Library News
Hi there book lovers, once again I am writing my missive to Mike Beckett but this time from within the beautifully air conditioned interior of the Waihinga Centre. Remembering the alternatively boiling and freezing old library complete with extra fans and heaters, I do feel very privileged.
Lots of news this month. We had 53 children finish the reading programme, earning prizes on the way and keeping their reading level up in the long holiday away from school. As libraries are all about literacy we find that quite an important time to keep kids interested in reading. Otherwise when they go back to school in February their reading level can have dropped substantially.
If they then lose interest in reading you are really struggling to get them back on track. We haven’t had the high levels of children coming into the library because our public computers are still not up and running yet. We are waiting for the cabling to be installed and at the moment I can’t give you a date when that will be done but we are hoping it won’t be too far away.
If you do need to print something off then just email it to us or bring it in on a USB stick. Scanning is no problem. Sorting and organising the books is still on-going as it was a bit of a struggle to move and get set up within the timeframe we had but it will all sort itself out in due course – if you can’t find what you want, just let us know.
We are working on signage as having around 18,000 books on the shelves makes it challenging to find something if there are no hints as to where it may be.
Another new thing is that we are now open all day during the Martinborough Fair. It is a great opportunity to showcase the entire centre to lots of visitors. I also hope some of these visitors will buy some of the sale books from our 33 boxes which are lurking around somewhere.
The display table in the relaxation area is now up and running. The inaugural display is the new ‘Goldsmith Collection’. Well actually only part of the collection as there are too many books to fit on the table at once. Thank you so much to Shelley Goldsmith who gifted them to us – we really appreciate having them in the library. The books cover all aspects of jewellery from history to making to wearing. I have been salivating over the Tiffany one especially – gems are higher on my wish list than shoes as my husband can testify.
Speaking of shoes (because one has to do so), I have been gifted a small amount of mens shoes from Greg Maher (of Maher shoes fame). He saw the collection and asked ‘where are the mens shoes’. Well, as I am not a man, I don’t have any. Next thing a shipment arrives and what a fantastical array of designs and colours they are too. It was a very exciting day.
Do remember our library book club is on the 2nd Friday of the month from 10 to 12. Not deadly serious, it is however a chance to tell us about books you have enjoyed and have a nice cuppa with lovely people. Book Babies has started up again on Tuesday morning from 10 to 10.30 with the lovely Victoria.
My apologies to The Friends of Martinborough Library that I have not been paying you any attention recently but it has been a bit frenetic with the move and everything. Things will improve! We look forward to seeing you in the library soon.
Shirley
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