Category: Library News

The latest from the City Library

Click and Collect

// Library News

The City Library now has the option for you to ‘Click and Collect’ items to borrow.

How Click & Collect works at Central Library:

  • Reserve your books using the app, Library Catalogue or by phoning. Be sure to select “Central Click and Collect” as your pickup location.
  • You will be notified by email, text or phone call when your items are ready.
  • Once you’ve received notification that your items are ready to collect, bring your library card to the window to the right of the Central Library’s main entrance during opening hours (up the ramp from Te Marae o Hine / The Square, or up the stairs from George Street).
  • Please wear a mask when approaching the window.
  • Library staff will retrieve your items and check them out for you.

How Click & Collect works at Community Libraries:

  • Reserve your books using the app, library Catalogue or by phoning. Select your location for pick-up.
  • You will be notified by email, text or phone call when your items are ready.
  • Once you’ve received notification that your items are ready to collect, bring your library card to the Library. Click & Collect pick-up locations will be outside the Library, and will happen in a contactless manner, but specifics will vary by location.
  • Please wear a mask when picking up Click & Collect items.
  • Library staff will retrieve your items, check them out for you and bring them out to you.

Good things to know:

  • Placing a hold/reserve is free, whether it’s contactless or not.
  • Vaccine Passes are not required for Click & Collect
  • If you didn’t choose “Click and Collect”, your reserve will be available building as per usual. If you change your mind after placing reserve, see this How To Place a Hold Guide to change pickup location or give us a call and we can sort it for you.
  • The normal pickup time applies – you have 10 days from time of notification.
  • Normal issue periods apply and you can renew if no one else has a hold.
  • If you’re picking up items for a family member or a friend, just bring their card with you.

To get you started, here’s a refresher on How to place a hold on our website or our app (available for iOS and Android):

If you want to edit your hold using the website, here are the instructions:

Library Closed 6 & 7 February for Waitangi Day

// Library News

Tenā koutou katoa.

Palmerston North City Library and its community locations will be closed on 6 February for Waitangi Day and 7 February for the weekday observance of Waitangi Day.

As New Zealand commemorates the anniversary of the signing of The Treaty of Waitangi, you might want to learn more about the Treaty, it’s history and impact today. The Library has a collection of resources to help you discover more for tamariki and pakeke (adults).

For everyone, The Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a dual-language, flip-book, graphic-novel-style non-fiction about the Treaty of Waitangi. Developed for a general audience, it has been reviewed by some of Aotearoa’s foremost Te Tiriti o Waitangi experts.

For adults looking for more in-depth insight, browse our non-fiction books and resources here on our website.

For tamariki, we have a selection of non-fiction books about Te Tiriti.

The Treaty = Te Tiriti uses a story format to describe how in 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi became the founding agreement between the peoples of Aotearoa.

William’s Waitangi Day is a story to show tamariki that different whānau observe Waitangi Day differently. It also teaches young migrant tamariki that it’s ok to not yet understand what Waitangi Day is.

We wish you a happy Waitangi Day, and will see you when we open with our usual hours on Tuesday 8 February.

The Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi
nā Toby Morris, rātou ko Ross Calman ko Mark Derby ; he mea whakamāori nā Piripi Walker.

Book review: A Tapping at my Door by David Jackson

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Thanks to one of our wonderful patrons at the Awapuni Library for the following review on A Tapping at my Door by David Jackson (Book 1)

Nathan Cody is a troubled man. He’s also a detective sergeant in the serious crime unit of the Liverpool police force. When a woman is killed there are few clues as to why and who the perpetrator might be. It’s only when a second death occurs that Cody realises it’s not the people of Liverpool who are being targeted, but the police themselves.

Deeply traumatised by a previous case he must fight his own inner demons as he struggles to find the murderer. A gritty fast paced thriller, A Tapping at my Door, is the exciting first installment in the Nathan Cody series.

Find a copy here: https://bit.ly/3r8GXas

Books to read before they become movies in 2022

// Library News

A lot of us agree that books are better than the movies, but I don’t know about you, I still like to check out the movie to see if it lives up to expectation.

