blog

How much is a free library card worth?

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:43:46 +1200

In libraries we are always talking about the value that we add to our communities. But how do you enumerate that value? Is it about the savings you make by accessing a range of resources for free, or at low cost? Or are there other value streams hidden beneath the surface?

This week a colleague told us that some libraries have taken to printing out the value of the customer's borrowing on their checkout receipt. I've just had a tally-up of the items currently out in my name, seven in total and not counting four already returned this week, and my tally comes to $443.20. Now, in the interests of full disclosure, I'm on a home decorating and artistic bent at the moment, so there are some weighty tomes in that lot. But, in all fairness, you only have to visit the local bookstores to know that reading doesn't come cheap! We can count the financial savings of reading for free quite easily, and they are substantial.

But then you have the hidden financial savings that can be made through having free access to a mountain of information. Did you hear the one about the local man who built his own garage from the bottom up, doing all the wiring and other technical work required, having no trade or prior experience. He got the work signed off by the professionals, meeting all the building requirements, and he used the information he found in books at this library to guide him through the process. That borrowing transaction has a whole other set of financial savings, not to mention the growth of skills in our community, and the confidence and personal growth experienced by this gentleman, who shared his story with us during a visit to the library this week. (Incidentally, that visit was contributing to his on-going education which has nothing to do with his current employment. More value?)

In her recent post on the Libraries and learning blog, Glenda talks about the very human needs that libraries meet - the need to create, to belong, to connect (with information and people), a need to know and understand, and equally importantly, a need to have time out to replenish our energy and access our creative spirits. How do we calculate the social value of a library to its community? As information and recreational reading become increasingly available online, the risk is that libraries will seem increasingly irrelevant, especially if borrowing of books is the only measure of the role they play.

Television New Zealand this week focused briefly on the issue of public libraries, asking the question "Are libraries still relevant?" The feedback to their Facebook page certainly indicates strong support for libraries.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below - we'd love to know what value you place on your library card.

Have You Heard? Kimbra, Vows

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:49:24 +1200

If you haven't heard the name Kimbra yet, or discovered her debut album Vows, you will have almost certainly heard the 22 year old Kiwi songstress' voice.

It is she that provides the ear-grabbing vocal counterpoint on Gotye's global chart dominating (and now almost unavoidable) hit Somebody that I used to know. That spooky little song reached the top of the US billboard singles chart a few weeks back and has done no end of good in raising Kimbra's profile there. A slightly revamped version of her winningly infectious debut album Vows is set for a US release on May 22, and it could well see our proudly homegrown talent (currently residing in Melbourne) take America by storm.

Originally released on these shores in September last year, Vows quickly earned Kimbra a devoted fan base down under. It isn't hard to see why. The album showcases Kimbra's remarkable, natural singing/songwriting talents to stunning effect. Songs like the dazzling lead-off single Settle down, and its equally impressive follow-up Cameo lover positively burst with melodic and rhythmic inventiveness, and demonstrates a mastery of singing that is well beyond most artists of such a tender age. My personal favourite on this set is Two way street which contains a swooning, jaw-droppingly lovely chorus.

Vows covers a fair amount of stylistic ground in its 11 songs. It shifts gears from glossy pop, to soul ballads, to upbeat R&B with ease. It's a credit to Kimbra that she manages to juggle so many influences without losing her own musical identity, or indeed, the album's overall sense of cohesion. Not everything she attempts comes off perfectly, and for me, the mid-section of Vows takes a slight dip in quality, but by and large this is a hugely impressive and rewarding first outing from an artist whose star is on the rise.

America, you sense, is Kimbra's for the taking.

