Category: General

Diwali Celebration at Newtown Library! Wednesday 1 November

Tess

Join us for a special Diwali celebration at Newtown Library!

We’re hosting a family storytelling event, with guest author Rajorshi Chakraborti reading their favourite stories about Diwali. Learn how to drape a sari and pose in our themed photobooth! Join us at Newtown Library on Wednesday November 1st, 3:15-5pm to celebrate Diwali.

This is a free, family-friendly event- bring your elders and your kids!

Event on Facebook

Rajorshi Chakraborti was born in Kolkata and grew up there and in Mumbai, and now lives in Wellington with his family. He has published six novels and a collection of short fiction, and his latest work is a novel for young readers co-written with his daughter, Leela, and it is called – The Bad Smell Hotel. You can find out more about Raj’s books at www.rajorshichakraborti.nz.

New (and classic) DVDs at Te Awe

Gus

Here are the new DVDs we’ve added to the catalogue between August and October, available at our CBD Te Awe branch, and selected other locations, to borrow or reserve.

We have both recent releases of 2023 films and re-releases of some cinema classics, including Avatar, Forrest Gump, and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet.

Triangle of sadness
The portable door
Death in paradise. Series twelve
The passengers of the night
Paris, 13th district
My old school
Armageddon time
Dungeons & dragons. Honor among thieves
65
Creed. III

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Real Stories from New Zealand Diplomats

Xinxin

Looking back at diplomatic stories, from diplomats’ personal anecdotes to historical government archives, from Baghdad at the first Gulf War to West Papua, these authors have interesting diplomatic stories and facts uncovered. Read on!

New moons for Sam : becoming Kiwi, life of a New Zealand diplomat / Hamilton, Peter
“In 1961, Leaving from Somerset and growing up in rural New Zealand, Peter Hamilton joined the diplomatic service as this change was getting underway and his four-decade career saw him leading diplomatic and free trade efforts with traditional and new partners at a time of unprecedented international change for his adopted country. This book is a rare insider’s account of how New Zealand conducts its diplomacy, forges alliances and makes the most of its position as a small South Pacific country on a global stage. ” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

See no evil : New Zealand’s betrayal of the people of West Papua / Leadbeater, Maire
“The book begins by relating the little-known history of West Papua, but its focus is on the impact of New Zealand’s foreign policy on the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants. In the 1950s New Zealand supported self-determination for the former Dutch colony, but in 1962 opted to back Indonesia as it took over the territory. Delving deep into historical government archives, this meticulously researched book uncovers the untold story of New Zealand’s unprincipled and often hypocritical diplomacy. ” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Diplomatic ladies : New Zealand’s unsung envoys / Woods, Joanna
“Diplomatic Ladies tells the story of New Zealand’s diplomatic wives and daughters over a hundred years of diplomacy. Starting with Maud Pember Reeves in 1907 and based on private letters, MFAT archives and personal interviews, it records many unknown episodes in New Zealand’s diplomatic history, including the part played by the spouses in Baghdad during the first Gulf War, and the perils faced by diplomatic wives in Saigon and Tehran. It is a life full of interest and excitement but comes at a price that many modern women are not prepared to pay.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

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Now digitised: Illuminated manuscripts executed by A. H. Reed

Paige

A collection of 120 to 250 year old letters from literary figures including Mary Russell Mitford and Alfred, Lord Tennyson are now online at Wellington City Recollect.

Publisher, writer and collector Alfred Hamish Reed.

Many of us are familiar with name A. H. Reed, thanks to his efforts in the New Zealand publishing industry. Not so well known is that Alfred Reed was also an avid collector of rare books and unpublished manuscripts, which he purchased at auctions over many decades. In time he came to possess a sizeable collection of British ‘autograph letters’ written by 19th century writers and publishers. From the 1930s he began to allocate parts of his collection for donation to various institutions, including our own Wellington City Libraries.

The collection was presented to us as original letters mounted on poster card which he then embellished by hand in the style of an illuminated manuscript. Reed researched and wrote biographical and contextual notes to accompany the letters, while also adding colour and flourishes that make this selection incredibly unique.

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Spilling the beans on our new sustainability books

Amy

This month we have new books spilling the beans (but not letting them go to waste!) on how to eat sustainably. We can learn about the journey our fruits and vegetables take to get from the tree to our plate in Avocado Anxiety. If we want to grow our own food, there are many books to choose from, like The Sustainable Homestead or A Conscious Garden. If we want to see the bigger picture, we can learn about the mechanism of the food industry that impacts the world in Ravenous. Check them out now:

The sustainable homestead : create a thriving permaculture ecosystem with your garden, animals, and land / Ferraro-Fanning, Angela
“Whether you’re just dreaming, working on site selection, or an experienced homesteader, The Sustainable Homestead is the go-to resource to bring permaculture techniques to your crops, animals, and more.” (Catalogue)

Avocado anxiety : and other stories about where your food comes from / Gray, Louise
“How do we stop worrying about our food choices and start making decisions that make a difference? Through visits to farms, interviews with scientists and trying to grow her own, Louise Gray digs up the dirt behind organic potatoes, greenhouse tomatoes and a glut of courgettes.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Sustain : groundbreaking recipes and skills that could save the planet / Barrett, Jo
“Sustain: Groundbreaking Recipes And Skills That Could Save The Planet features over 90 recipes across 30 meals mastering a series of skills, which lead to a more sustainable kitchen.” (Catalogue)

 

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International Repair Day

Xinxin

To celebrate International Repair Day, we’ve picked some books on creative and practical inspirations for mending and do-ups. The below list is full of advice, including a book from the BBC’s popular show The Repair Shop; the Haynes Manuals, an online resource for car and motorcycle repairs; and artistic upholstering to help you do some DIY upcycling. The benefit of repairing goes way beyond saving budget!

eLibrary resource: Haynes Car and Motorcycle Manuals

The Repair Shop : life in the barn : the inside stories from the experts / Dowle, Jayne
“In today’s throwaway culture, there’s a counter movement growing that urges us to “make do and mend”. The Repair Shop has brought this waste-conscious message to an even wider audience, cementing itself as a BBC classic of the likes of Antiques Roadshow. This book concentrates on the show’s much-loved experts, including woodworker and furniture restorer Will Kirk, clockmaker and mechanical wizard Steve Fletcher, silversmith Brenton West, saddler/leatherworker Suzie Fletcher and more. (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Mazda 6 automotive repair manual / Killingsworth, Jeff
“Save big with a Haynes manual and you can do it yourself from simple maintenance to basic repairs. Haynes writes every book based on a complete teardown of the vehicle. We learn the best ways to do a job and that makes it quicker, easier and cheaper for you. Our books have clear instructions and hundreds of photographs that show each step. You will find routine maintenance, tune-up procedures, engine repair, cooling and heating, air conditioning, fuel and exhaust, emissions control, ignition, brakes, suspension and more.”(Adapted from the Catalogue)

Style, stitch, staple : basic upholstering skills to tackle any project / Stanton, Hannah
“Style, Stitch, Staple combines straightforward upholstery techniques with advice on choosing and styling fabrics to make the even the most dilapidated furniture into gorgeous, updated pieces. Packed full of fabric advice, yardage charts, upholstery tutorials, and case studies that feature salvaged and inexpensive furniture, this book is the perfect go-to-guide for the many sewers, designers, and artists who want to learn to rescue and revive furniture with a unique, personalized, and stylish look.” (Adapted from Amazon.com)

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