If you want to get a jump start on reading some books that are coming out as movies (or TV series) this year then check out this very helpful website: Books to Movies & TV in 2022: Adaptations Coming Soon.

I think a lot of people will be excited to see some of the titles listed here, particularly The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah which seems to be a favourite of those interested in historical fiction.

You can browse the titles on the catalogue on our website Palmerston North City Library and reserve them too. Don’t forget some are also eBooks which can be found on Libby or BorrowBox.

Library Hack: Check your borrowing history

// Library News

Did you know you can check our your borrowing history from the last 2 years? All you need to do is login to the website with your library card and then select the Checkout History option in the Checkouts tab.

@libraryhacks are a new series of technology and library related tips to help make your life easier – look out for them.

Library Hack: Photo ID copying

// Library News

Here’s a great tip if you need to scan or photocopy both sides of your photo ID onto a single page. This works on all our library copiers and will save you time messing about with multiple pages.

Look for the ID Card Copy option on the photocopier, then place your ID on the top-left of the copier screen, hit the green Start button (you won’t see anything print yet…) Then flip your ID over, hit Start again, and voila! Out will pop a copy of your ID with both sides on one page.

@libraryhacks are a new series of technology and library related tips to help make your life easier – look out for them.

Top Ten.. Young Adult books of 2021

// Library News

2021 is on its way out, and we’ve been pretending to be Santa by making lists. Only these lists are of the most checked out books of the year.

Everyone’s favourite (and the original) grumpy cat Garfield is very popular with Rangatahi Youth, but who can blame us? His sardonic approach to life and sense of humour is exactly what’s needed to get though a world gripped by a pandemic. Throw in some post-apocalyptic fiction and a bit of fantasy, and we’ve got 2021 wrapped. Here’s the most-checked-out books from our Rangatahi Youth section for the year:

10. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs.

After a family tragedy, Jacob feels compelled to explore an abandoned orphanage on an island off the coast of Wales, discovering disturbing facts about the children who were kept there.

9. Garfield Chickens Out, by Jim Davis.

8. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.

The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy Capitol region surrounded by 12 poorer districts. Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the Capitol resulted in its destruction and the creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games.

7. Garfield: large & in Charge, by Jim Davis.

6. Garfield’s Guide to Everything, by Jim Davis.

5. Garfield Brings Home the Bacon, by Jim Davis.

4. Garfield Takes His Licks, by Jim Davis.

3. Garfield Cleans His Plate (his 60th book) by Jim Davis.

2. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins.

Ambition will fuel him. Competition will drive him. But power has its price. It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games.

1. The Maze Runner, by James Dashner.

When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas remembers is his first name. But he’s not alone.

He’s surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade – a walled encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible stone maze. Like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they came to be there – or what’s happened to the world outside.

If any of these books catch your fancy, you can click on the linked title to go to our website, which will then show all of the formats of this book. Many of our books are available in a digital format as well as a physical book, so even if the physical book is on loan, you’re away on holiday or the Library is closed for the festive season, you can still get or reserve a copy for the hottest books your Library has on offer.

Top Ten… Adult Fiction books of 2021

// Library News

If there ever was a year to escape to a fictional world, then we think 2021 ranks pretty high for escaping between the pages of a good book. Here’s the top ten adult fiction books checked out at the Library in 2021, by some highly-appreciated authors, including David Baldacci, Lee Child and Lucinda Riley.

10. The Book of Two Ways, by Jodi Picoult.

Dawn Edelstein knows everything there is to know about dying. She specialises in helping her clients make peace with the end of their lives. But as she’s flying home from her latest case, she is forced to confront her own mortality for the first time.

9. Daylight, by David Baldacci.

BI Agent Atlee Pine’s search for her sister Mercy clashes with military investigator John Puller’s high-stakes case, leading them both deep into a global conspiracy – from which neither of them will escape unscathed.

8. A Gambling Man, by David Baldacci.

The 1950s are on the horizon, and Archer is in dire need of a fresh start after a nearly fatal detour in Poca City. So Archer hops on a bus and begins the long journey out west to California, where rumor has it there is money to be made if you’re hard-working, lucky, criminal – or all three.