Cinderella of the future

Wed, 09 May 2012 09:26:33 +1200

Cinder, by Marissa Meyer, is a futuristic adult retelling of the fairytale Cinderella, with the essence of the classic tale still shining through. It is complete with androids, cyborgs, a deadly plague, Lunar people, and last - but not least - a nasty stepmother and sister. Cinder, our heroine, is caught between love and honesty, duty and freedom, and loyalty and betrayal. She must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

I would say this book is a fairytale on steroids; it so is completely different from ANY fairytale retelling I’ve read before, and I am already eagerly anticipating the next one in the series.

Minnie's side of the story

Wed, 02 May 2012 14:29:13 +1200

Sacha de Bazin was in Invercargill recently talking about her very first book, The day she cradled me. She was so lovely and her talk was so interesting that it made me want to read the book. I remember studying the case of Minnie Dean - the infamous "Winton baby farmer" and the only woman in New Zealand history to be hanged - in my high school History class, so I was looking forward to reading de Bazin's fictional account of her life and crimes.

The author spent years researching the case, and all of this background information shows throughout the novel. To be honest it took me a little while to get into the book, and some of it was difficult to get through as (in my opinion) Minnie was not a particularly likeable character. The further I read on, however, the more I came to sympathise with the situation Minnie found herself in.

de Bazin's aim of the book was to give Minnie Dean a voice and a chance to put her side of the story, and this she achieved admirably. de Bazin has managed to create a very readable, well-written novel out of what was a tragic case all round. Although we may never know for sure exactly what happened to those children, de Bazin presents a plausible, thought-provoking theory. Recommended to anyone with a passing interest in the case, New Zealand history in general, or just wanting a good fictional read based on actual events.

Trust me, I'm Dr Ozzy

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:16:25 +1200

If you are after a little pick-me-up, then this might be just the book for you. Based on Ozzy Osbourne’s columns in the British Sunday Times, “Trust me, I’m Dr. Ozzy” is jam-packed with advice on health, hygiene, diet and exercise, as well as guidance for all manner of medical situations. And after all, who would be better qualified to give out medical advice? Ozzy Osbourne has sampled every drug (legal or otherwise) known to man, so he’s bound to know what the side-affects are. He’s also swallowed a bumble bee at seventy mph, tasted bat, (and endured the weeks of rabies shots that followed) broken his neck in a quad-bike accident, been misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s, been declared clinically dead, and survived an incident where a plane crashed into his tour bus.

The book takes the format of question and answer - people wrote in to Ozzy’s newspaper columns asking questions – some outrageous, some very pertinent. To the outrageous questions – hilarious replies, to the more serious questions – very sensible answers I’m glad to say. Interspersed between the letters are mini-quizzes, some “insane-but-true stories” and some miscellaneous medical “facts”. A great read, very funny but let us not forget – this is Ozzy Osbourne – the language is enough to make your hair curl! Especially good for the men in your life, “Trust me, I’m Dr Ozzy” addresses some of those issues that men traditionally don’t like to talk about.

What was I thinking

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:52:26 +1200

Paul Henry, love him or loathe him, there doesn’t seem to be any middle ground here. But actually now that I’ve read his book – I’m a bit of a fan. Having only seen him occasionally on the Breakfast show, I didn’t really know a lot about Paul Henry, (not withstanding his rather infamous gaffes) so this highly entertaining memoir has been a real eye-opener.

Henry has been in the journalism profession for quite a long time. He started out at age 15, rolling out cable behind the scenes at the BBC. As a foreign correspondent, he’s travelled widely and quite often on the smell of an oily rag. He’s certainly had some hair-raising moments and he has also seen his fair share of tragedies. Told in his usual deadpan style, What was I thinking gives some insight into the complex character that is Paul Henry – a little unusual, a bit controversial, kind of eccentric, but ultimately good at heart. There are some very funny, laugh-out-loud moments, so definitely a great read.

Have you heard? Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:57:38 +1200

By channeling the heartache of a bad breakup into 2008's hauntingly beautiful debut 'For Emma, Forever Ago', Bon Iver's Justin Vernon rapidly (and for him, quite unexpectedly) assumed a kind of cult-hero status in indie-music circles.

