Timaru District Libraries

Christmas Opening Hours

2011-12-08T16:34:00.001-08:00

Timaru District Libraries Christmas / New Year

Opening Hours 2011 / 2012

Timaru

Friday 23rd December 9.00am – 5.00pm

Saturday 24th December 10.00am – 1.00pm

Sunday 25th December Closed

Monday 26th December Closed

Tuesday 27th December 1.00pm – 4.00pm

Wednesday 28th December 9.00am – 5.00pm

Thursday 29th December 9.00am – 5.00pm

Friday 30th December 9.00am – 5.00pm

Saturday 31st December 10.00am – 1.00pm

Sunday 1st January 2012 Closed

Monday 2nd January Closed

Tuesday 3rd January 1.00pm – 4.00pm

Wednesday 4th January 9.00am – 5.00pm

Thursday 5th January 9.00am – 5.00pm

Friday 6th January 9.00am – 5.00pm

Saturday 7th January 10.00am – 1.00pm

Sunday 8th January 1.00pm – 4.00pm

Normal Hours resume Monday 9th January

Temuka and Geraldine

Friday 23rd December 8.30am – 5.00pm

Saturday 24th December Closed

Sunday 25th December Closed

Monday 26th December Closed

Tuesday 27th December Closed

Wednesday 28th December 8.30am – 5.00pm

Thursday 29th December 8.30am – 5.00pm

Friday 30th December 8.30am – 5.00pm

Saturday 31st December Closed

Sunday 1st January 2012 Closed

Monday 2nd January Closed

Tuesday 3rd January Closed

Wednesday 4th January 8.30am – 5.00pm

Thursday 5th January 8.30am – 5.00pm

Friday 6th January 8.30am – 5.00pm

Saturday 7th January 10.00am – 1.00pm

Sunday 8th January Closed

Normal Hours resume Monday 9th January

Books now available for sale...

2011-11-20T15:20:00.000-08:00

We are now stocking the following new release books that are available for sale at the Library:

The Streets of Timaru by Keith Bartholomew and Jack Hamilton.

$39.99

Love, lies and laughter by Noel Guthrie

$18.00

Magnus and the Maungati Mouse by Jan Hill

$10.00

Magnus and Maungati's Christmas by Jan Hill

$10.00

Magnus and the Motorbike by Jan Hill

$10.00

Maungati Mouse and the EQ Rescue by Jan Hill

$10.00

Plus

"I saw love today"

$20.00

This consists of 58 pieces of writing from 40 submitters scattered around NZ which was compiled by the Pleasant Point Presbyterian Parish and does include quite a few local authors.

Book Launch - Love, lies and laughter by Noel Guthrie

2011-11-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

Love, Lies and Laughter is Timaru Author Noel Guthrie's first venture into the fiction field, it is made up of a selection of ten short stories, all total figments of his imagination, in the style of the writing of Barry Crump.

Timaru District Library, Thursday 17th November, 7.00pm.

Books available for sale on the night.

All Welcome.

Book Launch - Maungati Mouse and the EQ Rescue by Jan Hill

2011-10-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

Book Launch - Maungati Mouse and the EQ Rescue by Jan Hill

Maungati Mouse is back in his new adventure...

Come along, meet Jan Hill and hear all about Maungati Mouse and his adventure helping his mouse friends after the 6.3 magnitude earthquake had hit Christchurch.

Timaru District Library, Tuesday 8th November, 6.30pm.

Geraldine Library, Thursday 10th November, 6.30pm.

All Welcome.

Altrusa Great Read

2011-08-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

Altrusa’s focus worldwide is the improvement of Literacy. Did you know that world wide over 776 million adults lack minimum literacy skills?

The Altrusa Great Read project is aimed at promoting the importance of literacy skills in opening the gateway to future opportunities.

The basic concept is to have as many people as possible to take time out to read for 10 minutes between 12 noon and 3pm on Thursday September 8th 2011 – “International Literacy Day”.

Register at http://www.altrusa.org.nz/AGR.html

All those who register and participate in the Altrusa Great Read will go into a special prize draw.

Database of the Month

2011-08-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

Ancestry Library Edition gives individuals of many ages, races and backgrounds something truely priceless: the chapters of their own authentic, unique family stories.

The world's largest online collection of family history records and resources, ALE is a popular research tool. It offers a wide variety of unique content to help users trace their family lineage.

Collections are sourced from around the world, and many of the resources featured have not been previously available in libraries.

The collections include:

* The 1911 census; United Kingdom and Ireland Census Collection; England & Wales Civil Registration Index 1837 - present; US Federal Census Collection; US and UK Military Collection; Australian Convicts Collection; Canada Census Collection; German Records Collection

This online database is only accessible at any of our libraries.

Allyson Gofton Library Visit - Country Calendar Cookbook

2011-08-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

Two New Zealand treasures bring you the ultimate cookbook and the stories behind the recipes...

Timaru District Library and Paper Plus Timaru invite you to an evening of fun and laughter with Allyson Gofton. Allyson will enertain us with a recipe demonstration from the Country Calendar Cookbook, some fun out-takes from the project and give you a chance to ask your most pressing cooking questions. This is not to be missed.

Thursday 18 August

7.00pm

Timaru Library 56 Sophia St

Entry by gold coin donation

Proceeds will go to the Christchurch earthquake appeal

Family History Month

2011-08-02T21:28:00.001-07:00

August is Family History Month

Have you ever thought about tracing your family history – finding about ancestors or discovering lost relatives??

South Canterbury Branch of NZ Society of Genealogists can help – bring your questions to Timaru District Library on Wednesday 10th August 11am – 4pm. For more info email SouthCanterbury@genealogy.org.nz

Some handy links:

http://www.genealogy.org.nz/ - New Zealand Society of Genealogists

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/familyhistory/ - BBC Family History Page

http://www.natlib.govt.nz/about-us/news/family-history-month-2011 - National Library of New Zealand

http://www.natlib.govt.nz/collections/areas-of-focus/family-history/family-history-websites - Useful Family History Websites. A list of helpful websites and online resources for family history and genealogy. Includes resources for New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain & Ireland, Pacific Islands and United States of America.

Also check out our great range of books and magazines on Family History -

http://www.timaru.govt.nz/library-catalogue.html

Friends of the Library Event - What's Your Favourite Travel Destination

2011-07-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

Escape the Winter Blues with The Timaru District Friends of the Library

Join us on Thursday 28th July @ 2pm

And tell us about your favourite holiday destination and your favourite travel book.

All Welcome.

David Hartnell - Memoirs of a Gossip Columnist - Saturday 21st May 1pm

2011-05-02T21:05:00.000-07:00

David Hartnell - Memoirs of a Gossip Columnist - Saturday 21st May 1pm

For one day only his lips will be unsealed and you are invited to join David as he shares some of the famous Hollywood gossip as told in his new book "Memoirs of a Gossip Columnist" and there might just be a few extras that he can't put into print - you'll have to be there!

