Newsletter no. 21

July 2010

Animals in war… editorial by Hantie Braybrook*
War programmes are not usually my cup of tea but I plucked up the courage to watch the repeat broadcasting of Band of Brothers and from there The Pacific and now the Generation Kill series. Though it was difficult to watch at times - I still haven’t been able to pick up a book about personal war experiences or combat situations. What I have been able to read is stories about animals in war situations. Even in stories (real and fiction) animals seems to break past that wall of dread and fear and engage our emotions with their openness, loyalty and bravery. Dogs feature prominently in this kind of literature.
What is the appeal of this genre?
The strong bonds people form with animals are deeply emotional and are often a central theme in these stories. And then there is the animal’s unconditional love, non-judgemental acceptance, loyalty, bravery and protection beyond reason, comforting, giving their caretakers a reason to live for / hang on in desperate situations, respect earned and given.
The unknown outcome of everyone entering the war zone adds to the intensity. You experience the ‘adventure’, get to know about life during times of war– both those of soldiers and civilians. The personality of the animals and the mischief they and their companions get up to add charm to what could otherwise be a harrowing tale. Happy endings, when it happens, are especially satisfying. What is also fascinating is how the animals are trained and how they perform under the intense pressure of combat situations.

The subtitle on the cover of The dog that saved my life sums it up: ‘Sacrifice. Loyalty. Love beyond all bounds.’ Those are the qualities that bring me back to this genre time and again.Dogs at war by Blythe Hamer; The four legged major by Graham Spencer;Caesar the Anzac dog by Patricia Stroud; From Baghdad with love by Jay Kopelman; Nubs by Brian Dennis et al;Freedom in the air by Hamish Ross; Silent heroes by Evelyn le Chene; Animal heroes by Anthony Hill.

* Hantie is Specialist Librarian – Information Services at Glenfield Library.


Best Reads…..
This month’s selection is from Patricia Kay.


As the earth turns silver : a novel by Alison Wong


The children's book by A. S. Byatt


Good to a fault by Marina Endicott


The elegance of the hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

The housekeeper and the professor by Yoko Ogawa

An equal stillness by Francesca Kay


In hovering flight by Joyce Hinnefeld



Share your best reads … just send a list of titles to Ann

Children's author website

Kathy White, children's author and until recently the CATS Librarian at Devonport Library, has launched her brand new website. It has lots of information about Kathy and her writing and also has a very good page of links to webpages about writers and books., especially suitable for children and teens.
Have a look!

Newsletter no. 20

June 2010

Something our customers will love…..
If you haven’t already found this on the Reading Experience page of our website, then you definitely need to take a look.
By clicking on fiction you will find lists have been compiled for the browsing reader. Thanks to Sarah Menzies – whose brainchild this was, we have a great resource for the reader, and a great reader’s advisory resource for us as a starting point for recommendations.
The beauty of these lists and links is that the browser can see the catalogue record, read a summary, read a review and most importantly, request the book …all from one site – fantastic!
Now it’s up to us to make sure our customers know about it…
This month’s editorial is by Sheryl Day* …..

In my role I take responsibility for the services provided by the Area Office as well as being part of the library team. Over the years I have built up knowledge of local government procedures and am able to provide customers with information on a wide range of services. If I do not know the answer then I will try to put the customer in touch with someone who does -customer service and the provision of information – skills that are also a large part of a librarian’s job. Communication, excellent service and follow up are keywords in both positions. Customers are not always happy with the council – taking payments is another part of the job - a smile and friendly greeting can often defuse a situation.
I am also responsible for displays showcasing different areas of the collection, encouraging readers to try something different – maybe non-fiction for a change or perhaps a new author in their preferred genre. My own reading is eclectic but my preference is for the red dots – the REAL red dots – a good psychological thriller with plenty of twists Jeffrey Deaver ,Michael Connelly , Lee Child, Tami Hoag, Linwood Barclay, Cody McFadyen and so many others, and this week, joy!.. A new writer, Noah Boyd . I think the reading experience should be a relaxed, enjoyable indulgence – time out for one’s self.
Now enough about me – this is cutting into my precious reading time!

* Sheryl is Council Services Librarian at Albany Village



Best Reads…..
This month’s selection is from Megan Grimshaw-Jones.
On Green Dolphin Street by Sebastian Faulks

Mao's last dancer by Li Cunxin


Brooklyn : a novel by Colm Tóibín


Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout


American wife : a novel by Curtis Sittenfeld


The winner's bible : rewire your brain for permanent change by Kerry Spackman

Who writes like

We are all familiar with the great resource Who else writes like.
Wellington City Libraries have a webpage with this information featuring some of the more popular fiction authors. It's called Who writes like... and is a good quick link to help our patrons select their next book.
Have a look!

