Keeping you up-to-date on what's happening at your library. We invite you to join in the conversation!
FEBRUARY 7, 2010
Your library account
Did you know that you can log in to your library account from anywhere you can access the internet (including the OPACs situated within the Library)? Go to our home page and click on the “Catalogue & My Account” link. From here you can search for items held by the Library or access your own account.
The best way to login is to type your User ID and PIN directly into the two blank boxes in the top right-hand corner of the screen and click “Login to the e-Library OPAC”. Your User ID is the 8 digit barcode number on the back of your Library card. The PIN is the password you chose when we switched to our new Library system in November. The password can be up to 10 alphanumeric characters long. You can then view your record, renew items or place holds without having to login again during this catalogue session (or until you click Logout).
If you cannot remember your password or have not yet updated your password since the changeover, please contact the Adults’ Help Desk in person or by phoning 211 1765.
Alternatively, you can click My Account (in blue in the top middle of the screen). Click “Review my account” or “Renew my materials” as required. In the User ID
box, enter your 8 digit Library card barcode number. Leave the Alternate ID box blank. In the PIN box enter your password. Click “Display User Information” (or “List Charged Items” if logging in to renew your items). If you use this method of logging in, you will be asked to login again if you want to place a hold for example.
If you have trouble logging in to your account or renewing your books etc, please do not hesitate to come to the Help Desk (if you are in the Library) or phone us on 211 1765 and we will do our best to help.
Colin Singleton has a problem, well actually he's got a few. Colin is a former child prodigy and has never been good a making friends. He's just graduated high school and is worried he won't amount to anything. His best days could be behind him. On top of all this Katherine 19 has just dumped him.
There is only one thing worse than being dumped by a beautiful girl called Katherine and that's being dumped by 19 beautiful girls named Katherine. But what can he do? Everybody has a type and Colin's is beautiful girls named Katherine who invariably dump him.
Colin hasn't taken his nineteenth dumping well so Hassan, modern day Muslim and Colin's only friend, decides a road trip will sort things out. When they end up in a backward little town called Gutshot they are persuaded to stay a while and Gutshot could change Colin's life for ever.
An abundance of Katherines is a romantic comedy and like so many comedies it relies on its characters. John Green does an excellent job. Colin brings a whole new meaning to the words geek chic, Hassan fits none of the Muslim stereotypes and the inhabitants of Gutshot are lovably redneck. Be prepared for a few geek jokes in this humorous story for fans of The big Bang Theory, The IT crowd or anyone who didn't quite fit in.
This time we will be looking at the 500s which covers the natural sciences and mathematics and includes Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, Plants (Botany), Zoology (Animals) and related sciences.
Examples of books found in this section are:
Nature's great events. Dewey number = 508
The book of numbers. Dewey number = 512.7
The universe and how to see it : a practical guide to viewing and understanding the night sky. Dewey number = 520
Fragile Earth : views of a changing world. Dewey number = 550
The complete book of dinosaurs. Dewey Number = 567.9
The native trees of New Zealand. Dewey number = 582.16
In the 600s you will find books in the technology (applied sciences) section. A broad range of topics are held in this area, including Engineering, Agriculture, Home Economics and family living, Cookery, and Marketing and other business books.
Examples of books in the 600s are:
Scientific American: How things work today. Dewey number = 608
Cars: A celebration. Dewey number = 629.222 WIL
A year in the garden. Dewey number = 635
Drink - A cultural history of alcohol. Dewey number = 641.21 GAT
Job winning in New Zealand. Dewey number = 650.14
The practical woodworker. Dewey number = 684.08 COR
101 Ideas for patios and decks. Dewey number = 690.893
Next time you are in the Library come in and check out this wide-ranging area.
If you love to read or would just enjoy some time away come along to the library book group. We hold our meetings once a month in the library meeting room at 6.30 pm. Nibbles and light refreshments are provided.
February, Thursday 11th – Valentine's Day & books themed with love, red, romance.