7. Turn a Blind Eye, by Jeffrey Archer.

William Warwick, now a Detective Inspector, is tasked with a dangerous new line of work, to go undercover and expose crime of another kind: corruption at the heart of the Metropolitan Police Force.

6. Blue Moon, by Lee Child.

In a nameless city, two ruthless rival criminal gangs, one Albanian, the other Ukrainian, are competing for control. But they hadn’t counted on Jack Reacher arriving on their patch.

5. Hidden in Plain Sight, by Jeffrey Archer.

William Warwick has been promoted to Detective Sergeant but his promotion has meant reassignment, along with the rest of his team, to the Drugs Squad in Southwark, where they are immediately tasked with apprehending a drug dealer known as ‘Viper’

4. The Sentinel, by Lee Child.

As always, Reacher has no particular place to go, and all the time in the world to get there. One morning he ends up in a town near Pleasantville, Tennessee. But there’s nothing pleasant about the place.

3. Better Off Dead, by Lee Child.

Reacher never backs down from a problem. And he’s about to find a big one, on a deserted Arizona road, where a Jeep has crashed into the only tree for miles around.

2. A Time for Mercy, by John Grisham.

Deputy Stuart Kofer is a protected man. Though he’s turned his drunken rages on his girlfriend, Josie, and her children many times before, the police code of silence has always shielded him. But one night he goes too far.

1. The Missing Sister, by Lucinda Riley.

The six D’Aplièse sisters have each been on their own incredible journey to discover their heritage, but they still have one question left unanswered: who and where is the seventh sister?

If any of these books catch your fancy, you can click on the linked title to go to our website, which will then show all of the formats of your chosen book. Many of our books are available in a digital format as well as a physical book, so even if the physical book is on loan, you’re away on holiday or the Library is closed for the festive season, you can still borrow or reserve a copy for the hottest books your Library has on offer.

Top Ten… Sound & Vision items of 2021

// Library News

Continuing our review of the top picks by our community (by check-outs for the year), these are our most-borrowed (and beloved) Sound and Vision items for 2021. These titles are the most popular physical items loaned out from the library’s Sound & Vision collection, but don’t forget that these aren’t your only options! Your library card gives you access to Beamafilm, Kanopy and Kanopy Kids for music and film streaming, without the need to come into the Library. You can find thousands of titles in our Movies and Music section, wherever you are, whenever you fancy.

10. Avengers: Infinity War.

As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality.

9. Black Panther.

Centuries ago, five African tribes war over a meteorite containing vibranium. One warrior ingests a “heart-shaped herb” affected by the metal and gains superhuman abilities, becoming the first “Black Panther”.

You can also check out Marvel graphic novels and comics by searching our catalogue for Black Panther.

8. Nomadland.

Following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad.

7. The Trench.

Set in the 48 hours leading up to the catastrophic Battle of the Somme in 1916, “The Trench” is the story of young men at war, as seen through the eyes of 17 year old Billy Macfarlane.

6. Radioactive.

From the 1870s to the modern era, Radioactive is a journey through Marie Curie’s enduring legacies — her passionate relationships, scientific breakthroughs, and the consequences that followed for her and for the world.

5. Wild Mountain Thyme.

Headstrong farmer Rosemary Muldoon has her heart set on winning her neighbour Anthony Reilly’s love. The problem is Anthony seems to have inherited a family curse, and remains oblivious to his beautiful admirer.

4. Greenland.

A family fights for survival as a planet-killing comet races to Earth.

3. Tenet.

Armed with only one word – Tenet – and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real-time.

2. The Call of the Wild.

The classic tale of a dog’s heroic adventures in the frozen Yukon. The Call of the Wild is a thrilling frontier adventure and uniquely American ode to the power of nature.

For those who prefer books to movies, the movie is based on the novel Call of the Wild, by Jack London.

  1. Wonder Woman 1984.

Wonder Woman’s latest big-screen adventure finds her facing a wide array of foes, including Maxwell Lord and Cheetah.