With a much talked about, well acknowledged classic LP already under Vernon's belt, it's fair to say that expectation was high for the bearded folkie to deliver a successful follow-up. In June 2011, deliver he most certainly did. Meeting with rapturous and widespread critical acclaim upon its release last year, Bon Iver's glorious self-titled sophomore album more than exceeds expectations.

Bon Iver had me utterly transfixed from the outset. Nearly a year on from its original release it remains in high rotation at my house. A quick check of my iTunes play count reveals that it has also, in fact, had quite a hammering on my iPod.

So..., how to describe this quite remarkable record? To boil it down to its essence, what we have here is heartfelt, multi-layered folk-pop with exquisite melodies, enigmatic lyrics and Vernon's soulful falsetto combining to create an unconventional and highly compelling artistic statement. Really though, words don't do Bon Iver justice. It simply needs to be heard.

Even world-beating pop songstress Adele has fallen under its spell. Writing on her website last year, she implored her vast fanbase to “please listen if you haven't already. So so special! The soundtrack to my heart”.

Couldn't agree more Adele..., couldn't agree more.

Looking for a new courtroom drama?

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:28:33 +1200

Defending Jacob is written by William Landay, an ex-Assistant District Attorney. Just another lawyer-turned-writer who has churned out yet another bland courtroom drama? Not in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed Defending Jacob and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys legal thrillers along the lines of John Grisham and Richard North Patterson (in their heyday), or anyone who enjoys a "meaty" read.

Andy Barber is an Assistant DA who is set to prosecute the vicious murder of a 14-year-old boy in an upmarket New England community. That is, until his own son - Jacob - is implicated in the crime, and Andy finds himself on the other side of the case, trying to defend Jacob at all costs.

This is not just a courtroom drama, but also the heartwrenching story of a family in turmoil. Andy and his wife, Laurie, believe absolutely in Jacob's innocence. Ugly family secrets are dredged up by the court case, however, and force Andy to re-examine everything he believes in, including the justice system that he has been a part of his whole working life. The book is fast-paced, intricately plotted, and I could not put it down.

A history of the world in 100 objects

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:10:38 +1200

Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, uses 100 objects from the museum to give a brief history of the World. The format is very accessible - each chapter starts with a photograph of an object, followed by a detailed description (which makes you go back and look at the photo and actually ‘see’ the object properly) and then the author provides some context for the object – when it was made, where it was found (and how it came to be there) and what was happening in the World at that particular time. So for example, there is a picture of what looks to me like a bit of old rock, but after reading MacGregor’s description I go back to the picture and with new eyes I can see what the item actually is – an ancient sculpture of two lovers entwined.

Ranging from ancient cutting implements to Victorian tea sets, from drinking vessels to sculptures, the objects provide not only a window into the past, but also an insight into the way civilisations rose and fell, and the way cultures in different parts of the World created similar tools or utensils, at around the same time. An absolutely fascinating read, ‘A history of the World’ is a real eye-opener and definitely provoked some interesting discussions here at work. If you enjoyed Bill Bryson’s book, ‘At Home’, then you will definitely enjoy this one too, as it is written in a similar almost conversational manner. A great book to dip in and out of. For Me? Best. Book. Ever.

J K Rowling - are you still wondering what next?

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:47:11 +1200

Are you, like me, still waiting for J K Rowling's next effort? If so, you will be intrigued to read the latest information to emerge from her new publishing house, Little, Brown. Due for publication in September this year, her new novel is aimed at an adult audience, and couldn't be further from Hogwarts if it tried. Titled The casual vacancy, the story is set in a small town called Pagford. The story sets out to unravel the hidden rivalries beneath the town's "chocolate-box façade". Read more in this Guardian article, and watch this space for further developments as the date of publication draws near.