Stephen King is back to his best! This epic read is gripping, intriguing, fast-paced and very readable. One morning a mysterious invisible and seemingly impenetrable “dome” appears over a small town in America, sealing the town’s 2000 residents in and keeping the rest of the world out. Human nature is exposed as it becomes clear there will be no easy way out of Chester’s Mill and a tragic struggle for power and resources begins. I thoroughly enjoyed this book which has a huge cast of characters, both good and bad and in-between, and I particularly liked the town’s dogs!
Jamieson-Hastings, born into a wealthy family and raised in Remuera, battled anorexia and bulimia in her teens, and, by the age of 21, was a hopeless alcoholic. Now in her 60’s, Liz looks back at her life and marvels at how, after her early battles with addiction ( which should have killed her), she is still standing – strong, sane and sober. Her lively, hard-hitting tale, describes the mortification and shame she (and others!) suffered as a result of some of her sessions. She describes her feelings of inadequacy and of not being good enough – how she felt as though there was a hole clear through her soul, and the only thing that could fill that hole and make her feel ‘normal’ was alcohol. Liz’s memoir of survival makes for insightful reading. She is now a respected counsellor, and has been awarded the CNZM for her services to the community which includes substance abuse programmes in schools, prisons and even the US Navy.
Pauline and Michael's marriage is made in wartime, a hasty affair which proves to be unsatisfactory for both of them. The chronicle of their family story is set against a realistic background of twentieth century American life.
Feel-good fiction at its best, this also has much to teach us about conditions in the Channel Islands during the Second World War. Told in letter-form, it is reminiscent in tone of the well-loved '84 Charing Cross Road' and its delicious forbear, Daddy-Long-Legs.
It may take a while for general indignation at liberties taken with well-beloved characters to wear off, but this develops into an enjoyable, if far-fetched, story. Mr Darcy has political ambitions and Mr Bingley is suspected of profiteering in the slave trade!
This all brings me to today's topic, Why steal from a public library? I'm not just talking equipment here people try to steal books, DVD s and all sorts of other things. Do people not realise that we're willing to let them use these things for free? (or at a very minimal charge). So your stealing something that you don't have to pay for anyway. Are these people so selfish that they can't share their books and games? The items in the library don't belong to us. They belong to you. Everybody who lives in Invercargill contributes to the library. You might pay rates. If you rent your landlord pays rates out of your rent or if your a minor your guardian pays rates on your behalf. In short we buy these things with your money. When they get stolen we have to use money set aside for new stuff to replace missing stuff. Everybody suffers.
So the moral of the story is “we should all protect our library against theft”. I'm not usually one for big brother style tactics but if you see people messing about with stuff in the library and you think their up to no good let us know. We'll keep an eye on them. Don't worry we're librarians we can be subtle about it. If you should happen to come across items you think might be stolen from the library just drop them into the after hours slot. If it's in useable condition we won't ask any questions. We'll just be happy to have it back.
One final note for would be thieves. Ripping the bar codes or covers off books doesn't deactivate the security. It just means you get caught stealing a damaged book. Don't bother trying.
This highly-anticipated new book brings together characters from Slaughter’s two previously separate series in an explosive and taut thriller. A horribly mutilated woman is brought into Sara Linton’s ER, another similarly abused woman is found dead nearby, and yet another woman is abducted. Will Trent and his partner Faith arrive to investigate. This is a character-driven novel as much as a gut-wrenching thriller as we learn more about what shapes each character. Not for the faint-hearted, this novel should satisfy Slaughter fans who have been waiting on the edge of their seats to find out what happened after the shocking climax of Beyond reach.
Merry Christmas from all the staff at The library and remember we're openalmost every day throughout the holiday season. Check out our Christmas hours. Below as promised is a photo of the lyrical librarians singing Christmas carols last Friday. See you all next year.
Percy Gloom is an odd character. When you first meet him you'll wonder just what you've come across but in time like me you'll come to love him. Percy leaves home in order to land his dream job writing cautionary literature for Safely Now but finds himself drawn into a world he doesn't understand.