Plus Two signed copies of David's book to be won - one for the best-dressed person and one for the best-dressed Gran!

Timaru District Library Saturday 21st May 1.00pm

Free Entry.

Books available for sale on the day.

New Zealand Sign Language Week - Free Taster Class Thursday 5th May

2011-04-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

New Zealand Sign Language Week

2nd - 8th May

Free Sign Language Taster Class

Thursday 5th May 1pm - 2pm

Free Taster classes are a chance for people to get a taste of New Zealand Sign Language in a fun and supportive environment. The class is 60 minutes long where a Deaf Tutor is coming to the Library and teaches introductory New Zealand Sign Language.

All Welcome.

Jill Worrall Book Launch "Two Wings of a Nightingale" Tuesday 10th May 6.30pm

2011-04-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

Jill Worrall Book Launch - Two Wings of a Nightingale Tuesday 10th May 6.30pm

Jill Worrall's second travel book Two Wings of a Nightingale is ready to go on sale! Two Wings tells the story of her 8000km road trip through Iran with her Iranian friend Reza Mirkhalaf.

Join us as Jill will talk about her new book.

Free Admission.

Books will be available for sale on the night.

Website: http://www.jillworrall.com/

Kelvin Cruickshank Timaru Library Visit - Saturday 7th May 1.30pm - 2.30pm

2011-04-11T16:50:00.000-07:00

Born and raised in the Waikato, Kelvin Cruickshank exhibited medium psychic abilities from an early age. He could hear and feel spirits around him, but had no idea what it all meant; he mostly chose to ignore the extra company. He knew he was somehow different from other children because he saw people that the other kids couldn't see. Although he didn't understand who these people were, he did know that he was never alone.

Nine years ago, after a complete breakdown, Kelvin took time out from his busy career as a chef and stopped to listen to what he was hearing. It was then that he realised the messages he was receiving were not intended for him but for others. This final acknowledgement of who he is and acceptance of his gift has changed his life completely. From that moment, Kelvin has dedicated his life to working fulltime as a medium passing on messages from those who have passed over.

In his spare time Kelvin loves fishing, diving and listening to Pink Floyd. He currently lives in Auckland.

Kelvin's visit to the Library to promote his new book 'Finding the Path' on Saturday 7th May 1.30pm - 2.30pm

Please note Kelvin will not be doing personal readings.

Website: http://www.kelvincruickshank.co.nz/

Annual Book Sale

2011-03-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

Timaru District Libraries Big Book Sale Starts Monday 28th March 9am -

Timaru District Library, Sophia Street, Timaru...something for everyone

plus ongoing Sales Tables in Temuka and Geraldine.

NZ Author on prestigious New York Times list

2011-03-02T19:40:00.000-08:00

NZ Author on prestigious New York Times list

The New York Times bestseller list is the domain of publishing’s household names... and a writer who resides in suburban Auckland.

New Zealand author Nalini Singh has again cracked the list with Archangel’s Consort (Gollancz, $29.99 RRP), which comes in at number eight on the mass market fiction list. Singh’s book is sandwiched between mega-selling authors Stieg Larsson and James Patterson.

“To make the New York Times bestseller list is an incredible achievement, and it is extremely unusual for a New Zealander to reach these heights. Nalini has shown herself to be in the top tier of international authors,” says Kevin Chapman, managing director of Hachette NZ.

Archangel’s Consort is the third book in Singh’s bestselling ‘Guild Hunter’ series. She is no stranger to the list, having appeared on it eight times with previous releases.

“It's always the most amazing feeling to see my name on the list. I'm incredibly excited that so many readers are enjoying my books!"says Singh.

Singh is a prolific author with 22 titles to her name. She currently writes two ongoing paranormal romance series – ‘The Guild Hunter’ series and the ‘Psy-Changeling’ series.

Despite her incredible success in the American market, Nalini was relatively unknown here until recently, when her books became widely available through Hachette NZ after Orion picked up UK and Commonwealth rights.

Article courtesy of Booksellers New Zealand.

Christchurch Earthquake Information

2011-02-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

Earthquake Information

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred 10km south-east of Christchurch (two hours drive North of Timaru City) at 12:51, February 22, 2011 at a depth of 5km. Timaru District has not been seriously affected by the earthquake.However, support is being offered to the people of Christchurch.

For more support and general information click here...

PANZ Book Design Awards 2010 Winners

2010-10-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

PANZ Book Design Awards 2010 Winners

New Zealand’s best book designers were celebrated at this year’s PANZ Book Design Awards which saw an outstanding group of winners emerge from a strong field.

This year’s Supreme Winner was The Life and Love of Trees by Lewis Blackwell, designed by Cameron Gibb. It is a book in which, said awards judge Peter Gilderdale, “the design choices and content came together to yield a breathtaking result.”

See the full list of 2010 PANZ Book Design Awards winners.

Supreme Winner 2010: The Life and Love of Trees

Gerard Reid Award for Best Book: PANZ Book Design Awards 2010

Sponsored by Nielsen Book Services
Designer Cameron Gibb

JUDGES’ COMMENTS
Lewis Blackwell’s The Life & Love of Trees is a combination of breathtakingly beautiful photographs and wonderfully written, elegant and accessible essays. It reaches the highest standards of international design and publishing, and will sit proudly on bookshelves all around the world.

Best Cover 2010: Magpie Hall
Designer Sarah Laing
HarperCollins Award for Best Cover: PANZ Book Design Awards 2010

JUDGES’ COMMENTS

Like it or not, people often do judge a book by its cover, hence cover design is always a major element in the publishing process and can have a significant impact on its success or failure. Several of the best covers this year were to be found on fiction titles, with the winner and one highly commended title being from this genre.

Awa Press Young Designer of the Year: Keely O'Shannessy

JUDGES’ COMMENTS
Congratulations are due to all of the young designers who entered. They have found themselves a place in a small and particular market. That takes courage and passion. If these guys are the future book designers of New Zealand, the industry is in exciting hands.

Pindar Award for Best Typography: Art at Te Papa
Designers: Grant Sutherland, Mission Hall (interior), Robyn Sivewright, fineline (typesetting), Neil Pardington (cover)

JUDGES’ COMMENTS
Th typography and non-illustrated book categories tend to overlap. However, since our choices in non-illustrated acknowledged several highly typographic books, we decided to look beyond these ‘pure’ books,and recognise the strongest type across all categories.

Best Illustrated Book: The Life and Love of Trees
Designer Cameron Gibb

JUDGES’ COMMENTS
Considering the high number of entrants in this category, it is a given that all finalists have a well-resolved grid, great typography and a well-handled cover. Over and above these, however, all three books have major strengths.

