FROM THE Newsletter Editor

Hi Friends

I have returned from two months in Queensland to a winter in Levin. Although Brisbane was having the coldest wettest winter it has had since 1974 it was still a lot warmer than winter weather here.

While I was in Queensland I checked out a few libraries. The ones I visited all charged for internet and computer use, had no e-book service and much smaller free collections. They were quite spacious – there is a LOT of flat land in Queensland – but seemed to offer fewer services than our current library does. Per head of population New Zealand is better served by public libraries than Australia. 

I was delighted to see the way the creation of Te Takere has developed since I left at the end of May. The view from the car park is most inviting.

Dianne Edyvane

Te Takere Progress

You can check out more photographs of the inside of the project on the Te Takere blog

The project is still running on time and under budget.

      Grand Opening Day 29 September 2012

STAFF NEWS

The advent of Te Takere means that the staff members have new roles and responsibilities.

Jo Ransom is the new Te Horowhenua Trust Chief Executive with overall responsibility for running the centre.

Wendy Fraser is the new Library Services Manager bringing 14 years’ experience at Levin Library, including five years as the Children and Teen Librarian responsible for setting up the homework clubs, holiday programmes and school visits. Wendy’s new role will be to manage the children and senior services, local and family history groups housed within Te Takere, technology and library collections.

Ema Jacob takes up the Manager of Customer Experience role, and with her team of 13 will be responsible for providing a “warm and welcoming environment for people, so they will want to come back”.

“It will be our job to bring the vision of Te Takere alive and my job to make sure the whole place functions as one team.” As the previous Customer Services Manager at Levin Library, and Kaiwhakahare, responsible for managing the Maori collection and resources, Ema says she and the team will be taking on vastly different roles, which include training to manage the information centre and the AA services, and District Council help desk.

Barbara Lucas, a self-proclaimed “librarian, through and through”, is the new Executive Assistant to the Development Team, supporting the Development Manager to deliver educational, youth, community and business programmes. Her role will also include applying for grants to hold national or regional events at Te Takere, and promoting local events and activities at the centre.

Deborah McDonald is the new Children’s Librarian.

BRANCH NEWS

Levin:  You may have noticed staff members pushing two special machines round the library recently. The new RFID

 (Radio Frequency Identification) system is being installed.  RFID is a wireless non-contact system that uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data from a tag attached to an object, for the purposes of automatic identification and tracking. Books are being security tagged to prevent theft and to enable self-issuing in future. The study night for senior has remained well attended.

Foxton:  This library under Kiri’s guidance is continuing to serve the community well.

Shannon:  The Gill Knox art display is in place till the end of the month. Her style is particularly vibrant.

The homework centre in the branch is ongoing.  Doug is also running the Taitoko School homework centre on three afternoons a week.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

Quiz Night

Friday 26 October 2012

Our popular annual quiz night is in October. This will be held in Te Takere. Get your team lined up, and bring them along to enjoy a fun quiz in the new facilities.

Feedback 

Bridge Afternoon   The FOHL raised nearly $700 with this bridge afternoon held in July. Thanks to all the card players who turned up on a cold winter afternoon.

Last Library Mystery   Sadly this evening event planned for 20 July had to be cancelled through lack of support. I’m sorry about this as it would have been an entertaining night of puzzle solving to discover which Lady Detective solved the crime.

FROM THE CHAIR

Hi Friends

What a busy few weeks we have had. Thank you all for your support for the Large Print promotion and the recent book sale.  Many people have asked why the library is getting rid of so many books, at the same time as buying new ones.  This is actually a practice in all libraries. Any book which has already been issued 300 or more times is unlikely to have a much longer shelf life.  Items not borrowed in the last two or three years are also being culled. There seems to be a trend with many non-fiction books in particular having low issue rates, possibly caused by the fact that so much information can be now be accessed on line, especially reference type material.  

Also, with the introduction of RFID self issuing systems, all material being transferred to Te Takere will need to be re-coded. The costs associated with this make it uneconomical to re-code and transfer old stock. New stock, especially the ever popular large print books, is being purchased to be coded and ready for transfer to Te Takere in September.

Barbara Easterbrook

From TeTakere @blogspot

Colour is coming to Te Takere with the painters busy doing the last touches to the air conditioning pipes and the start of the murals by Wendy Hodder.  The murals are appearing on the Northern and Southern walls.  Wendy says it has been quite exciting going up in the painter's scissor hoist to work on the murals.  

Left - The Southern wall showing the murals with the future doors into the current library.  The predominant colours so far include beautiful shades of teal. 

Floor tiling starts this week.

BRANCH NEWS

Levin - Music in the Library

NZ Music month is celebrated throughout the country each year in the month of May. At the library we will be hosting a variety of musicians over the last two weeks of May. Be prepared to be entertained with a variety of music from classical gas on acoustic guitar, ukulele, folk, soft rock and more. 

Foxton finally has a seat outside. It is comfortable, looks good and should be vandal proof.

Shannon throughout June, July and August Gill Knox will be exhibiting her work. Gill is an award winning NZ artist. Her exhibition includes water colours, pencil and acrylic work. She is renowed for her use of colour and skilful technique.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Bridge Afternoon

Sunday 8 July 2012. Luncheon 12.15 pm, play starts at 1.00pm

This is to be held at the Levin Bridge Club. All grades of players are welcome. $15 entry fee. Contact Cath Bennet 368 8579 or dandcbennet@gmail.com if you would like to play.

Last Library Mystery             

Friday 20 July 2012 at 7.30 pm

Fancy your prowess as a puzzle solver?  The Last Library Mystery will give you a chance to pit your skills against others.   Rosalie reports         "This will be a mystery with a difference. Teams of players will solve Sudoku, Code Crackers, Quizzes and Cryptic crosswords, in between testing their skills as Googlers, all to find the answers to the Last Library Mystery".  

The puzzles will be spread through the evening of Friday 20 July from 7.30 pm with plenty of time to socialise, nibble and imbibe between the brain teasers. Tickets at $15 will be available from the libraries a couple of weeks before the event.  Draw a circle around 20 July on your calendar, and start gathering your team together.

Quiz Night

Friday 26 October 2012

We planned to hold the usual quiz night in August, but Altrusa have moved their High Tea, Hats and High Heels event to 5 August. To avoid conflict we have now scheduled our quiz for October. This will be held in Te Takere. Get your team lined up, and bring them along to enjoy a fun quiz in the new facilities.

Feedback 

Liars’ Night Out  The FOHL raised over $1800 with this entertaining event. The Liars amused the audience with their outrageous stories. The positive comments we have received suggest that we should run a similar event again.

Arts Trail  There is so much artistic talent in the Horowhenua. The weekend of 12 – 13 May showcased this to the public. I hope many of you managed to visit some of the artists and venues.

 

Fabulous Quilt Raffle

We have been donated this wonderful quilt, it is at present displayed in the Library.

The quilt is being raffled, tickets are $2-00

Please help sell as many tickets as possible, tickets are available from the Library

Tell everybody!!!!

The Friends of Horowhenua Libraries are an invaluable group of library supporters who provide practical support for the libraries. Many of them work alongside us in our libraries and many more work quietly in the background. Much of the Friends effort goes into raising additional funds for the libraries which enable us to provide far broader services than we would otherwise be able.
The FOHL also hold occasional social functions for their members so that they can get to know each other in informal settings. So if you are new in town or have some time to spare why not join our Friends. New members are always welcome.