Percy Gloom has been described as Satire, Nightmare, or possibly a Fairy tale for adults but none of these quite describes the unique experience of reading Cathy Malkasian's first book. Her I will definitely be looking out for this author in the future.
Here at the library we run a Housebound Service for Invercargill City residents and ratepayers who are permanently or temporarily housebound due to illness or disability. In the run up toward Christmas staff put on a party for housebound patrons. Volunteers and Blue star taxis help with transport to get everybody into the library where we offer food, drink and embarrass ourselves by putting on a show. This year’s theme, because there has to be a theme, was the mad hatter’s tea party.
Our incomparable compere this year Angela Newell dressed for the occasion.
The door mouse, white rabbit, March hare, Alice and Mad hatter before they take the stage.
Nothing says librarian like a costume and funny hat.
As usual the afternoons entertainment ended with song by the Lyrical Librarians. If you weren't at the housebound party don't worry you can join the Lyrical Librarians singing christmas carols at lunch time on Friday the 18th in the library foyer.
A number of changes to our charges have been made recently which we hope you will enjoy. Jigsaw puzzles (previously $1.00), board games (previously $1.00), talking books (previously $2.50) and all magazines have had their charges removed, so will be free to borrow. Charges on other multimedia items (such as DVDs and CDs) and on Hot Pick books will remain the same.
You may have also noticed that we have started labelling our New Zealand books with a striking silver fern sticker on the spine. This is to help you quickly identify books by New Zealand authors and/or with New Zealand content at a glance as you browse the shelves. We are putting the labels on all new books and are also gradually adding them to our existing stock. We hope you will find this addition useful.
That girl? Yes, you know what I mean – the girl with the agenda, the Yes girl, the Drama Queen girl, the Bitter girl or... I could go on – there are so many ‘types’ according to Stork. As an ER doctor, Stork has met them all and, in Don’t be that girl he examines each category of girl, describes their identifying traits and tells you what men don’t like about them. He provides mini quizzes to help you discover whether you are that girl, and tells you what, for men, is the dead giveaway for each ‘type’. But this is not just a mere male having a rant. I actually think his observations are spot on, and it is quite refreshing to have a male point of view on this topic. Moreover, he tempers his comments by giving guidance as to how to avoid being that girl. Subtitled ‘a guide to finding the confident, rational girl within’, Don’t be that girl provides plenty of insight and is a great read for those of you who enjoy self-help books.
The 300’s section covers subjects under the ‘Social Sciences’ heading. Here you will find books on …. economics, law, public administration, social problems and services, commerce, communications, transport, customs, etiquette and folklore. For example:
The real wealth of nations. Dewey number = 330.126
The official New Zealand road code. Dewey number = 343.0946
Uniforms of World War II. Dewey number = 355.14
Volunteers- A guide for volunteers and their organizations. Dewey number = 361.37
Fashion A to Z: An illustrated dictionary. Dewey number = 391
This area holds a wide variety of books, so next time you are in the library, come and have a look.
The 400s section covers Languages. A wide variety of languages are represented in our collection, including English and Old English, German, French, Italian, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese,Classical and Modern Greek, and Latin.Examples of books found in this section are:
The Atlas of Languages. Dewey number= 409
Year 13 English study guide : NCEA Level three. Dewey number = 420
The New Zealand Oxford paperback 2006 dictionary. Dewey number = 423
German travel pack (CD and Phrase book). Dewey number = 438.34
Langenscheidt's standard Italian dictionary. Dewey number = 453.21
The Reed reference grammar of Maori. Dewey number = 499.442
There are also many book and CD packs available to borrow from this section.
This story stems from the tragic consequences of one night in which a young man is fatally stabbed outside a pub. The victim’s best friend (Danny) is wrongly convicted of the killing and the guilty man walks free. While in prison, Danny seizes an opportunity to seek revenge and try to clear his name. As we have come to expect from Jeffrey Archer, this is a ripping yarn with numerous unforeseen twists and turns. An immensely satisfying read.
