The latest issue of Children’s Choice has been published and contains a good list of books for kids spanning fiction, non-fiction, picture books as well as news updates from staff working in the children’s area.

Head over to our library website to read the latest issue.

Bring a bag and fetch some bargains.

Choose from thousands of adult and children’s books at 50c, magazines 20c and a choice of CDs, DVDs and speciality books as priced – something for everyone guaranteed.

• Friday 19 February 4.00pm – 8.00pm
• Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 February 10.00am – 4.00pm
• City Library Carpark

We hope you have a great time over the summer holidays and are excited about striving to meet your reading challenge which begins on Friday 11 December 2009.

Remember – books are a great way to discover new stuff and use your imagination.

Export yourself to a new world through books and make your way to another dimension!

More details can be found on our library website.

On Thursday October 29th Dunedin Public Libraries launched its new online catalogue.

Among the many features on offer are the ability to search library records, place a hold and build permanent lists of items of interest.

Discover our new look catalogue for yourself.

We have had a fantastic response to the Kiwiana Colouring In Competition as part of New Zealand Book Month.

Thank you to everyone who took part!

The judges had a hard time choosing, but here are the Winners:

• 2 – 4 years: Serenity Hook, Age 4 from Ocean View
• 5 – 7 years: Zachary Scott, Age 6 from Vauxhall
• 8 – 12 years: Lucy Matehaere, Age 9 from Pine Hill

Congratulations to all of you for your wonderful work.

Serenity wins a new colouring book and pencils. Zachary wins a Family Pass to Cadbury World and Lucy wins a Swim and Slide Pass to Moana Pool.

Our Bookbus service will not operate from Tuesday 27 – Friday 30 October while we implement a new library catalogue system.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Dunedin Public Libraries is upgrading the catalogue and you will experience disruptions in service during 25 – 29 October.

• You will be able to borrow and return items when you visit any Library, however the catalogue will not be available.
• If you wish to place a hold on an item during this time please contact library staff who will be able to help you.
• Electronic databases (e.g. Britannica Online, Oxford English Dictionary) will be accessible in the Library only.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this planned work and hope you will enjoy your new catalogue from the 29 October.

Here’s the latest episode of our radio show now available online.

You can download past episodes of the show from our library website.

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – library mix radio show

Here’s the latest episode of our radio show now available online.

You can download past episodes of the show from our library website.

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – library mix radio show

The latest issue of Dunedin Public Libraries publication NB is now available at any branch of the DPL network and also online as a downloadable .pdf document.

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – publications

This week is Library Week, so we are celebrating just how amazing we are.

Below are some facts (some well known / others not so) that give you a small insight into just how much happens behind the scenes every day. There are a lot of people hard at work to make the library an amazing place to visit every day.

Here’s some bullet points from Fridays list… yes we didn’t post Thursdays to the blog – you need to visit our website for these!

• Blueskin Bay Library is in the process of getting a new building! You can drive out there to see the proposed model on display.
• It’s a hard world out there. If you work on the Bookbus you are issued with long johns, a polyprop top and a jacket – Bookbus Librarians work in extreme conditions.
• The Children’s Storytime in the City Library is extremely popular, and is attended on average by 70 people each session.

Discover more amazing facts on our library website!

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – library week 2009 amazing facts

Here’s the latest episode of our radio show now available online.

You can download past episodes of the show from our library website.

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – library mix radio show

This week is Library Week, so we are celebrating just how amazing we are.

Here are some facts (some well known / others not so) that give you a small insight into just how much happens behind the scenes every day. There are a lot of people hard at work to make the library an amazing place to visit every day.

• An average of 700 new people join our Library network every month.
• Looking for some financial help to achieve your dreams? Visit our website, and you will find Fundview and Breakout databases. These provide grant and funding information for community groups and scholarships for school, polytechnic or travel; through to funding for sports and arts schemes; personal development funds; and academic and non-academic funding for individuals.
• The gold used for decorating the books that come through the Bindery doesn’t have any gold in it! The colour is in fact a pigment.

Discover more amazing facts on our library website!

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – library week 2009 amazing facts

This week is Library Week, so we are celebrating just how amazing we are.

Here are some facts (some well known / others not so) that give you a small insight into just how much happens behind the scenes every day. There are a lot of people hard at work to make the library an amazing place to visit every day.

• Our entire Library network issued 1,593,158 items between June 2008 and June 2009.
• Dunedin Public Libraries holds all current NZ standards, all AS/NZS (Australian/NZ Standards), and all AS that are included in the NZS Catalogue. Other standards can be ordered via our interloan system. However, not all our standards are on the catalogue system, so if you are searching for a standard, check with Information Services before giving up!
• Each time the Reed Gallery has an exhibition, the Bindery makes supports for the articles on display. Every support is individually designed and handmade to suit the specific requirements of any particular item, and will never be used again once the exhibition is finished

Discover more amazing facts on our library website!

