While Awapuni Library is getting some repair work done, we’ve got some great news – we’re still here for you!
We’ve set up some pop-up libraries around the area so you can still get your reading fix and borrow all your favourite books. Check this list for times and dates. We’re also pleased to let you know that our programmes are still going ahead.
Check this FAQ page regularly to stay up to date with the repairs and any changes to our services.
We can’t wait to see you soon!
A few tweaks have been made to the Mobile Library timetable. Most of the stops are unchanged, but if you’re a regular user of the service, please check the timetable on our website just in case.
If you’ve never used the Mobile Library before, maybe now is the time to get onboard? If the Mobile stops near your house, you might find it very useful because you can reserve books from any of the other library locations and have them driven to you! The Mobile also has its own stock, which is refreshed regularly, so you can make your selections when it comes around, if you don’t have any reserved items to pick up.
If you don’t have a library card, you can get one on the bus!
You’ll also see the Mobile Library at events such as Explore Esplanade Day.
The Palmerston North Mobile Library service is 50 years old this year. Looking forward to making it a full century, getting out and serving the community!
Some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s best writers will feature again in this year’s Off the Page series.
We launch on Wednesday 26 April, 6:30pm with a panel discussion on Writing for Children featuring a panel of multi-award winning authors.
Kate de Goldi says, “there is nothing quite as rousing and nourishing for a writer as close proximity to the imaginative life and perspective of young people”. Read about Kate’s life in books and thoughts on reading or listen to her talk about her passion for hooking children into good quality literature and her work co-editing Annual, a collection of stories, comics, poems, crosswords, games and songs – created by some of the best New Zealand writers and illustrators – now up to its third edition.
Brigid Feehan thinks that young people and older people sometimes see things clear and true – things that people in the middle might be too distracted to see. Her latest novel, The Life and Times of Eddie McGrath, portrays the forming of a strong bond between an old woman and a young girl, who only meet by chance, over their shared affinity for animals. Read about her approach to writing for young adults.
One piece of advice Philippa Werry offers to young writers is, “Be curious. People tell each other stories every day. Learn to listen to them”. Philippa wanted to be a writer from very young and wrote stories, poems and book reviews for the Children’s Page in the Saturday Evening Post newspaper, “and I still have the book that I pasted them into!” Check out this Stuff article about her influences and how she writes.
Anna McKenzie was born here in Palmerston North before moving to Hawkes Bay. Extremely versatile in her approach, her most recent novel tells the story of a young woman coming of age in the years of WWI. Listen to Anna talking at NZ Festival Writers Week about the origins of Evie’s War, the stories that stand behind it and the research that supports it.
The Off The Page series includes talks, readings, discussions and workshops from and for writers and connects the Manawatū to the beating heart of contemporary literature. The series is a partnership between Massey University School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication, Bruce McKenzie Booksellers and the Palmerston North City Library.
Support local music this May! The Central Library will host live performances (details coming soon), as well as a screening of NZ Music gig photographs on the big screen in Sound & Vision.
If you’re a local musician and would like your music video featured on our big screen, please get in touch! (All necessary clearances must be provided.)
Thanks to our awesome partners Manawatū People’s Radio and Radio Control 99.4FM, not only will the live performances sound great, they will be recorded too.
Local music legend DFresh has collaborated with Hamilton music legend Dujon Cullingford on this special funk, soul and disco playlist on Spotify. It will also be playing in Central Library’s Sound & Vision area during May. Chock full of retro NZ sounds!
Were you part of the music scene in the 70s, 80s or 90s? We need your help! Manawatū Heritage is adding some band photos from newspapers from those decades, and would love it if you can provide information about them. Perhaps you were in one of the bands, or you know who the people are. What genre did they play? Where was the photo taken?
Here’s an example: this gig poster from The Stomach‘s collection doesn’t say the year it happened – maybe you know? We can extrapolate from some clues. Radio Control was called Radio Massey, and the band Rungled was still around, so perhaps late 90s? For images like this which are already loaded into Manawatū Heritage, you can use the comments field to add detail, or simply email us, quoting the digitisation ID (or just copy us the link).
Other ways you can get involved in NZ Music Month:
The Versions writing project is on again this year!
