

And finally The New Zealand Pregnancy Book: A guide to pregnancy, birth and a baby's first three months. By Sue Pullon and Cheryl Benn. Published by Bridget Williams Books

This is an absolute gem of a book, comprehensive and easy to follow. Sue Pullon is a GP and Cheryl Benn a midwife. First published in 1991 and it is still one of the best on the subject of pregnancy and childbirth. Written by New Zealanders for New Zealanders. Highly recommended.

Photo courtesy of Frontiers Images

Google stuff

2009-04-22T17:32:00.006+12:00

If you like using Google Images than you will like this offering from Google Labs. Google Similar Images lets you look for images using the pictures rather than having to use words. If you click the similar image link under a photo you have found you will get images that look similar to your original (funny that). Check it out here.

Also we are loving Google News Timeline. It will organise search results chronologically and you can view it on a timeline. You can add a date range, you can adjust the size of your column views, you can search on the timeline and you can specify how wide you want the search. Check it out here Actually it is always a good idea to check up with Google Labs now and then to see what's new.

Wayne Froggat Book now in

2009-04-22T17:03:00.005+12:00

Finally after having had this book requested at least four times in the last year we have two copies in the collection.
Choose to be happy: Your step-by-step guide. By Wayne Froggatt.

Wayne Froggatt is a social worker who has been practising for 30 years‚ and now specializes in mental health counselling and psychotherapy. He is the executive director of the New Zealand Centre for Rational Emotive Therapy and the author of GoodStress and FearLess.

I have heard nothing but great reviews about this book. So reserve a copy now.

I have added a happy photo for you too. What can be nicer than a Summer's afternoon in the Welsh Countryside at the Gliffaes Hotel. A trip to the area around Abergavenny would not be complete without visiting Gliffaes and having a Sunday afternoon tea.
Photo courtesy of Frontiers Images.

CHB District Libraries Holiday Programme

2009-04-16T15:00:00.004+12:00

Waipawa Library

April 22nd 10.30am - Jungle craft and activities

April 24th 2pm - Jungle craft and activities

Waipukurau Library

April 21st 2pm - Jungle craft and activities

April 23rd 10.30am - Jungle craft and activities

Gotta love this picture

2009-04-13T13:49:00.003+12:00

Couldn't resist putting this picture up!

Expo update etc

2009-04-13T10:13:00.004+12:00

Sorry for the long silence. We are in the midst of migrating data from our current website to our new and this is taking up a lot of our time. We are looking forward to launching it at the end of the month.
Expo update: The CHBDC expo went really well and thanks to all those who took the time to come and see what the council is all about. The various departments went all out to get all the info out there on display and it looked great.

Hope everyone out there has been enjoying their hot cross buns and easter eggs. No maggots I hope! http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/lifestyle/20639.html

Kylee has some great things planned this holidays so I will go get some info for you and blog it tomorrow at work.

Come visit us at Expo 2009-2019

2009-04-02T21:05:00.006+13:00

Here is an open invitation for everyone in CHB to come visit us at the Waipukurau Memorial Hall tomorrow 9-6 or Saturday 9-2. The Long Term Council Community Plan is the reason we have been really, really busy at the hall for the past few days and we want to show you what it is all about . All the council departments are represented and we will be giving you the cook's tour. The libraries have taken on the job of giving you tea and scones as well as showing you all the great things we have in the libraries. So come visit and see what Roading, Regs, Utilities, the Info Centre, Museum and all the wonderful people at Central Hawke's Bay Council do, from our fabulous CE John Freeman at the top through to Richard and myself beavering away amongst the computers in the IT department.

2009-2019 LTCCP is for you so come and check it out.

Google Earth, Maps etc

2009-03-27T15:48:00.002+13:00

I have added NZ Netfinder Map Search onto the blog. Just scroll down the right hand side to have a look. You will get a Google Earth view which you are able to have a play with if you are so inclined. Netfinder Search Engine is a directory of New Zealand only site links and listings and is a very useful tool to have in your favourites.

