Curl up and read
No matter how cold and icy the weather, its always a good time to read. Finding new authors can be a bit hit and miss, so this week we look at ways to broaden your reading horizons, and take in some recommended reading from Christchurch City Libraries extensive Good Reads section.
I'm stuck: What do I read next?
 If you feel like you need some inspiration, or would like to try some new authors, the answer could be our aptly-named What Do I Read Next? database. It's free to access with your library card and PIN.
What do I read next? includes over 100,000 recommended titles, more than 60,000 plot summaries, and awards information from 562 awards, all to help uncover new reading adventures, find long-remembered favourites, and discover new ones. You can search for books by genre, time period, characters, or enter your preferences and get suggestions of the best reading based on your choices.
Be the first to know
 If you want to be kept up-to-date with new titles and our librarians picks of the best items, subscribe to our e-list newsletters. From thrillers to armchair travel, biographies to DIY, you can get the latest news delivered directly to your inbox. You can also check out the Christchurch City Libraries blog, which has hot-off the-shelf book and library news - it's a constantly changing smorgasboard of delights.
If you like: recommended follow-on reading
 If you Like is a section of our website we have developed to help readers quickly and easily find authors and books that have broad similarities to authors they have already read. If you like Catherine Cookson, for example, there are close to 50 other authors to try. Reading choice is also organised by genre, so if you enjoy thrillers and adventure stories or humourous stories, there are listings to match. There are also children's versions, such as If you Like Harry Potter.
Keen to help us trial NetLibrary?
NetLibrary is a digital media system that allows access and download of audio books, music, video and eBooks to your computer or laptop. Items can then be transferred to a CD player, MP3 player, smart phone or pocket PC. Many audio titles can be burned to a CD to play in the car or at home.
Christchurch City Libraries are considering this product, which is where you come in! Are you willing to give up an hour of your time to come into Central Library and play with these systems? You will be supported by friendly library staff who can help you out if you get stuck and will give you a free single movie ticket as a thank you for your time!
NetLibrary Trial times
Monday, July 7 and Tuesday, July 8, 2pm to 5pm. Please note spaces are limited!
Contact Colleen Finnerty if you would like to participate and a include preferred date and time for your participation. An indication if you are happy to participate in future trials is also welcome!
We recommend: Recreational reading resources
Our online resources:
Our Internet Gateway recommends:
Browse the resources in our libraries:
Too many to list!! Try our If you like section of the website, which will guide you to catalogue links for thousands of titles that will appeal to you in all sorts of ways - like these:
This week in Christchurch history
What interesting things happened in Christchurch this week? Find out with the help of the Christchurch Chronology on the library website.
- June 28, 1869 Velocipede ("boneshaker") bicycle (probably New Zealand's first) tried out on City streets by its maker, coachbuilder Henry Wagstaff.
- June 28, 1983 Author Margaret Mahy awarded Britain's prestigious Carnegie Medal for her children's book, "The Haunting".
- June 29, 1951 First regular South Island trans-Tasman flights begin from Melbourne to Christchurch.
- June 29, 1953 Aviation pioneer Richard W. Pearse dies in Christchurch. Pearse made one of the world's first powered flights on or about March 31, 1902 in South Canterbury. He moved to Christchurch in 1921, and worked on his astonishing "convertiplane" over many years.
- June 30, 1849 Canterbury's first industrial action - Māori road workers in Evans Pass (constructing a road across the Port Hills) go on strike as a reaction to verbal abuse and dismissals. On the same day, the New Zealand Company buys the remaining French interests at Akaroa from the Nanto-Bordelaise Company.
- June 30, 1975 TV2 transmission starts.
- July 1, 1862 New Zealand's first telegraph in operation between Christchurch and Lyttelton.
- July 1, 1865 Severe thunderstorm. Man killed by lightning at Avonside.
- July 1, 1935 Evening papers "Star" and "Sun" merge to become the "Star Sun", ending a six-year newspaper war, the longest and most bitter in New Zealand's history. The "peace" agreement between the three companies concerned also saw the demise of the "Christchurch Times" (once the "Lyttelton Times"), the oldest daily paper in the country.
- July 4, 1977 Hundreds evacuated as serious flooding affects City.
What's new online?
New on the blog
New on the library website
Next week: Bishopdale library refurbishment
Tucked away in the north-west of the city is Bishopdale Library - we'll take a trip there next week and check it out. |
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