Best Non-Illustrated Book: Mirabile Dictu
Designers Keely O'Shannessy (cover), Katrina Duncan (interior)
Hachette New Zealand Award for Best Non-Illustrated Book: PANZ Book Design Awards 2010

JUDGES ’ COMMENTS
The non-illustrated book category this year had fewer strong non-fiction books, but this was counteracted by the quality in poetry and fiction. It was noticeable that production values sometimes let down otherwise well-designed books – an effect, perhaps, of the recession. The best of the category transcended the gloom, however, and the finalists are all highly effective in different ways.

Best Educational Book: Year 9 Graphics
Designer Book Design Limited
Pearson Award for Best Educational Book: PANZ Book Design Awards 2010

JUDGES’ COMMENTS
The educational book category attracted more entries than in 2009, and the quality of entries was fairly even. Educational books often have to get a lot of information into a constrained space, and this can lead to clutter when not handled well. The finalists all managed to combine well-sequenced information, solid typography and visual appeal.

Best Childrens Book: Old Hu-Hu
Designer Michael Greenfield
Scholastic New Zealand Award for Best Children’s Book: PANZ Book Design Awards 2010

JUDGES’ COMMENTS
New Zealand has a wealth of talented authors and illustrators in the world of children’s books, and every year the category attracts a raft of fine books that make judging difficult. The judges were again impressed by the overall standard this year.

New Zealand Post Book Award Winners 2010

2010-09-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

Judith Binney Wins 2010 New Zealand Post Book of the Year

Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, Christopher Finlayson tonight honoured historian Judith Binney with the country’s highest literary accolade, the New Zealand Post Book of the Year, for her work Encircled Lands, a book about Tūhoe’s quest for self-government of their lands, granted to them in law more than a century ago.

Tūhoe, represented by kaumatua Wharehuia Milroy and Pou Temara, responded in numbers to the presentation at the gala awards ceremony held in Auckland’s tonight. Last year, Tūhoe bestowed Binney with the name Tomoirangi o Te Aroha (a little cloud of rain from heaven) in recognition of her work.

New Zealand Post Book Awards judge, Paul Diamond, described the winning work as one that will profoundly change our understanding of our shared history.

‘Encircled Lands is an exhaustive, comprehensive history of Te Rohe Pōtae o Te Urewera, the only autonomous tribal district that was recognised in law. Not only does it fulfill the author’s hopes of revealing an almost unknown history to a new audience, it also deftly illustrates why the history of the Urewera and its people continues to resonate.’

Debut novelist, Alison Wong won the 2010 New Zealand Post Book Award for Fiction for her book, As The Earth Turns Silver, ahead of established writers, Fiona Farrell and Owen Marshall.

‘Based on meticulous research, this novel opens new windows on the development of our nation; it also opens our hearts to the anguish caused by racism, ignorance, failures in family relationship and communication, and war. The book is a delight to look at and hold, as well as deeply moving to read,’ says Pountney.

Brian Turner, a leading biographer, essayist, poet and conservationist, was presented with the 2010 New Zealand Post Book Award for Poetry for his collection, Just This, described by judge Elizabeth Smither as a life’s work in its reach, its depth and its deceptive plainness of surface.

‘Just This dares to ask the profoundest questions about place and human existence, how we live now and how we hand the world on. It is dangerous poetry because it addresses ethics but at the same time it is leavened with a sweet and sly self-awareness as it searches for “something you can have faith in, swear by”. The journey from the first poem to the last is a revelation,’ says Smither.

In a tightly fought contest that had judges reaching for superlatives, co-owner of Wellington’s famed Logan Brown restaurant, celebrity chef and passionate fisherman, Al Brown won the Illustrated Non-fiction category for his book Go Fish: Recipes and stories from the New Zealand Coast.

'Colourful images pour from the pages and spicing up the illustrative side are busy montages demonstrating how to prepare crayfish, crab and paua, and how to fillet a flounder – no mean feat, any of this. The recipes themselves, easy to follow, employ an engaging mix of type sizes and layout techniques. For a cookbook, it’s a remarkable page-turner,’ says Peat.

Go Fish also won this year’s coveted People’s Choice Award as voted by thousands of readers nationwide.

The full list of 2010 New Zealand Post Book Awards winners is as follows:

New Zealand Post Book of the Year and General Non-fiction Award winner:

Encircled Lands: Te Urewera, 1820-1921 by Judith Binney (Bridget Williams Books)

Fiction Award winner: As the Earth Turns Silver by Alison Wong (Penguin Group (NZ)

Poetry Award winner: Just This by Brian Turner (Victoria University Press)

Illustrated Non-fiction Award and People’s Choice Award winner: Go Fish: Recipes and stories from the New Zealand Coast by Al Brown (Random House NZ)

Author Talk - A Life on the River Gorge

2010-08-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

Robert Long - A Life on Gorge River

Robert's visit to the Library on Monday 6th September was a great success, all those who attended were entertained with Robert's great storytelling about his and his family's adventures. Below is an overview of Robert's story and some photos of the event.

Robert Long and his family - wife Catherine, and children Christan (19) and Robyn (17) - live in complete isolation (Christan is currently studying at Otago Polytechnic and Robin is in Year 13 at Mount Aspiring College in Wanaka), in a hut two days' walk south of Haast in South Westland. Robert has lived there for nearly 30 years; Catherine for 20 and the kids all their lives. Their only contact with the outside world is a helicopter or plane once a month, and two trips a year to the 'outside world'. This is the story of how and why Robert - known locally as 'Beansprout' - came to live at Gorge River, and the family's experiences there over the years, living self-sufficiently and forging close bonds with the natural environment. It is an inspiring tale of one man's decision to 'drop out' of capitalist society and successfully establish a lifestyle most New Zealanders can't even imagine, harking back to the days of the earliest pioneers.

This is the inspiring and truly impressive story of how and why Robert — known locally as ‘Beansprout’ — chose to live ‘outside’ society and came to live at Gorge River.

I found his story riveting, couldn't put it down.

It is the inspiring tale of one man’s decision to ‘drop out’ of capitalist society and successfully establish a lifestyle most New Zealanders can’t even imagine, harking back to the days of the earliest pioneers, living self-sufficiently and forging close bonds with the natural environment.

Inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award Finalists Announced

2010-08-19T21:01:00.000-07:00

The three finalists for the inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel, which will be presented at a ceremony at the upcoming The Press Christchurch Writers’ Festival in September, have now been confirmed. The award is made for the best crime, mystery, or thriller novel written by a New Zealand citizen or resident, published in New Zealand during 2009.

A panel of seven local and international judges has been considering the best of locally written crime and thriller fiction published last year.

The three finalists are:

The winner of the inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel will be announced at a ceremony at the conclusion of the “Setting the Stage for Murder” event at the Festival on the evening of Friday 10 September 2010.

