Dunedin Public Libraries News & Reviews Blog

There were some great workshops held in Blueskin Bay as part of Turn Off TV Week last week.

Here are some highlights.

• What’s inside your computer?

Murray Soal demystified these useful machines, explaining computer technology in non technical terms.

• Cheese making

Linda Chartlon demonstrated how to make cheese at home. She made a hard cheese and cottage cheese.

This workshop was very popular and Linda hopes to run another.

Contact the Blueskin Bay Library if you are interested on 474 3690.

As part of Turn Off TV Week Blueskin Bay Library hosted a Pet Day on Thursday.

Many of our furry, feathery and fluffy friends attended, including cats and dogs, geese (one looked very much like Jemima Puddleduck!)and rabbits. Those without real live pets brought along the toy variety.

The sausage eating competition was a definite highlight.

Other prizes were also given out, including ones for the best trick and the naughtiest pet!

A great time was had by all.

Want to learn more about Hector’s Dolphins and find out what you can do to help them?

Then come along to Blueskin Bay Library to:

Find out why these marine mammals are so special
See some fantastic photos of the Hector’s Dolphins
Have fun learning about their habits and threats through some interactive games
Create a poster for the Hector’s Dolphin patchwork mural
Be in for a chance to win a Hector’s Dolphin T-shirt

• Wednesday 30th April at 3pm
• Blueskin Bay Library
• FREE EVENT

Bellowing alligators and howling lemurs may seem unlikely musicians, but they play important parts in a symphony that uses only animal calls. British composer Nick Glennie-Smith collects performances from a variety of fascinating instrumentalists and vocalists, including rattlesnakes, baby monkeys and even a fish that hums.

• Thursday 1 May 10.30am & 5.30pm
• First Floor
• Dunedin City Library
• FREE EVENT

The twenty finalists have been announced in this years NZ Post Book Awards.

The winners will be announced on Wednesday May 21st.

The categories and finalists are:

Picture Books

• The Kings Bubbles - Ruth Paul
• Out of the egg - Tina Matthews
• Rats! - Gavin Bishop
• Tahi: one lucky kiwi - Melanie Drewery
• To the harbour - Stanley Palmer

Junior Fiction

• Dead Dan’s Dee - Phyllis Johnston
• The dumpster saga - Craig Harrison
• The mad tapdpole adventure - Melanie Drewery
• Sitting on the fence: the diary of Martin Daly - Bill Nagelkerke
• Snake and Lizard - Joy Cowley

Non Fiction

• A mini guide to the identification of New Zealand’s land birds - Andrew Crowe
• Reaching the summit: Sir Edmund Hillary’s story - Alexa Johnston
• Weather watch New Zealand - Sandra Carrod
• What is a fish? - Fena Tu’akoi
• Which New Zealand spider? - Andrew Crowe

Young Adult Fiction

• Salt - Maurice Gee
• The sea-wreck stranger - Anna Mackenzie
• Tomorrow all will be beautiful - Brigid Lowry
• The transformation of Minna Hargreaves - Fleur Beale
• Zilla - Penelope Todd

Mosgiel Library is proud to announce that it is launching it’s very own Music room on Friday 2 May at 2pm.

The collection of scores, albums and sheet music have been collected over a number of years and after much work it is catalogued and available for borrowing.

This is a unique collection to the Dunedin Public Libraries.

To celebrate the opening we have Bev Kaye playing a selection from our collection on the keyboard.

We are thrilled to have Kate Wilson from the Mosgiel Taieri Community Board to open the room.

There will be a small afternoon tea to celebrate this event.

All enquiries to Mosgiel Library on 4743660

Recently Mosgiel and Blueskin Bay Libraries featured on National Radio with our talented staff interviewed about the ‘Turn Off TV Week’ promotion running until April 27th.

Have a listen to the interview on the Radio New Zealand website.

Note that the interview may only be available for 7 days past its broadcast date.

Check out what Mosgiel and Blueskin Bay libraries are up to during Turn Off TV Week.

Waitati’s own Mandy Mayhem read us all stories for Turn Off TV Week at the Blueskin Nursery Cafe. A great group of young and old turned up for hot chocolates, coffees and free fluffies for the kids.

Mandy read

‘The Princess and the White Bear King’ by Tanya Batts

and ‘Bad Jelly the Witch’ by Spike Milligan.

We then got to see and feel lots of different kinds of modern cloth nappies.

Michelle came along from the Nappy Network to show us these and answer any questions. She’ll be at the Mosgiel library on Thursday too!

Michelle highlighted the DCC $20 off nappy starter pack and all the reasons why these nappies are great to use!

Interested in CLOTH NAPPIES?

Come into Mosgiel Library on Thursday 24th April and have a chat with Michelle.

See some cloth nappies and celebrate Nappy Week, 21-27 April 2008.

Mosgiel Library remembers ANZAC day with a new display of books you may like to borrow.

Remember to check out our online ANZAC resources on our website!