Good as dead

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:07:56 +1200

Good as dead is the latest offering from British thriller writer Mark Billingham. If you enjoyed Billingham's 2008 standalone novel, In the dark, you will probably want to give this a look as it brings back Helen Weeks and unites her with DI Tom Thorne (one of my favourite dysfunctional detectives). Weeks is a single Mum police officer who finds herself on the wrong side of a hostage drama when she is held at gunpoint by her local dairy owner who demands that Thorne re-open the inquiry into his teenage son's death in youth custody. As Thorne races against time to try to find out what happened to the boy, Weeks must try to keep the hostage-taker calm in order to keep herself and her fellow hostage alive.

This is a little different to the usual Thorne books as it takes place over only three days and focuses more on the action than Thorne's home life. Probably not the best one to read first if you are new to the series, but still a gripping thriller that Billingham fans should thoroughly enjoy, and the twist at the end will leave you wishing he would write faster so you can find out what happens in Thorne's life next!

Graphic novels: Can they be mainstream?

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:42:28 +1200

I just read a great blog post about graphic novels/comics on Random House's Suvudu website: Why are graphic novels still a step too far for some fans?. Matt Staggs makes an excellent point. There are a huge number of movies, TV shows, and games in the mainstream media all based on graphic novels; why do people still shy away from graphic novels as a format?

He suggests that there is still a widespread image in the back of our heads of the comic book guy from The Simpsons. The idea that graphic novels are the domain of overweight, socially awkward boys, and men with bad skin. Well, I dare anybody to watch patrons browse our graphic novel collections and arrive at that conclusion.

There is also a wealth of main stream authors writing graphic novels: Diana Gabaldon, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz are among them. Yet people are still reluctant to pick up a graphic novel even if it's by their favourite author. Take Diana Gabaldon's graphic novel Exile, for example. When it was released we had people coming in asking for the new book in her Outlander series and you could almost see their faces drop when you told them it was a graphic novel. In fairness, some of them did still read it, and I'm sure they were rewarded with an excellent story. The fact remains, however, that the idea of a graphic novel made most readers pause, if not turn and run.

Knowing, then, that there is this underlying prejudice against the comic format what can be done to connect these excellent books with readers? Is the problem how we as a library market them?

I'm currently running a survey for my library studies on this very topic. If you have an opinion you'll find the survey on our home page. There is a $50 book voucher up for grabs as well.

Finally, I encourage all readers to look outside the square created by the classic text-based book. In our modern environment, our definition of worthwhile reading needs to be expanded to fit all the new media available.

P.S If you are curious, we have the first two books in the Dean Koontz series Matt Staggs talks about and we have just ordered the third.

Makeup is art

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:30:31 +1200

Just wanted to highlight this gorgeous book by Jana Ririnui. Ririnui was born in Invercargill and is now based in London. He started out at age 14, working for free in a local hair salon before moving to Australia to realise his dream of becoming a hairdresser. It was in Australia that he was approached by a modelling agency and, whilst Ririnui loved the modelling lifestyle, he soon discovered that it was in make-up artistry where his true passion lay.

Moving to London in the late 1990s, he studied to become a makeup artist, working on cosmetic counters in his spare time and assisting other make-up artists for free. In later years he was instrumental in the founding of the Academy of Freelance Makeup, which is owned and operated by freelance makeup artists and is primarily aimed at giving their students the tools, knowledge and experience to succeed in the industry.

'Makeup is art' is a beautiful book with loads of inspirational ideas for budding makeup artists, some very arty photographs and lots of tips and techniques for people in the industry. At the end of the book there are also some FAQs for those who are interested in taking up make-up artistry as a career. A truly sumptuous book.

Connie Regan-Blake, storyteller

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:08:09 +1300

Connie Regan-Blake is one of America’s most celebrated storytellers, and she is performing at the Library on Friday April 29, at 8pm. The session is aimed at teens and adults, and there are likely to be some scary ghost stories in the mix. She is renowned around the globe for her powerful performances and workshops, and you can find out more about Connie at her website, here.