The international judges said CUT & RUN was “complex and suspenseful” and had “scenes and incidents which are jaw-droppingly good”, that BURIAL “maintained the tension and the atmosphere from beginning to end, keeping the atmosphere creepy”, and that CONTAINMENT had “an attractive series heroine (feisty but vulnerable)” while starting with a “superb” opening scene that by itself would make the judge “want to read more Vanda Symon”.

“There were a number of high-quality crime novels published last year, and it has been a tough decision for the judges,” said Judging Convenor Craig Sisterson. “It is fantastic to see crime writing of this quality being produced by New Zealand writers, and great that the Award recognises both the best of our current authors, while also honouring the memory of one of our country’s true literary legends, who we have perhaps underappreciated in the past.”

The Awards namesake, Dame Ngaio Marsh, is renowned worldwide as one of the four “Queens of Crime” of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, having published 32 novels featuring Inspector Roderick Alleyn between 1934 and her death in 1982. With sales in the millions, and her books still in print to this day, Dame Ngaio is possibly New Zealand’s bestselling author, ever.

Library Week

2010-08-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

Library Week

16th – 22nd August

Check out what’s happening @ your Library

Come in during the week and win a great prize just for visiting us!!

Plus Guess the number of jellybeans in the jar and you could win the lot!!

Mystery Book Week

Try something new!!

Borrow a lucky dip book parcel – you might be surprised what you get to read!!

Library Book Art

Enter our Book Art Design Competition…

Design & create an art work from an old discarded Library Book

Entries close 3rd September

Join the Library

Not a Library Member???

Join the Library and receive a Free Book 

NB This applies to New Adult Borrowers only

Competitions

Try our Website Scavenger Hunt – how well do you know your way around our website, test your skills!!!

Worst Opening Line – let your creative juices run wild and write the “best” worst opening line of a novel

Mini Book Sale Timaru Only

Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd

Pick up a bargain or 2 at our Mini Book sale

Starts 10am Friday

For more information and online competitions visit

www.libraryweek.org.nz

Playaways

2010-08-09T18:13:00.000-07:00

Playaways

Playaway Speaks for Itself

Playaway is the simplest way to listen to audio on the go. Each Playaway comes with the digital content already pre-loaded on it and a battery to make it play. Simply plug in earbuds and enjoy.

No Cassettes. No CDs. No Downloads. Just Play.

“For people who just want to press play and go.” TIME Magazine

Playaway Pre-Loaded Audio Format

Simple Technology

Pre-Loaded Content

Digital Functionality

Ultimate Portability

The Next Generation of Audiobooks

Each Playaway holds an entire audiobook, regardless of length

Easily navigate back and forth through chapters

Automatic bookmarking remembers where you stopped listening

Universal headphone jack

Changes in Overdue Fines

2010-07-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

From 1st August we will be introducing a new overdue fine system.

When items are overdue:

On day 1 & 2 A grace period applies.

On day 3 & each day thereafter Each item incurs a 10 cent per day overdue fee (to a maximum of $3.00 per item).

On day 9 Borrowers will be contacted by email or mail advising that they have overdue items.

On day 23 Borrowers will again be contacted either by email or mail advising that they still have overdue items.

On day 30 Borrowers will be phoned to request the return of the overdue items.

On day 37 Borrowers will receive an invoice for the cost of replacement of the overdue items. At this stage borrowers may not borrow further items until the overdue items are returned and fines paid.

On day 67 Any outstanding amounts may be referred to a debt collection agency.

To check items onloan and their due date:

* check your items borrowed slip
* phone the Library on 6877202
* email us: library@timdc.govt.nz
* check online with your borrower number and PIN at http://www.timarudistrictlibraries.co.nz/
(to get a PIN visit a library or phone 6877202)

Sunday Star-Times Short Story Awards 2010

2010-07-21T15:19:00.000-07:00

The Sunday Star-Times Short Story Awards are back for 2010. Launched in 1984 with a vision to recognise and encourage the talent of aspiring New Zealand writers the Sunday Star-Times Short Story Awards are a key part of the NZ literary calendar.

Many of the country’s best-known authors have achieved success in the competition including Norman Bilbrough, Judith White, Barbara Anderson, Linda Olsson and Sarah Quigley.

The People’s Choice Award will be back again this year, where excerpts from the ten finalists' stories will be published online and the winner will be decided entirely by public vote. Last years winner was also the second runner up for the Open Division written by Thom Conroy.

The Sunday Star-Times Short Story Awards could be your opportunity to become a published writer and win fantastic cash and book prizes. Judged by leading New Zealand writers Charlotte Grimshaw and Joy Cowley, the winning three stories in each division will win cash, books from Random House and be published in the Sunday Star-Times.

Celebrated with an awards ceremony on October 28th, the competition, in association with Whitcoulls and Random House provides a generous prize structure as follows:

OPEN DIVISION

1st prize: $5000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $500 worth of books from Random House

2nd prize: $2000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $300 worth of books from Random House

3rd prize: $1000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $200 worth of books from Random House

SECONDARY SCHOOL DIVISION

1st prize: $1000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times, work experience day at Random House (day imediately after awards ceremony) PLUS $500 worth of Random House books and a $500 Whitcoulls gift card for the finalist’s school.

2nd prize: $500 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times PLUS $300 worth of Random House books and a $300 Whitcoulls gift card for the finalist’s school

3rd prize: $250 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times PLUS $200 worth of Random House books and a $200 Whitcoulls gift card for the finalist’s school.

BEST UNPUBLISHED WRITER

Random House experience with key members of the company, including time with fiction publisher Harriet Allan and $200 worth of books from Random House.

PEOPLES’ CHOICE AWARD

$750 cash, story published in Sunday Star-Times and $250 worth of books from Random House.

CLICK HERE to download entry form

CLICK HERE for Terms and conditions.

New Zealand Post Book Awards

2010-07-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

Background

Before 1996, there were two major New Zealand literary prizes, the New Zealand Book Awards (1973‐1995) and the Goodman Fielder Wattie Book Awards (1968‐1993).

Montana took over the sponsorship of the Wattie Awards in 1994, and the Awards became the Montana Book Awards (1994‐1995). In 1996, the two Awards merged to form the Montana New Zealand Book Awards (1996‐2009). In 2010, sponsorship of the Awards was assumed by New Zealand Post.

The finalists for the 2010 New Zealand Post Book Awards have been announced!

