News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

The time traveler’s wife by Audrey Niffenegger ; [read by William Hope and Laurel Lefkow].
It may have been the effect of a movie version coming out, but this title was the most downloaded audiobook of the 2010 year in our elibrary.

The full top 10 for 2010:

1. The Time Traveler’s Wife
2. Journeys in English
3. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
4. Absurdistan
5. The Hunger Games
6. Twilight
7. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
8. Atonement
9. Fahrenheit 451
10. The Overlook

Although our ebook collection is still new, here are the top 5 downloaded titles so far:

1. 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism
2. Blood Ties
3. Clockwork Angel
4. Eat, Pray, Love
5. The Fry Chronicles

Look out for many more titles being available in 2011.

Kanzashi in bloom : 20 simple fold-and-sew projects to wear and give
These little kanzashi broaches are a lot of fun to make and all you need is a few scrapes of fabric, needle, thread and glue!  While they do look technical, it is really just basic oragami with fabric. The book also has great ideas for using the blooms in different ways!

Wellington City Libraries has recently obtained a complete set of the New Zealand Defence Force UFO files which have just been declassified.
With over 2000 pages and bound into 12 separate volumes, these “Kiwi X- Files” cover nearly 60 years of reported UFO sightings in New Zealand. The most famous of these is the 1978 Kaikoura UFO mystery which is detailed over several hundred pages and include eye-witness statements and reports.
Some early reports from the 1950’s Cold-War period reflect the fear people had that “flying saucers” were the result of technological developments in the Soviet Union.

The files are for reference-only but you can ask to see them at the Enquiries desk on the top floor of the Central Library.

Papercrafting in no time : 50 inspirational projects crafted from paper by Clare Youngs.
Here’s a book I really recommend which has some lovely ideas for Christmas decorations (as well as other occasions).  It has ideas for everyone from learners to advanced crafties. Particularly relevant with the ‘recycling/ upcycling’ ethos so prevalent now. Some things may even translate well to fabric also…hmmm…
We are Paper Toys has a CD rom so you can print out great paper toys to make. Would make great gifts for the creative child say 6-7 years onwards.

For crafties who have littlies to make christmas presents for: Wee Wonderfuls: 24 Dolls to Sew & Love by Hilary Lang is full of gorgeous little dolls that are easy and way fun to make. The colours are gorgeous and the templates and instructions are easy to understand.  My personal favourites are : ‘Evelyn Inchworm’ and ‘Betsy” the cushion doll with interchangeable clothes.

Shabby chic : the gift of giving by Rachel Ashwell ; photographs by Amy Neunsinger.
Rachel Ashwell is the queen of girly DIY and interior design.  Her signature style is everything pretty, pre-loved and practical – she finds beauty in imperfection!  Shabby Chic: the gift of giving is the perfect resource to inspire your gift wrapping, offering wonderfully original and expressive ways to decorate your pressies and make them extra special.  Ashwell also provides tips to help you choose the perfect present and create personalised cards.  Your recipient will be sure to love the thought and care put into the decoration just as much as the gift inside!

For further Shabby Chic inspiration visit Rachel Ashwell’s gorgeous blog which is packed full of pretty photographs and stylish DIY ideas to help imbue your home with perfectly imperfect style.

Our Bestsellers collection is the ‘no-wait way to borrow’ latest popular books.

Simply check out the distinctive red shelves on the ground floor of the Central Library and at selected branch libraries. Bestsellers books cannot be reserved and are $5 for a one week loan (overdue charge is $1/day).

These titles will be available for free in the main collection. However, there may be a reserve queue.

The family / Martina Cole.
“…To Phillip Murphy, family is everything. Christine has always understood this about her husband; it was one of the things that first attracted her to him. But there is another side of Phillip, and it’s a side he never wanted his wife to see. Though, even if she did, could she do anything but stand by him? Because Phillip has rules, and he expects loyalty from his nearest and dearest. Once you’re in the family, you’re in it for life” (description from martinacole.co.uk)

Moonlight mile / Dennis Lehane.
“Amanda McCready was four years old when she vanished from a Boston neighborhood twelve years ago. Desperate pleas for help from the child’s aunt led investigators Kenzie and Gennaro to take on the case.[...] Now Amanda is sixteen—and gone again.” (description from dennislehanebooks.com)

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Secret Santa prepared some wonderful treats for all to enjoy. Why not come to the first floor and pick up a mystery book from Santa’s mantelpiece. All wrapped up and ready to join your personal pile of gifts, why not treat yourself to a book that you borrow for this festive holiday. Just like normal books, check them out at issues desks for 4 weeks and enjoy the surprise of an unexpected find. You never know what you will pick. You may discover a new author, read about a topic you wouldn’t normally choose but end up enjoying. Give it a try and enjoy the magic of Christmas!

Our Craft bloggers are heading along for inspiration to these craft fairs happening this weekend :

Craft 2.0 at the Dowse: looks like they have a great range of gifts, food and more to get ideas from

Just Good Stuffs at the Thistle Hall gallery: this once a year event starts today and open 12-7pm daily.  Some of my favourite things are there again, including the calendars.

Wellington Christmas Markets at Frank Kitts Park (underground)

There was a promise of a visit to my parents back in France. Finally, with months of delay, I honoured that promise. Amongst the family reunion, I had time to rummage inside the wardrobe of a disused bedroom where my mother had been keeping her completed cross-stitch projects over the last few years. She had made many more which she had gifted away to friends and family and these were the overflow, lamenting their abandonment in the far recesses of the house.

I unearthed the treasures and expressed my admiration to my mother. I told her they deserved proper attention and should be framed and proudly hung on walls. I could visualise them wrapped around a canvas frame, heralding the colours of France and Brittany back in New Zealand. My mother gladly passed them onto me for the long  journey.

I have been trying not to keep them too long in my own drawers. I bought some frames for a trial and sat on the project for a few months, busy with other ”crafty” projects that were competing for my free time. Ah! Life is too short for a “Crafty Librarian”.

So here I am, in the middle of the project, desperately looking for some suitable “gros-grain” for the sides of the frame. I just heard of a haberdashery Mecca somewhere out of town. May be this weekend I can find that elusive piece of ribbon to get on with my project. But then, there are all these other projects that need “wrapping up” before Christmas!To be continued…

Inspired? Try these items from our catalogue:

Kiss my sweet apocalypse, Black Sheep.
Black Sheep is an anarcho psychedelic outfit fronted by the always interesting Julian Cope, and an assortment of other bearded fellows. This double disc set is a collection of tunes recorded in honour of various historical rabble rousers backed with a steely leftist agenda and a damn fine sprawling escapist sound. As with every two disc set not everything works, there’s some tracks that get lost amongst all the somewhat drug fuelled themes, but overall it’s a triumphant inspiring listen. Definitely not for anyone who isn’t enthused about experimental music, but for the curious and crusaders it’s a fine choice (Craig)

For more reviews from our library staff, see our Popular Music page