Four staff members from the Library were fortunate enough to attend a storytelling workshop with Connie earlier this week. Cris shared the experience with me afterwards, and, even second-hand, I was enraptured by her description.

Storytelling is as old as the history of civilisation - it is how we share our values and moral teachings, and was the way we built language skills with our children, long before the advent of classrooms. Cris described the experience of being transported to other times and places by the sheer presence and energy of Connie's performance, and the sense that she tells stories from her heart and body, not the mind.

We warmly urge you to seize this opportunity to be swept away into the world of your imagination, to reconnect with the joy of storytelling. Meet with us in the Library Meeting Room at 8pm tonight. Ticket sales at the door, $15 - students and seniors $10.

Crime thru time

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +1300

Do you just love reading historical mysteries? If so, we have found the website for you! Crime thru time is a website dedicated to readers who enjoy their mysteries set somewhere back in time (think P C Doherty, Alys Clare, Umberto Eco, Edward Marston, Anne Perry, Tom Rob Smith). On the website you will find all sorts of inspiration for what to read next, including lists of authors and lists of titles arranged in a timeline through history. So if you are feeling in the mood for reading a mystery set in the thirteenth century, you can look up the timeline and find something suitable.

There is also a discussion list you can sign up to, a monthly book club selection which you can read and contribute to the discussion on, and links to numerous other useful websites you may enjoy. The "Releases" section lists forthcoming historical mystery titles; if you find something you like the look of, please feel free to let us know by filling out a suggest a purchase form and we will consider buying it for the Library.

The four purposes of life

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:33:17 +1300

If you’re feeling a little lost, don’t know what to do with your life, you have no direction and wonder ‘what’s it all about?’, then this may be just the book for you. Dan Millman, who also wrote “The life you were born to live” and “The way of the peaceful warrior”, has distilled a lifetime of experience into this concise volume. Millman defines our four main life purposes: learning life’s lessons, finding your career and calling, discovering your life path, and, attending to this arising moment.

‘The four purposes’ helps the reader to bring their life into focus, to develop the insight and self-knowledge to face life’s challenges and ultimately to recognise what makes us happy. The main idea in this book is mindfulness, or being ‘in the moment’ and this makes sense to me because when you are truly mindful of what you are doing, really caught up in it – that to me is when you are at your most happiest. ‘The four purposes of life' is a quick read - a small book with a big message.

What do librarians do? They tell you where the elephants are buried

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:31:41 +1300

On crossing the road this morning, readying myself to support the local cafe scene, I overheard a snippet of conversation posing just that question. The rather uncertain reply was “I suppose they mend books.” While it's true that one of our staff members does mend books, both for the library and the public, that leaves roughly fifty-odd staff members doing other things.

So what does an ordinary day look like at the public library? Well, each day begins with routines such as putting out upwards of 20 regional newspapers for the public to read, returning books handed in overnight, so that you don't get charged an extra day's overdues, and firing up a host of public access computers.

Across the library we expect to see around 1 550 visitors each day, and we issue approximately 2 000 items to those people. Of course, that also means that we return a similar number, while answering upwards of 300 enquiries. And yes, one of those queries did relate to elephants buried in Invercargill, and believe it or not, there have been several! We also help with crossword questions, homework, and spend a lot of time helping with family histories. Staff regularly answer emails from England and many other countries, as people put together the puzzle of family movements. Each day, staff go through the births, deaths and marriages in our local newspaper, adding the information to databases that make those searches easier.

On any given day there can be around 100 people attending events at the library. Mothers and babies come to Wriggle and Rhyme, storytelling and craft sessions abound, along with one-off events with visiting authors, musicians and more. We offer user education sessions and a full holiday programme for children, too. By the end of the holiday period, our staff would be glad to sit and mend a few books!