FICTION CATEGORY

As the Earth Turns Silver

Alison Wong

Limestone

Fiona Farrell

Living as a Moon

Owen Marshall

POETRY CATEGORY

Just This

Brian Turner

The Lustre Jug

Bernadette Hall

The Tram Conductor’s Blue Cap

Michael Harlow

GENERAL NON-FICTION CATEGORY

Aphrodite’s Island

Anne Salmond

Beyond the Battlefield: New Zealand and its Allies, 1939-1945

Gerald Hensley

Cone Ten Down: Studio pottery in New Zealand, 1945-1980

Moyra Elliott and Damian Skinner

Encircled Lands: Te Urewera, 1820-1921

Judith Binney

The Invention of New Zealand Art & National Identity, 1930-1970

Francis Pound

ILLUSTRATED NON-FICTION CATEGORY

Art at Te Papa

William McAloon (editor)

Go Fish: Recipes and stories from the New Zealand Coast

Al Brown

Māori Architecture: From fale to wharenui and beyond

Deidre Brown

Marti Friedlander

Leonard Bell

Mrkusich: The Art of Transformation

Alan Wright and Edward Hanfling

BEST FIRST BOOK AWARD WINNERS 2010

NZSA HUBERT CHURCH BEST FIRST BOOK OF FICTION AWARD WINNER

Relief

Anna Taylor

NZSA JESSIE MACKAY BEST FIRST BOOK OF POETRY AWARD WINNER

Fast Talking PI

Selina Tusitala Marsh

NZSA E.H. MCCORMICK BEST FIRST BOOK OF NON-FICTION AWARD WINNER

Trust: A True Story of Women & Gangs

Pip Desmond

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

The extremely popular Readers’ Choice Award is the public’s opportunity to vote for their favourite book of the 16 finalist titles, as selected by the judges, either online or by paper ballot. Voting opens every year with the public announcement of the finalist list.

To vote for the People's Choice Award winner, click here.

The Hunting of the Sock...

2010-07-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

Ella Davey about to embark on the Red Sock Hunt in the Children's Library. Happy hunting Ella!

RED : Read Every Day!

2010-07-01T22:19:00.000-07:00

In the Children's Library we’re seeing red these school holidays!!
Join in the fun…
 Face Painting - Tuesday mornings 10:30 - 11:30am @ Timaru Library
 Have a go at our RED Sock Hunt
 Come into the Library on Tuesdays or Thursdays wearing something red and you could win cool prizes
 Competitions (available at all libraries)
 Quiz
 Create a red book character
 Leadership competitions
 Poetry competition
 Who am I? quiz or colouring competition for younger children
And on Wednesday 7 July 10.30-11.30am @ Timaru Library you can
Meet a Firefighter!
Don't forget to join the 200+ awesome kids in the district who've signed up for the Hot Reads for Cool Nights Winter Reading Challenge!
Plus there's Storytime every Friday 11.30-12 at Timaru Library
See you here!!!

New Zealand Poetry Day

2010-06-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

National Poetry Day is a celebration of poetry in New Zealand. It’s a day which gives communities all over New Zealand an opportunity to enjoy the written word out loud. What makes the day work is a series of public events and activities that aim to involve as many people as possible in celebrating the extraordinary world of New Zealand poetry. Enter our New Zealand Day Poetry Competition, prizes will be awarded to selected poems and announced at our Poetry Day Readings on Friday 30th July in the Main Libarry. For more details email nigel.brown@timdc.govt.nz.

BNZ Literary Awards 2010

2010-06-23T21:27:00.001-07:00

After 51 years, the BNZ Katherine Mansfield Awards are getting a facelift and are being renamed as the 'BNZ Literary Awards', with the Premier Award becoming the BNZ Katherine Mansfield Award.

For over half a century BNZ has been proud to support New Zealand's preeminent Short Story writing competition, which was founded to acknowledge the work of Katherine Mansfield and celebrate New Zealand literature.

For many of New Zealand's famous writers, such as Frank Sargeson, Keri Hulme, Maurice Shadbolt, Charlotte Grimshaw and CK Stead, winning the main Award was where it all started. So make sure you send us your short story between 1 June and 23 July 2010. For more information visit the BNZ website here.

But wait there's more ...

2010-06-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

A big thankyou to Bailey, Emily, Emma, Harrison, Kim, Mikayla and Tim for sharing their awesome work!

The posters

2010-06-14T20:57:00.000-07:00

Reading Rock Stars!

2010-06-14T20:46:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Roald Dahl once hid a dead rat in a lolly jar? Or that Jacqueline Wilson can’t stand being late? The Bluestone School Room 10 reading group, the Rock Stars, have been engrossed in literary research and yesterday presented their findings to the Children’s Library staff. Roald Dahl, Jacqueline Wilson, Megan McDonald and Beatrix Potter are among the authors whose lives and works have been read, studied, and compared with others. Interesting tidbits about the authors and reviews of their books are displayed on the Rock Stars’ posters on the Storywell walls. Check them out!

Hot Reads for Cool Nights

2010-06-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

Yes it’s true! There IS a bear who looks remarkably like Albert le Blanc tucked up in bed in the Children’s Library reading bear books! Why? Because the kids’ Hot Reads for Cool Nights winter reading challenge is underway. All you need to do is read! But first, come in to one of our libraries to register and collect your registration pack which contains a reading log, free bookmark, Hot read form and - because chocolate and reading go so well together - a small choccy bar :-)

Renowned Timaru Romance Author Passes Away

2010-05-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

Locally and Internationally well known Timaru author Ivy Preston passed away on April 1st.

Writing was thrust upon her when her beloved husband died very suddenly and she had to support her four children. ``I kept thinking `what can I do?' And I remembered I was going to write a book,'' Preston said once in an interview. The author of more than 40 romances translated into nine languages, Preston was prolific, famous for her New Zealand scenery and romantic romances, with little sex involved.

We've launched our New Website...

2010-03-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

We've launched our New Website, it's bigger, brighter and better!

Check it out from the link below...

www.timaru.govt.nz/library

It's Annual Book Sale Time

2010-03-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

Timaru District Libraries

Big Book Sale

Starts Monday 29th March

9am

Timaru District Library

Timaru District Children’s Library

Sophia Street

Timaru

Plus ongoing Sales Tables in Temuka and Geraldine.

Something for everyone…

NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2010 Finalists Announced

2010-03-09T17:59:00.000-08:00

NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2010 Finalists Announced

Source: Booksellers New Zealand Website

Books by two of New Zealand’s most revered children’s writers – Margaret Mahy and Joy Cowley – feature in this year’s New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards finalist line-up.

Cowley’s Cowshed Christmas, illustrated by Gavin Bishop, and Mahy’s The Word Witch, edited by Tessa Duder and illustrated by David Elliot, are both finalists in the Picture Book Category.

But they are up against some stiff competition with other award-winning authors and highly creative newcomers battling it out for the top prizes in the country’s premier, annual children’s book awards.

The 2010 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards judging panel convenor, Rosemary Tisdall commented that the overall quality of this year’s submitted books was outstanding and whittling the pile down to a final shortlist was a challenge.

‘It is very encouraging that even in a year of recession and the changing market for books, many publishers are still able to produce books of outstanding quality. This reflects the respect that is felt for the work of both authors and illustrators.’

