Hastings District Libraries

NZ Book Month - access books via new technology.  Interested in learning about Overdrive and how you can access ebooks 24/7?  We are holding a seminar in Hastings Library on 6 March, 11am-1pm. This will teach you how to access and use Overdrive, the FREE eBooks and Audiobooks service now available. 

Limited numbers, so please register with Ross - 06 871 5180.  If this time doesn't suit,  please register your interest.   Depending on numbers, we may arrange a further seminar.

Don't miss this special NZ Book Month event with Nalini Singh, New Zealand's own New York Times bestselling author. 

Nalini will be at Flaxmere Library on Thursday 1 March.  Doors open at 5.20pm for talk starting at 5.30pm. 

Entry is by ticket only, but these are free. Tickets available from Flaxmere, Hastings or Havelock North Libraries.  More...

Are you a teen who enjoys reading the cool books we have in the library? Our Teen Book Club is being held at Hastings Library on the second Tuesday of the month, at 4pm.  Ages 12 plus are welcome. Next meeting 13 March 2012.  Read more...

Enroll in the free Hawke's Bay Community Law Legal Education course!  This is a six week course presented by knowledgeable and engaging speakers.  It will be held at the Hastings Library.  Spaces are limited, so bookings essential.  More...

We have new book bags on sale from today.  These are environmentally friendly jute bags with a rolled cotton cord handle.  The price is $5.00 each.  More...

Kids - have you done your four report ins yet?  To get an invitation to go to the Finale Party, you will need to do four report ins by the end of Friday 13 January! 

Looking for something to do during the holidays?  We have some great storytellers visiting our three libraries.  Tanya Batt, Levity Beet and Niall de Burca are all professional storytellers. Click on their names to read more about them.

All are welcome to come along!  You do not have to be taking part in the Summer Reading Programmes.  Click here for dates and times... 

Thanks to everyone who brought gifts for the Christmas Cheer Appeal to Flaxmere, Hastings and Havelock North Libraries.   The collection has finished for this year.  Santa and his helpers are busy preparing the presents.  A great community effort.

The E.C. READ'N Summer Reading Programmes are underway and all programmes are now full.   It is awesome to have you all call into the libraries and tell us about your reading at Report In time.

For more information about the programmes and the online registration forms:  Read more.... 

Thanks to everyone who registered for our free summer reading programmes for ages 11-18 years.

Both the ReadPlus (High School) and the SRPlus (Intermediate age) programmes are now full. We look forward to seeing you at report in time.  Read more...

Toi Paematua students of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa presented their Te Kōrari Exhibition to the community - an exhibition of the raranga (weaving) created during their learning journey, from Sunday 30 October thru till Monday 14 November.  Read more... 

eBooks and downloadable audiobooks are now available at Hastings District Libraries - see the ePukapuka logo and link at the left on our home page.

New to eBooks? Here are some answers to questions!   Read even more answers ... 

 

The Video collections have been removed from 1 July 2011. 

There is a small increase in rental charges for CDs, DVDs and items from the Best Seller Collections, also for replacement of lost cards. Read more...

Need information and advice?  Come to our  Information Market Place in Hastings Library on Tuesdays, 2.00pm - 4.00pm.

Talk with people from various organisations who can help, including the Citizens Advice Bureau and Volunteering Hawke's Bay. 

Well done to the organisers of the Hastings Festival of Writers this year.  It featured wine writer John Saker,  food writer Hester Guy, Cilla McQueen, Annie Proulx, Owen Marshall, Jenny Bornholdt and Jenny Pattrick.  Very exciting to have these authors in Hawke's Bay!

Congratulations to the winners of the February Bike Wise Crazy Bike competition,. The overall winners (each will receive a bike) were:

Hastings Library - Ahnaliyah Maas, aged 6, St Matthews School
Havelock North Library - Tayah-Daisy Coleman
Flaxmere Library - Tipare-Layne Price 

More results and photos...

Hastings celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Sister City relationship with Guilin from 1 March to 5 March 2011. The Guilin Good-Will Delegation Performing Group (a music and dance troupe) are planning to visit in this week, and an official delegation from Guilin will hold official talks with the Mayor and Councillors. There will be displays in the libraries and Hastings CBD will be decorated with Chinese lanterns and banners to welcome the delegation. More...

Tuesday 3 February 1931 - at 10.46am Hawke's Bay was devastated by two violent shocks in quick succession.  The 7.8 earthquake was felt around the world.  See the new section on our website: Hawke's Bay Earthquake 1931 (under Find Information).

Congratulations to the winners of the Raised Vege Garden competition.