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – library week 2009 amazing facts

This week is Library Week, so we are celebrating just how amazing we are.

Here are some facts (some well known / others not so) that give you a small insight into just how much happens behind the scenes every day. There are a lot of people hard at work to make the library an amazing place to visit every day.

• Home Services have only 2.4 full time employees on their team and account for 3.5 percent of the Dunedin Public Library network issues.
• The Teen Space in the City Library has 4 digital touch-screen listening stations with cordless headphones.
• Mosgiel was left off all promotions for Chocolate Storytime this year, and it was on purpose. They have been so over-run in the past that only a few posters were made for Mosgiel Library to put up. They still got a great crowd, and it was much more manageable.

Discover more amazing facts on our library website!

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – library week 2009 amazing facts

Library Week 10-16 August 2009 is a week long celebration of libraries and librarianship in New Zealand taking place in public, school, tertiary, special, law and government libraries across New Zealand.

Find out more by visiting our website.

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – library week 2009

Māori Language Week has been celebrated every year since 1975, and in July 2009 we are all invited to join in.

This year Māori Language Week runs from 27 July – 2 August, 2009.

The theme for 2009 is “Te Reo i te Hapori – Māori Language in the Community.”

Te Reo Maori is one of three official languages of New Zealand (the others are English and New Zealand Sign Language).

Māori is spoken by 4.1 percent of people. Apart from English, the next most common language spoken by Māori in New Zealand is Māori, which is spoken by 23.7 percent of the population.

Dunedin Public Libraries has an extensive range of Maori Language Materials in its collections.

Due to mechanical problems with a fuel pump the following stops will not be visited while repairs are undertaken:

Tuesday 14th July 2009

• Brighton – Cole Street, 10.30am-12.15pm
• Ocean View Hall – Brighton Road(by Hall), 1.30pm-2.15pm
• Waldronville – By School, 2.30pm–3.30pm
• Green Island – Main South Rd / Irmo Street, 3.45pm–4.15pm

Wednesday 15th July 2009

• Fairfield – Main South Rd / Fulton Hogan Offices, 9.55am–10.25am
• Fairfield – Old Brighton Rd / Sickel Street, 10.30am-11.15am
• Mosgiel – Willow Park / Cedar Crescent, 11.30am–12.15pm
• Mosgiel – Elmgrove School, Argyle Street, 1.30pm–2.30pm

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.pm

Due to mechanical problems encountered with one of our Bookbuses the following stops will not be visited today:

• Helensburgh – Balmacewan Rd Shopping Centre, 1.15pm–2.15pm
• Kaikorai – Nairn Street / Jellicoe Crescent, 2.30pm–3.30pm
• Maryhill – Mitchell Avenue / Glenpark Avenue, 3.45pm–4.30pm

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Due to mechanical problems encountered with one of our Bookbuses the following stops will not be visited today:

• Roslyn – City Road / Highgate, 1.30pm–2.30pm
• Brockville – Brockville Road (opposite Kindergarten), 2.45pm–3.45pm
• Musselburgh Rise – Shopping Centre, 6.00pm–7.30pm

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Read all about the latest library happenings and more.. in our shiny new 5th issue of our library publication.

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – publications

It seems like only yesterday but a week has gone by so here’s the latest episode of our radio show now available online.

We have made a few changes to our Friday Bookbus timetable that are effective from Friday 10th July 2009.

The Maia stop has now ceased while the following stops now have slightly different visiting times:

• Ravensbourne: Ravensbourne Road/Wanaka Street, Fridays 10.00am – 10.45am
• Gardens: Opoho Road/Shopping Centre, Fridays 11.00am – 12.15pm
• Concord: Emerson Street/Shopping Centre, Fridays 1.30pm – 2.15pm

An updated timetable listing stops by day of the week is available on our library website.

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – bookbus stops by day of the week
• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – interactive bookbus google maps

From July 1st 2009 all books and magazines that currently cost 50 cents to borrow will be available at no charge.

We’ve prepared a frequently asked questions page that contains the info you will want to know.

• www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz – abolishment of 50 cent rental charges

Due to urgent mechanical repairs required on one of our book buses the following locations will not be visited:

Thursday April 2nd:

Victoria Flats
Victoria Road, St Kilda
(opposite Stadium Store)
1.30-2.00pm

Marlow Street
Rona Street, Musselburgh
2.15-3.30pm

Ocean Grove
Tomahawk Road / Oregon Street
3.45-4.15pm

Friday April 3rd:

Ravensbourne
Ravensbourne Rd (outside Old Post Office)
9.45-10.15am

Maia
Fern Rd
10.25-10.55am

Gardens
Shopping Centre
11.15am-12.15pm

Dunedin Public Libraries apologies for any inconvenience caused.