For a full list of Finalists click on the link below.

http://www.booksellers.co.nz/awards/new-zealand-post-childrens-book-awards/finalists-2010

Renowned lover of roses and author dies - Trevor Griffiths

2010-02-24T12:43:00.000-08:00

South Canterbury has lost one of its most respected and well-known residents. World-renowned rosarian Trevor Griffiths died 21st February 2010 after a long illness.

Such was his knowledge of roses that the Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden at Caroline Bay was opened in 2001, and he was a New Zealand and international identity. He wrote eight books on roses and worked as a nurseryman until his retirement.

Mr Griffiths, 83, also had a rose named after him by distinguished English rosarian David Austin who described Mr Griffiths as a pioneering nurseryman.

His son Bevan said he was a modest man whose passion in life was roses. "Roses have been his life, they were the love of his life.

"He was always very humble about his achievements."

Former mayoress Nan Raymond, who was instrumental in establishing the Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden when she was president of the Timaru Beautifying Society, said South Canterbury had lost one of its most influential people.

"Rose lovers all over the world will be sad to hear of Trevor's death."

"The people of South Canterbury were fortunate to have Trevor and his roses in their midst."

"His life's work will live on for decades to come."

South Canterbury Rose Society secretary John Jackson said Mr Griffiths would be a sad loss, and he would always remember Mr Griffiths for his passion, dedication and willingness to pass on his knowledge. The Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden was designed by Sir Miles Warren and today boasts more than 1200 roses. It has a rose from every rose family in the world.

Mr Griffiths' collection of genuine old roses was once the third biggest in the world. It is from this collection, plus 600 modern roses from David Austin, that the Bay garden evolved.

Mr Griffiths was the author of several books including My World of Old Roses, My World of Old Roses, Volume Two, A Celebration of Old Roses, The Best of Modern Roses : a selection for New Zealand, Old-Fashioned Roses : 150 favourites, The Essential Old Rose : Growing and using old Roses in New Zealand, Glorious Old Roses, Memory of Old Roses : Notes from the life of New Zealand's great Rosarian.

Mr Griffiths also contributed to The Herald's Past Times pages, reminiscing about Timaru in days gone by.

New Zealand Book Month - Your Favourite New Zealand Books as voted by you!!

2009-11-09T17:55:00.000-08:00

The results are in and your favourite New Zealand Books are...(most votes)

An angel at my table - Janet Frame

A River rules my life - Mona Anderson

A good man - Barry Crump

The Penguin history of New Zealand - Michael King

Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones

My own words - Judy Bailey

New Zealand Book Month - Book Art Entry Winners

2009-11-05T18:57:00.000-08:00

Winner Adult Section

Pam Chancellor

2nd Place Adult Section

Helen Cholmondeley

Winner Children's Section

Kate Merrilees

2nd Place Children's Section

Chelseigh and Brittany (Sacred Heart Primary School)

3rd Children's Section

Jessie Zandbergen (Sacred Heart Primary School)

Highly Commended

(All entries from Sacred Heart Primary School)

BNZ Katherine Mansfield Awards 2009

2009-10-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

BNZ Katherine Mansfield Awards 2009

Monday 5 October saw the annual BNZ Katherine Mansfield Awards commence at our new Harbour Quays building in Wellington. The evening was a great success with the winners of the Premier, Novice and Youth categories announced.

The 2009 winners are...

Youth Winner

Emma Robinson

Skipped the Censor

Novice Winner

Karen Phillips

The Visit

Premier Winner

Alice Miller

The Windmill

"Son of a Good Keen Man" - Martin Crump's Visit

2009-10-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

Over 75 people turned up to hear "A Son of a Good Keen Man" Martin Crump speak on Sunday 18th October.

Martin was at the Library to talk about the book "A Good Keen Man" written by his father Barry Crump, which celebrates its 50 year of release next year.

The book which has just been re-published co-incides with a New Zealand wide tour taking place in Library's and Bookshops and turned out to be a very popular event in Timaru.

The crowd was both entertained with stories and humour of Barry's life and his writing as well as intrigued by the "skeleton's in the closet".

Barry Crump

(Born May 15th 1935 - died July 3rd 1996)

In 1959 he began writing humorous sketches of life as a government deer-culler and pig hunter, publishing these as a Good Keen Man in 1960.By 1992 his New Zealand book sales were estimated at more than a million copies.
As well as a best selling author, Crump has been an actor, TV personality,Poet,radio commentator, man of leisure,traveller,goldminer,photographer and more.A successful 12 year association with Toyota brought a series of award winning advertisements that catapulted Crump into living rooms around country with his laconic blokey style.

Crump wrote 24 books in his lifetime, was married 5 times and had 6 children, all sons.

In the 1990's Crump was awarded an MBE and OBE for services to literature, something he was quietly proud of and reckoned they'd be hardcase pinned to his swandri.

He was listed in the who's who as having no fixed abode, and regarded himself as a world citizen.

He insisted, that he always will be, a Kiwi bushman.

New Zealand Book Month

2009-09-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

New Zealand Book Month in October is fast approaching, check out what we have planned for the month...

Celebrations Galore!

From Stewart Island to Kaitaia, Book Activists across the country will be revising battle plans, losing themselves in their lover’s arms and… rhyming with Hairy Maclary. October is New Zealand Book Month and is set to bring communities together to talk, think, laugh, remember, and share great Kiwi stories.

Visiting Author

The Madonna in the Suitcase

Huberta Hellendoorn

Writer Huberta Hellendoorn’s book celebrates the life of her daughter, Miriam, an artist born with Down Syndrome.

The Madonna in the Suitcase, the book traces the story of a young married couple arriving in New Zealand from Holland in 1960 and the birth of their first child, Miriam, in 1962 and tracing the balancing act she has performed as Miriam’s mother, friend and champion.

Join us as Huberta talks about her life and book…

Venue: Timaru District Library

Date: Friday 9th October

Time: 2pm

Visiting Author

Martin Crump

Join us for an hour of fun and nostalgia with Martin Crump, the son of A Good Keen Man…

2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of legendary New Zealander Barry Crump's first, and most-loved novel, A Good Keen Man. Born in Auckland in 1935, Crump worked for many years as a government deer-culler in areas of New Zealand native forest and A Good Keen Man was the result of his collected experiences. This novel became one of the most popular in New Zealand history. Crump was awarded an MBE for services to literature in 1994, and died in 1996.

Martin Crump will be entertaining and celebrating Barry Crump’s writing of ‘A Good Keen Man’.

‘A Good Keen Man 50 years on, leave the pig dogs outside.’

Venue: Timaru District Library

Date: Sunday 18th October

Time: 1.30pm

Other Happenings:

Celebrate New Zealand Book Month enter the
“New Zealand Book Art” Competition

Can you turn this…

Into something like this:

Create a work of art…

Enter our “New Zealand Book Design” Competition

See us for more details.

"A Day in the Life of a Librarian"

2009-09-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

Recently the below article appeared in our local Newspaper The Timaru Herald and also on the stuff website, it's interesting how much does get done in a day!