For results see:

http://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/news/2011/apr/three-families-win-raised-gardens

Sus’d is giving away as prizes 3 raised garden beds, one for each library. Included in the prize is an hour long gardening tutorial as well as plants and seeds to get you started.  Get a free packet of vegetable seeds for entering the competition!  Call into Hastings Library to see the demo miniature garden.  Enter the competition also at Flaxmere and Havelock North Libraries or online.  More...

Our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and workmates of the Pike River Miners. Condolence books are available in Hastings, Flaxmere and Havelock North Libraries for Hastings District residents to sign until January.  More...

Thank you so much to everyone who has brought in gifts and donations to the libraries for the community Christmas Cheers Appeal.  The co-ordinators of the appeal have provided 456 families (so far) in our community with presents and food to enable them to enjoy this Christmas.  More..

We are holding our Read Plus programmes again this summer in all three libraries. Registrations now complete.  Read more...

Registrations have now been completed and report-ins are underway!  The Children's Sections are looking great as they transform into the bush.  Is there a moa lurking in the stacks? If you listen quietly you might hear some birds.  More...

New to Hawke's Bay? Need information and advice on settling in?  Looking for a job? Come along to the Newcomers Information Market Place, in Hastings Library on Tuesdays, 2-4pm.  Read more...

Your last chance to see a wonderful exhibition! Toi Paematua  students of Te Wananga O Aotearoa present their Te Kōrari Exhibition - an exhibition of the raranga created during their learning journey. Not to be missed!  It will be on display upstairs in Hastings Library, from Sunday 31 Oct to Sunday 14 Nov. Read more...

Dr David Barry was the speaker at the Landmarks History Group meeting on Tuesday 9 November, with the topic "One Public Hospital for Hawke's Bay - A Tortuous Journey".  Read more...

What do you fear???  If you are aged 12-16 we dare you to test your senses at the Hastings Library.  Feel the fffear!

Prizes to be won.  Drinks and snacks provided.
Friday 29 October, 6.00 - 7.30pm, no charge.
Bookings essential - contact Mya on 06 871 5180.

Jo McGlashan, an old-girl of Iona College and a past chaplain, was the Landmarks History Group speaker for the 12 October meeting in Hastings Library.  She spoke to a large audience on the early days of Iona College, including Miss Fraser, founding Principal, who is credited with bringing the first Chinese Gooseberry (now Kiwi Fruit) seeds to New Zealand.  More...

Looking for legislation or case law?  See the new section on our website, under Find Information: Legislation & Law

Keen on writing?  Like to meet other writers to share ideas?  Have a story but not sure where to begin? 

The Flaxmere Library Writers Group meets monthly, on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 10.30am.

Read more...

 

Many thanks to our Friends of the Library for holding another successful Booksale on Tuesday in the Hall of Memories at Hastings Library.

We had a fabulous time at the holiday programmes at our 3 libraries!  Thanks for coming along and to everyone who helped out.  A big thanks and well done to staff.  Photos on our Flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/hdlibraries

Landmarks Local History talk - Hastings Library, Tuesday 14 Sept, 5.30pm

Blossom Queens, bands, marching girls, a "riot". The Hastings Blossom Festival, which in recent years has been revived, was a major event in the life of Hastings from the time the first one occurred in 1950. 

Our roving reporter Carla has been out and about with her radio mike. The Library Live interview with Judith from Flaxmere Library, first broadcast on Radio Kidnappers, is now on our website.  Read more...

Learn some basic life writing skills and record your memories for your family.  

Hastings Library, Friday 10 Sept - 10.30am. Read more...

Is there a creative writer inside you?  Would you like to write stories, poems, a novel?   Not sure where to start or wanting some feedback?

You are invited to join us at a free Creative Writing Workshop, to be held on Friday 10 September, from 10.15am to 3pm at Hastings Library.  Read more...

Historic Stoneycroft homestead has a digital future! Hawke's Bay's digital knowledge bank is to be based there, an exciting project for those interested in our local history. Come along to hear James Morgan speak about this project, on Tuesday 31 August at 5.30pm.

The books in the Sir James Wattie Business Collection are being shifted downstairs or over to the main Reference Collection, making way for our new group study room upstairs - to be called the Sir James Watties Memorial Room.  Read more...

On the 1st July the Art Print Collection was withdrawn from Hastings Library.  Some of these prints have been retained for display and the remainder will be sold at the next Friends of the Library sale.

Chairs, carpet and a new study room!  You saw, you sat, you voted - new chairs have arrived in our libraries.  More...

A nationwide poetry competition is being held to celebrate National Poetry Day 2010.  Closes 5pm Thursday 15 July.  See Calling All Poets Competition website for entry details. 

Dr Forbes Bennett gave a very interesting talk on the history of the Lowe Rescue Helicopter at the Landmarks History Group on Tuesday 13 July.

These meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month, upstairs at Hastings Library, gold coin admission.  All welcome.  See Landmarks History Group