If you are working with Grey Power people or newbies to computers I find Google Earth a great tool for them to help with coming to grips (no pun intended) with a mouse because you can use right and left hand clicks and scroll and scroll clicks. But you can also use Google Earth for searching skills, map skills, menu skills and what is even better they love what Google Earth shows them. Google Earth is very forgiving too because you can play and mess around and not do any damage except perhaps to go right through the Earth and out the other side !!

More on Weta Workshop

2009-03-14T10:46:00.004+13:00

Those of you who check out my tweets (look down the right hand side of this blog) will have probably guessed that I am a great fan of Weta Workshop: Richard Taylor's and Tania Rodger's fantastic group of creative facilities down in Mirimar Wellington.

I have been waiting for Weta Workshop's book The Crafting of Narnia to come into the library ever since I first saw it at Armageddon in Auckland last year and it certainly doesn't disappoint. This is not just a book for those who saw the movies (though it will be of great background interest) This is a visual spectacle. An amazing detailed feast of information. Check it out and you will not be disappointed. And check out the new Weta Workshop website while you are at it..........oh and check out their podcast too. Magnus and Daniel are finally back after a silence of 4 months. They have heaps of interesting interviews with members of the Weta staff.
Roll on 2011 and The Hobbit.

CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY DISTRICT LIBRARIES

Central Hawke's Bay Libraries Blog is moving

A little potpourri of Non Fiction reviews for your delectation

NZ Book Month is almost here

New Year at your CHB Libraries

2010 About to be Done and Dusted

Merry Christmas to all

Read Plus is coming this Summer

Talk & Taste Wine in Central Hawke's Bay

The Great Bush Read is here

Book Club Reviews

Spotlight on Maeve Binchy

Spring into your garden

Spotlight on William Horwood

My visit to the Library!

Lots happening in September in Central Hawke's Bay

Library Week 2010

One staff book review & one author review

Waipawa Library is back, bigger and better

Exciting Times Ahead

July Holiday Programme

Non-fiction Book Reviews

NZ Post Children's Book Awards

Update from the Sunshine Coast

What has Kylee got planned this holidays?

Conspiracy 365

CHB Aero Club 75th Jubilee

High Tea at the Waipawa Municipal Theatre

New Book Selection

Geraldine Brophy is coming to town

NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2010

CHB Aero Club 75th Anniversary

150th Celebration

New Sara Donati

Author: Keri Arthur

Come and join us for Waipawa's Big Day

YA evening at Mary Kippenbergers

Holiday Fun at your libraries this holidays

More Christmas Reads

Christmas Greetings from your team at CHB Libraries

Ngai's Top Ten Reads of 2009

Popular Books of 2009

Great new titles coming from Penguin this Summer

John Perriam entertains CHB

Dive into Books

Spotlight on Kate Mosse

Spotlight on Talking Books

Spotlight on Author: Traci Harding

Creating Waves

Banquo's Son Book Review

Karen's book review

Waipawa Market Day

Dust to Gold

Focus on Craig Potton Publishing

Bowling through India

Where on earth is our District Librarian - The Final Countdown

Spring Holiday Programme

Where on earth is our District Librarian - Sue

Spring is Sprung

Festival Time In CHB

Where on earth is our District LIbrary Manager Sue

Rachels New Book Selection

Hunter Park Kindergarten

Library Week 2009

10th - 16th August is Library Week

Library Week is a week-long celebration of libraries and librarianship in New Zealand taking place in libraries all across the country.

Whakanuia Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2009

Winter Warmers Finale

Montana Poetry Day 2009

Central Hawke's Bay District Council is now on Twitter

New teen reads

Books for the ladies

CHB Libraries & Random House present Dr Dave Baldwin

Central Hawke's Bay Youth Council

July Winter Holiday Programme

Book Reviews

New YA books

Arriving Next Week

NZ Post Childrens Book Awards

CHB Green Kiwi Trust Inc.