Nigel Brown started work as the boy at Timaru's library 25 years ago. He says he's still the boy and practically the only one on staff and he still lives and breathes books. Claire Allison talks with him.

The alarm is set for 6.30am but I finally decide to get out of bed about 6.45am. I usually turn the radio off hoping that I'll go back to sleep, but it never works. If I sleep in, I'll miss my bus at 8am.

I'm usually the first up, then the kids are up, probably about 7.30, so I help with the breakfast and try to razzle them along a little bit, get them ready for school. I've got two daughters; they're nine and six.
My wife drops them off at school, and I'm out the door just before 8am to catch the bus to work. We're a one-car family, and I love it the bus is great. There were about 15 on there this morning, and it's pretty much the same people. There's a guy who lives just around the corner, so we have a bit of a yak on the way down, or sometimes I put the iPod on and chill a little bit.

Sometimes I might get off about three stops back and walk to work. If it's a really great day, I might get off at the bottom of Wai-iti Rd and walk, and I still get to work in plenty of time.

8.30am is my start time, but I'm usually here about 8.15am. I turn my computer on, and one of the first things I do is check my emails there can be anything in there that might need to be dealt with, or has been passed on to be dealt with. At the moment I'm emailing with a person from Hachette publishers, to-ing and fro-ing because we've got Martin Crump coming in October as part of New Zealand Book Month, so we're discussing poster designs and arrangements. Or I'll have emails from Linda [Hughes, district librarian] to do with book recommendations to purchase. And I also subscribe to a number of library-oriented databases.
I usually have a walk around to try to make things nice and tidy so the place is looking good for when we open up. I'm the reader services librarian, so I'm in charge of the day-to-day running of the adult library making sure things are running smoothly, dealing with any problems that might occur.
I might have a staff member in to do some training. At the moment, I'm working through a training package that's been developed for libraries training the trainers.

In this library you're talking about 18 staff, full and part-time. Not everybody is here at the same time.
I do a desk roster weekly and I supervise student shelvers who come in after school.

My job involves promoting the adult library, running programmes. I also run a book club. It's a lot of fun with a bunch of wonderful ladies. We've got 11 members.
This morning, I went for a walk up Stafford St. We're taking part in a kete which Waimakariri Libraries are doing. They're trying to get all libraries in Canterbury to do an expose on their main street. It's kind of like a blog or archive kind of thing. It says it's a community-built digital library of art, cultural, heritage resources and knowledge.
So I started at the top of Stafford Street and worked my way down. They want old photos and new photos and also the history of the street. So I had quite a bit of fun taking photos. It's not really what you expect libraries to be doing, but the biggest thing is that no two days are the same.
Quite often I'll do desk duties out the front basically, I fill in. That's the really great thing about the job, the people contact.
I've been here for 25 years. I came in as the boy and I'm still the boy sometimes chief light bulb changer, and sometimes chief bouncer. Twenty-five years ago, jobs were fairly easy to come by. I decided when I was at school I didn't want to do university study, so I applied for two jobs one in a bank and one was here. I got offered three jobs two in a bank and one here, and I chose here, and it's been great.
No. I'm not a new-book sniffer ... but there's something about the feel of a brand new book ... I think the 25 years have gone really quickly.
This is a fun place to work. We have a laugh. The crew's great. No two days are the same I think it's that variety. I wouldn't be happy in an office signing papers. People contact is really important.
The borrowers are fantastic library users are great. Some of them aren't just borrowers; some of them have become friends. You see them so often, you know a little bit about them and their family, that sort of thing.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that we read all day. That's huge. We often get comments, "it must be great reading all day". That's far from it. I order books, but there's so much more. A book just doesn't come in, magically get covered, and magically get catalogued, that sort of thing. It goes on the computer so we know we've ordered it, it's checked in so we know it's in the building, it gets covered, catalogued, and from there it's ready to go. But that can take a little bit of time.
About 1200 new books come into the place a month. That's a lot of books, so a lot of work. People don't quite realise how much does go on. Various people do various things. We've got people dealing with other libraries wanting our books, somebody making up housebound bags for those who can't get in to the library. Volunteer drivers from the Red Cross deliver those. And there's somebody who deals with the overdues, and people who catalogue, and desk duties and shelving. There's a lot that goes on that people don't realise. It's like anything, really; until you've done the job, you don't know what's involved.
Sometimes there will be books that come back damaged. The most classic one somebody brought a book back and it had been attacked by the dog. It was called How to Train Your Dog.
It happens. Most people fess up. The odd one gets dropped in the bath. It'll be soaking wet and that's the death knell for them.
It's New Zealand Book Month in October, so today I've been busy trying to get some programmes together for that. We've got a couple of guest speakers, and we'll be running a New Zealand reading challenge.
I buy the fiction, and quite often we'll see two to three book reps a week. We try to offer as broad a selection as possible, everything from literary novels to a Mills and Boon paperback. But we can't buy everything. It's good to know your readers and know your stock, because it helps you determine what to buy.
There's very little science fiction and fantasy books being written at the moment. Chick lit used to be really big, but that's developed into the vampire romance stuff bonk and bite that's the hot thing at the moment. One of the bigger ones is the thrillers. A lot of authors are trying to write like Dan Brown, because in the past, they've been big sellers. It's become a genre.
I go for a walk at lunchtime. Then I usually go to a bookshop. I love books, and like to just keep up with what's out there. If I go to somewhere like Whitcoulls or Paper Plus and think, oh yeah, OK, such and such has just written a book that's OK, I've ordered it. I think it's a matter of keeping up to date.
You're definitely reading things that you wouldn't choose to on a personal level. That comes in with running the book club. The whole thing behind that is to challenge people to read outside their normal scope.
When I do the reading challenges, I might say you have to read a biography or science fiction. It's to get people out of their comfort zone. The main challenge is to pick something up and give it a go. People are often quite surprised.
I've got probably four separate projects on the go at the moment. There's always unexpected interruptions that you get. It might be somebody from a book-covering firm coming in, or a furniture place, in to say hi. That sort of thing.
I do a lot of Web 3.0 in my job, which involves running our library blog, and am also working on updating and creating a new library website. For the future, we're looking at Facebook and Flickr.
We're open late nights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but I tootle out the door at 5pm and catch my big green bus back home. I'm home about 5.30pm, which is a good time. So I unwind a little bit, do the homework with the girls, and shoot some hoops I've got one in particular mad keen sportsperson who played netball and is playing basketball, so we have a father-daughter challenge and I get beaten fairly regularly.
We have tea, then get them off to bed. My wife's a Pippins leader and on the Gleniti School PTA, so quite often is doing those bits and pieces.
I'm a self-confessed Trade Me addict. That's my night-time hobby. Books. I do a bit of trading, and I use Trade Me to to see what books are selling for, for the books we have on our sales tables.
I generally tootle off to bed at about 11pmish, but I like to have a game of patience ... or usually more than one. I try to get three out in a row. And I've found a tenpin bowling game on the web. So sometimes it will be 11.30pm before I get to bed. Or sometimes I'll read.