This is a great opportunity to see your name in print. If you want to have a go at writing a short story, a poem, or a play, use our prompt as a jumping-off point. Your story doesn’t have to be directly related to the prompt, it’s only there if you need something to get started.
Deadline for submissions is August 31, and we’ll publish a physical book as well as an ebook in October.
Prompt – The day Mark Twain came to town.
There will be some workshops to help you along the way – keep an eye on our What’s On page.
Submissions and questions can be sent to content@pncc.govt.nz
Let your creative muse fly!
Palmerston North City Library will be hosting events where you can get assistance with filling out your census form.
During these drop-in sessions, there will be Census staff/volunteers from Stats NZ on hand to help.
You simply need to bring your paper forms or online code.
Outside of these events, you are welcome to come in and use the computers and free wi-fi to self-complete your census forms. Library staff cannot fill out the forms for others, but we can put you in touch with people who will help.
Times and locations:
Central Library March 8th, 11am – 1pm
Te Pātikitiki Library, March 14, 10am – 1pm
Ashhurst Library, March 14, 3pm – 5pm
Roslyn Library, March 15, 10am – 1pm
Youth Space, March 15, 2pm – 4pm
Stay up to date with the Palmerston North City Library – subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
Each month you’ll get an email highlighting what’s coming up, things we’re excited about, and ways to get the most out of your library membership.
In addition, we now offer a New Titles newsletter. All the latest books that have been added to our collection – straight to your inbox each week! Reserving cool new books has never been easier.
You can browse the previous New Title lists here.
To see all our email newsletter options, sign up here, or simply ask a librarian next time you’re visiting one of our branches.
We asked which books you enjoyed reading in 2022, and here are some of the cool titles you told us about!
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz
Lucinda Riley’s Seven Sisters series got a lot of votes!
A format-specific mention for the BorrowBox version of Lucy Dawson’s You Sent Me A Letter. (There are lots of great titles on BorrowBox and Libby, in ebook and e-audio formats – straight to your device!)
Another series that was popular is Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper.
Did you know that Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York wrote a book called Her Heart For A Compass? Well, you do now, and it comes recommended by one of you lovely people!
Harbouring by Jenny Pattrick. ‘It’s great reading about the early days of the area you come from’ says the person who recommended it.
Verity by Colleen Hoover. One of 2022’s most popular authors worldwide.
All That Glitters. There are many great books with this title – make it a 2023 reading challenge to read them all!
In the Central Library’s Adult Fiction area, the Crime and Thriller books (Paki Taihara and Paki Pohopā) have now been interfiled. The books will retain their Living Room (genre) labels, to give you an indication of what’s inside, and to help with making a quick selection. Paperbacks on the spinner stands and books in the Returned Today section remain separated, as these are not in alphabetical order, so separation makes them quicker to search through.
The same thing happened with Romance and Sagas (Paki Whaiāipo and Paki Hautoa Toro Whārahi) some time ago, and has proven to be worthwhile.
This move was triggered by a few factors.
For one thing, the genres do have some overlap already, in many cases. Looking for a thrilling crime read? We’ve got you covered!
We feel that there’s a good chance the readership overlaps a bit too, so we hope that this move helps you discover some new favourite authors. One of the staff involved in the move said she usually reads Crime, but when moving the books, she discovered some Thriller authors she wanted to read.
Finally, sometimes the Library will buy a Thriller book that is being marketed by the publisher as a Mystery/Crime book, or vice versa. By interfiling them, we aim to increase your chances of finding a book that you love.
The Living Room concept of shelving books by genre was enacted in the Palmerston North City Library when the current Central Library building was opened in 1996. Over the years, the concept has been tweaked sometimes, to respond to customers’ needs. We hope that this latest tweak helps you increase your TBR (To Be Read) pile!
Did you know that Garfield books are some of the most popular titles in the Young Adult area? At time of writing, they claim 6 spots on the top ten most-issued books in YA, across all genres.
As the personal servant of a ginger cat myself, I get the appeal. But it goes further than that.
For a detailed analysis, here is one person’s opinion from The Spinoff.
Is it just a comfort thing? Is Garfield still as funny as I remember? I suppose the only way to know for sure is to take a copy home – I hope there are some left on the shelf! (Here’s a link where you can check our catalogue.)
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