I Happened to be playing around on YouTube this morning and stumbled across this little gem produced by Colenso BBDO Animated by Andersen M Studio for New Zealand Book Council and just had to share it.
This led me to the NZ Book Council website were I spent a good half hour or so just looking around. They've got all sorts of interesting stuff on there including New Zealand book lists, book related event lists and o so much more. Go on click the link, pay them a visit and get you fill of kiwi book related fun.
Last time we discussed the Dewey Decimal numbers on the spine labels of our Non-fiction books.
Listed below are the kinds of books you can expect to find in the 000 section of the Non-fiction collection, which covers computers, information and general reference:
Knowledge e.g. Guinness book of world records. Dewey number = 001
Mysteries e.g. New Zealand mysteries. Dewey number = 001.94
Computer science e.g. How to do everything on the internet. Dewey number = 004.678
Computer software e.g. Microsoft Office 2007. Dewey number = 005.369
General knowledge e.g. 1001 books you should read before you die. Dewey number = 011.73
Journalism e.g. The self-publishing manual. Dewey number = 070.593
The 100s cover Philosophy and Psychology. Examples of the books you would find would be:
Metaphysics e.g. Metaphysics - A contemporary introduction. Dewey number = 110
Astrology e.g. Behind the crystal ball. Dewey number = 133
Psychology e.g. Oxford dictionary of psychology. Dewey number = 150.3
Ethics e.g. Right and wrong. Dewey number = 170
Modern Western Philosophy e.g. An illustrated brief history of Western
philosophy. Dewey number = 190
In the 200s you will find books on philosophy and the theory of religion, the Bible, Christian church history, Christian moral and devotional theology, and other comparative religions. Some of the titles that the library holds are.…
God: a brief history. Dewey number = 202.11
The Book: A history of the Bible. Dewey number = 220.09
Chicken soup for the soul: Stories of faith. Dewey number = 242
Mother Theresa: Come be my light. Dewey number = 271.97
The major religions. Dewey number = 291
Saints and Sinners: The history of the popes. Dewey number = 262.13
Come in and have a browse, next time you are in the library.
Jennifer is attacked and sexually assaulted in her own apartment late one night. Bravely fighting off her attacker, she later gives the police a good description of the assailant. From a police line-up, Jennifer mistakenly identifies Ron Cotton as her attacker. Charged and found guilty, Cotton is sent to prison.
In PickingCotton, Ron and Jennifer tell their story from their own perspectives. Jennifer talks of the affects of the attack on her health, her family and her relationships. Ron talks about his years in prison and the fight to clear his name. After serving eleven years in prison, Cotton is finally exonerated and walks away a free man. Incredibly, Cotton forgives Thompson, and the two become the best of friends. This true story of injustice and redemption featured on 60 Minutes recently.
Due to our changeover to a new Library computer system over the next week, our services will be limited from Monday 16 November to Wednesday 18 November.
We can:
Issue items
Help you find items
We can’t:
Check in items
Renew items
Place holds
Take payments
Make changes to your account (e.g. address changes)
We hope to be able to action all checkins, changes, holds etc from Thursday 19 November.
We would ask for your understanding and patience if it takes us a little longer than usual to answer your enquiries or assist you with your Library account.
Please ask at the Help Desk if you have any questions.
When you come into the Library looking for a book on a particular topic of interest, you will find yourself in the Non-fiction area of the Library. Here, the books all have numbers on their spine labels which are called “Dewey Decimal” numbers. These numbers run from 000 through to 999.
The major Dewey Decimal sections (the first summary) are:
000Computers, information & general reference
100Philosophy & psychology
200Religion
300Social sciences
400Language
500Science
600Technology
700Arts & recreation
800Literature
900History & geography
Over the next few months, you will learn more about the Non-fiction area of the Library and the wide range of subjects in which we stock books. If you would like something more in-depth try OCLCsDewey Decimal summaries which includes the first three summaries (down to the first thousand Dewey decimal devisions)