I don't watch much television. I have some favourite programmes, but not a lot. It's on in the background or we'll have the radio on.

New Zealand Book Month

2009-08-26T15:35:00.000-07:00

Our Voice, Our Choice, is the theme of this year’s campaign and it’s about communities getting involved and showcasing New Zealand literature on their own terms. In its fourth year, NZBM will be involving celebrities, schools, libraries, lovers of books and all things Kiwi to encourage local communities to first select a favourite New Zealand book and then create activities around that one book sometime during the month of October. Pick a Kiwi book, create activity based on it. It’s that simple.
Over 50 communities have already signed up through their designated Book Activist and will be picking their New Zealand book over the coming month. Five celebrities will also add their voices – picking their five favourite New Zealand books in categories from history to DIY.

There are a few big changes to the campaign. The first is that NZBM will be partnering with TVNZ and to do this, it’s had to move from September to October. It means that throughout October, there will be NZ writers and readers from across the country featured on TVNZ 6 and TVNZ online, promoting NZ literature.

The second big change is that there will be no Six Pack in 2009. The competition is on hold pending funding. However, the good news is that there will be a new public choice category in the Sunday Star Times Short Story Competition – where the public picks the winner – and that winner, as well as the open and youth section winners of the Sunday Star Times Short Story Competition will be announced in New Zealand Book Month.
“New Zealand Book Month 2009 is about taking the essence of our purpose home. Book Activists across the country are signed up and ready to bring their favourite Kiwi reads to their communities,” says Michele Powles, NZBM Director. “Already there is talk of art shows, dinner parties, speakers, school plays, author visits and so on – each community will be creating events to showcase their selected Kiwi read. Celebrities will be choosing their favourite reads and all this activity will be featured on Television and in Newspapers.”

Montana New Zealand Book Awards

2009-08-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

The winners of the Montana New Zealand Book Awards 2009 were congratulated at a gala function at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on the evening of Monday 27 July 2009.

The winning books are the judges' picks for the very best of all those published in 2008.

http://www.booksellers.co.nz/mba_winners.htm

And the winners are...

Montana Medal Winners

Montana Medal For Fiction or Poetry

Novel About My Wife - Emily Perkins

Montana Medal for Non-fiction

Rita Angus: An Artist's Life- Jill Trevelyan

Category Winners

Fiction Winner

Novel About My Wife- Emily Perkins

Fiction Runner-Up

The 10 PM Question - Kate De Goldi

Fiction Runner-Up

Acid Song- Bernard Beckett

Poetry Winner

The Rocky Shore- Jenny Bornholdt

History Winner

Buying the Land, Selling the Land- Richard Boast

Biography Winner

Rita Angus: An Artist's Life- Jill Trevelyan

Environment Winner

A Continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience into the 21st Century- Ian J Graham (Chief Editor)

Lifestyle & Contemporary Culture Winner

Ladies, A Plate: Traditional Home Baking- Alexa Johnston

Illustrative Winner

Len Castle: Making the Molecules Dance - Len Castle

Reference & Anthology Winner

Collected Poems, 1951-2006- CK Stead

Māori Language Award

He Pātaka Kupu: te kai a te rangatira - Māori Language Commission

Readers' Choice Award

The 10 PM Question- Kate De Goldi

New Zealand Society of Authors

Best First Book Awards

NZSA Hubert Church Best First Book Award for Fiction

The Rehearsal- Eleanor Catton

NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry

Everything Talks- Sam Sampson

NZSA E. H. McCormick Best First Book Award for Non-fiction

Mates & Lovers: A History of Gay New Zealand- Chris Brickell

Library Birthday Celebrations...

2009-08-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

To celebrate our Library Centenary we held several events over the month of June, this included displays, competitions, reading challenges, guest speaker, book design competition and a Library Staff Reunion. Below are just a few photos of what we did...

Chocolate Book Art - looks good enough to eat!!

The New Zealand Cheese Book Book Art - where's the mouse trap!Grand Piano Prize winners in the Young Adult Book Art

Timaru District Libraries Celebrate 100 Years of Public Library Service

2009-08-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

On 4th June 2009 the Timaru District Libraries celebrated 100 Years of Public Library Service, while we have been around alot longer than that it wasn't until 1909 that the Library was officially free to all Timaru residents. Below is a brief history of the Timaru Library...

1862 - First Reading Room opened in the School House, Barnard Street. It was open daily from 5.00pm to 10.00pm and on Saturdays daily from 10.00am to 8.00pm. English and Colonial papers were provided, and a select library of books for the use of members.

1870 - 1st July - Opening of the Mechanics Institute which was created by an addition on an existing building, on the south side of North Street, which aimed to provide a Library, Reading Room and News Room.

1880 - 29th October - Total destruction of the Mechanics Institute building when it was burned down during the holding of a Church Bazaar. A new building was erected on the same site at a cost of 1,400 pounds.

1905 - Scheme for a Municipal Library was set afoot by Mayor Jmes Craigie. The subscribers to the Mechanics Institute agreed to present the old building and it's conents to the Council if it established a Municipal Library in a new building.

1906 - Timaru Public Act was passed to enable the Council and the Trustees to use the proceeds from the sale of the buildings and land of the old Institute to be spent on books.

1909 - 4th June - Official opening of the Timaru Public Library on the present Timaru District Council site on George Street, it was built in Oamaru Stone. The Library was built with a 3,000 pound grant from the Carnegie Corporation (Andrew Carnegie) of New York and was designed by Walter Panton. The condition under which the money was given was that the reading rooms should should be open to everyone and that the lending library should be free to ratepayers of the Borough. The Borough Council, however, considered that everyone who paid rent was indirectly a ratepayer, and it was decided the Library should be free to both rentpayers and ratepayers. The Timaru Library is believed to be the first in the Dominion for which this concession was made.

1959 - Timaru celebrated 50 years of Public Library Service - in the first 50 years more than 10,000,000 book issues have been made.

1979 - 7th May - Current Library was opened on Sophia Street. It was designed by Miles, Warren and Mahoney and opened by Sir Keith Holyoake.

1989 - Timaru City, Temuka, Geraldine Boroughs and the Strathallan County amalgamated to form the Timaru District and the Timaru District Libraries was born.

1997 - The new Temuka Library, Service Centre and Information Centre was opened in the revamped old Temuka Supermarket in King Street (the original building was built in 1911).

Old Temuka Library

New Temuka Library, Service Centre and Information Centre

2003 - August - The new Geraldine Library, Service Centre was opened on the old Community Hall / Library on Talbot Street.

Old Geraldine Library

New Geraldine Library, Service Centre