Newsletter No. 19

May 2010

You just never know what gems you will hear ….
While making reading recommendations to a customer, a staff member acknowledged the customer’s husband standing nearby and a conversation started up. During the course of that conversation the husband asked “do you read Grahame Greene?” “Not for many years” replied the staff member. “Well” he continued… and it transpired that he once worked for Graham Greene for about 5 years on his estate as painter and decorator, during the course of which he witnessed a clandestine affair being conducted between Graham Greene and Anita Ekberg! And apparently Mrs Greene was a very snooty lady – well who can blame her!
The Reading Experience can have many benefits… Don’t you just love working in a library?
Creating the WOW! for Children and Teens…

By now you will have all attended The Reading Experience workshops developed and delivered by the CaT’s team and from the feedback given at each session, they were an overwhelming success. Congratulations to the team and Karen for putting together and running such a great workshop. Now the real enjoyment can begin.
You will all be completing the exercises and getting out in the children’s area, putting your new found knowledge and confidence to good use to both spread the joy of reading and enhance the library experience for our customers. Congratulations and “good on you” to all those staff who have already taken up the challenge to deliver Rhymetime and Wriggle and Rhyme. However, for those of you a little less brave, being in the children’s area talking to the kids and showing your enthusiasm is just as important.
As a reminder of the sort of fun author websites you can find in “Dive into Reading” – check out Brian Falkner’s…
http://www.brianfalkner.co.nz/

Best Reads…..

In keeping with our focus on children and teens, this month’s best teen reads are from Helen at East Coast Bays.



Nation by Terry Pratchett


Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman


Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve

The evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Impossible : a novel by Nancy Werlin

Newsletter no. 18

April 2010

A true story ….
NSL staff member (X) tells of helping a customer choose a book to read and the customer commenting that she and X obviously enjoy the same sort of books, as the customer had enjoyed something X had recommended once before. X doesn’t remember recommending something to the customer, or even having helped her before, but nevertheless the customer remembered her and came back.
This is a good illustration of the affect we have on our customer relationships – Whether we remember them or not, the customer will remember – good or bad. This customer now has a familiar friendly face to approach, a good experience to take away and a good source of reading that she knows she is likely to enjoy.
This is The Reading Experience in action!


This month’s guest editorial is by Patricia Kay*……
I love attending book festivals to listen to authors and meet other readers. There is always a buzz at such events with people talking non-stop about books. The best list of festivals is in Wikipedia and the best festival sites include biographies, reviews, forums, blogs and sometimes even ezines and podcasts. A quick browse through any of the following sites will furnish you with plenty of ideas for book recommendations:
Hay on Wye, UK
Hong Kong
New York
Toronto
You can read about my experiences at the Wellington Writers and readers Week on my blog, 'Happy Reading'.
The Auckland Readers and Writers Festival is held annually in May and begins this year on Wednesday 12 May with public events held at the Aotea Centre from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 May. See the printed programme in your Library or visit the website. To feel the atmosphere you can just pop into the Aotea Centre over that weekend and visit the bookstall – you are bound to see some of New Zealand’s top literary figures and there will be international authors signing copies of their books as well. Inspiring!
* Patricia is Specialist Librarian – Information Services at ECB Library


Best Reads…..
This month’s Best Reads are from Beth at Library Support Services.



Home Safe : A Novel by Elizabeth Berg



The women in black by Madeleine St John



As it is in heaven by Niall Williams



Ten sorry tales by Mick Jackson

The Reading Experience for Children and Teens

The Reading Experience for Children and Teens is a workshop which looks at the reading experience through the eyes of children and teens and how we, as librarians, can make a difference to every child's reading experience.

It follows on from last year's The Reading Experience workshops which focussed on the adult areas of the library.

This workshop will give you:

• An appreciation for working with children and teens in the library - yes, it can be FUN and extremely rewarding!


• Some knowledge and skills to feel more confident when helping parents / children / teens with their reading queries or promoting books.


• a greater awareness of the role of the Children's Librarian and the services we offer.

They will run from 20 April - 27 May. Staff will be rostered onto sessions and dates advised by your Managers. A reminder email will be sent a few days before the session.
One of the followup exercises for this workshop is to visit this blog and leave a comment about one thing you learnt from the session. So ... if that's what you are here for ... please leave your comments in the comment box below.