Apart from our physical presence, a team of staff contribute to our online content, posting updates to our website – which receives around 250 hits per day. Blog posts, event updates, and new book shelves on the web all take time to complete, and have to be fitted in between desk shifts and purchasing around 20 000 new resources each year.

In the background, and invisible to patrons, we have a team of staff who open boxes of new books that arrive daily, each of which needs to be paid for, catalogued and processed. Once the books are ready to go out to the public side of the library, another team of staff put together book displays and manage the holds processes so that you get a fair shot at reading new books as soon as possible. If demand exceeds supply, we order more copies, and the cycle begins again.

We also manage the end of the book life cycle, as stock that is no longer being read is removed from the collection, and we try to sell it back to you in our famous book sales.

And do we have time to read? Well, yes and no. Most of us are avid readers, but the concensus is that librarians who spend all day reading is just one of those urban myths. A bit like the one that claims we all eat several spiders in our sleep during our lifetime... and yes, we can help you look that one up at your local library, too.

(Photo is CC licensed and by Nevit Dilmen.)

Geek Wisdom

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:08:37 +1300

Geek Wisdom is a collection of mini-essays that expand on, interpret, comment upon, and philosophise about, some of the most well-known quotes from movies, television shows, literature, games, science, the internet etc. Some essays are humorous, most are profound, and as a collection, I’m sure that they all speak to our inner nerd.

The fact that most of these quotations are now a part of everyday pop-culture says it all - maybe "the geek shall inherit the Earth". So get your geek on and read this book and hey - "Live long and prosper".

Have you heard? Dukes, Still life

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:06:00 +1300

With the days shortening and winter in Southland seemingly looming ever nearer, it's a good time to discover the warm, sparkling, hook-laden pop of Christchurch band Dukes. Truly, the wondrous sound this five-piece group makes is the perfect prescription to offset any possible symptoms from the vitamin-D deficient colder months that are fast approaching.

Sophomore album Still life was released in late 2010 to wide critical acclaim, with singles 'Vampires', 'Self control' and 'Time is a train' garnering much interest locally. You might be familiar with these songs from the radio, (they received plenty of airplay), but there is so, so much more to this album than a couple of decent singles.

Still life is an absolute pearler of a record - from the first track to the last, it is filled with infectious, melodic pop songcraft of the highest order. I have taken much pleasure in persuading several of my library colleagues to give it a spin, and their reactions to it have been as enthusiastic as mine. Kiwi pop music looks to be in fine shape at them moment, with the likes of Ladyhawke and Kimbra flying the flag with great success overseas. The consistently high quality of Dukes' output suggests they could, and should, be a band to be treasured internationally too.

Boardwalk empire: Season 1 DVD

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:39:44 +1300

Boardwalk empire is simply the best TV series you will watch this year. It has everything: sex, drugs, alcohol, romance, and, of course, wonderful characters. It doesn’t hurt that the storyline is fantastic too. It follows what happened in the big cities of America after Prohibition was brought in (the sale of alcohol became illegal) and how the gangsters took over. It is centred around Nucky Thompson, Treasurer of Atlantic City and big time crook. He looks to be a good man, helping others when they need it (especially a certain Mrs Schroeder) but in reality he is devious and can’t be trusted. But don’t put him down to just be a ruthless criminal; he is a shrewd politician who is able to seamlessly make things go his way when it seems like he’s heading for a fall. There’s something about him that makes you hate and love him in equal parts.

But it’s not just about Nucky. You will meet other gangsters and bootleggers. These include Jimmy Darmody (a young man just returned from the war), his newly found friend Al Capone (yes, the real Al Capone from Chicago), Chalky White (a black man who fits seamlessly into the bootlegging world), Eli Thompson, and all the other men running round on Nucky Thompson’s rat wheel.

Everything about this is great. It’s the people, the costumes and the storyline. It makes you wish that you could go back in time for a day and live in the 1920s. I highly recommend it.