If any of these movies catch your fancy, you can click on the linked title to go to our website, which will then show all of the formats of this book. Many of our books are available in a digital format as well as a physical book, so even if the physical book is on loan, you’re away on holiday or the Library is closed for the festive season, you can still get or reserve a copy for the hottest books your Library has on offer.

Top Ten… Children’s books of 2021

// Library News

It probably comes as no surprise to children and parents alike, that Dog Man and Dav Pilkey reign supreme in the popularity ranks! So, in favour of some balance, we’ve compiled Dog Man and added in more titles from the top 30 of children’s books. Because while it’s good to stick with a good thing, variety is the spice of life!

The Top Seven (Dog Man) titles are:

  1. Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey.
  2. Fetch-22 by Dav Pilkey.
  3. Cat Kid Comic Club (ok, admittedly not exactly Dog Man, sorry team), by Dav Pilkey.
  4. For Whom the Ball Rolls by Dav Pilkey.
  5. Brawl of the Wild by Dav Pilkey.
  6. Mothering Heights, by Dav Pilkey.
  7. Grime and Punishment, by Dav Pilkey.

Dog Man is a comedic graphic novel series about a dog headed cop protecting the city with his friends.

Coming in at number eight…

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball, by Jeff Kinney.

An unexpected inheritance gives the Heffley family a chance to make major improvements to their home. But they soon find that construction isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Rounding out our top ten, our ninth and tenth most popular children’s books are:

A tale of Two Kitties, and Unleashed, both by Dav Pilkey.

Other honourable mentions from the top 30 that are not Dog Man include:

The World’s Worst Parents, by David Walliams.

Are you ready to meet the worst parents ever? Sure, some parents are embarrassing – but they’re NOTHING on this lot. These ten tales of the world’s most spectacularly silly mums and deliriously daft dads will leave you rocking with laughter.

Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure, by Jeff Kinney.

Join Roland and his best friend, Garg the Barbarian, as they leave the safety of their village and embark on a quest to save Roland’s mom from the White Warlock. Will our heroes survive?

The Grinny Granny Donkey, by Craig Smith.

Grinny Granny Donkey likes to dunk biscuits in her tea, fall asleep in the sun, play her banjo, and cuddle up to her pint-sized granddaughter, Dinky . . . and she has a tendency to lose her false teeth! She’s a clinky-clanky, dunky-drinky … you know how it goes … grinny granny donkey!

Karen’s Roller Skates, by Katy Farina.

It’s going to be a great weekend! Karen has new roller skates and is a very good skater. She’s looking forward to trying some new tricks. But, oh no! Karen falls down and has to go to the hospital. Her wrist is broken! Karen is determined to get everyone she knows — plus someone famous — to sign her cast.

The Sewer Rat Stink, by Geronimo Stilton.

Geronimo and his friend Hercule Poirat venture into the sewers to find the origin of the horrible stink that’s driving all the mice away from New Mouse City–and learn an important lesson about recycling.

The 130 Storey Treehouse, by Terry Denton.

Andy and Terry have added 13 new levels to their treehouse and now it’s even more out of this world than before! There’s a soap bubble blaster, a GRABINATOR (it can grab anything from anywhere at any time), a time-wasting level, a toilet paper factory (because you can never have too much toilet paper), a room full of mechanical grandparents…

Code Name Bananas, by David Walliams.

1940. Britain is at war with Nazi Germany. Eleven-year-old Eric spends his days at the place that makes him most happy: London Zoo. And there’s one animal in particular he loves: Gertrude the gorilla. With bombs falling all over London, Eric must rescue Gertrude. Together with his Uncle Sid, a keeper at the zoo, the three go on the run. But while hiding out at the seaside they uncover a top-secret Nazi plot…

If any of these books catch your fancy, you can click on the linked title to go to our website, which will then show all of the formats of this book. Many of our books are available in a digital format as well as a physical book, so even if the physical book is on loan, you’re away on holiday or the Library is closed for the festive season, you can still get or reserve a copy for the hottest books your Library has on offer. For very popular titles like Dogman it’s a good idea to place a hold on your chosen book – we’ll email you when the copy has been returned and is waiting for you!