The month of March

There are 3 initiatives aimed at encouraging any age group to read books being launched in the month of March.
Firstly New Zealand Book Month wants to celebrate the power of books. One of its objectives is too distribute 4 million $5 'books change lives' vouchers across New Zealand. Each week in the library we will display a different aspect of books for all ages, starting with New Zealand authors. We feel this idea is a great introductin to the book month and also links into the 'World Book Night': on the 5th March the library staff will be encouraging people to switch off the t.v for the evening and read.
The Duffy Books in Homes is touring the country and stopping off in Matamata. The theatre will be visiting Firth and Waharoa Primary schools with the aim of encouraging youngsters to visit libraries. Staff from the public library will be attending these sessions and wanting those who are not already a library member to become one.
Come into the library and have a look around - Martha the mannequin will be hopping out of her sari and dressing in school clothes - we really are friendly, helpful and love visits from children.

Trash

This story is set somewhere in South America and on a rubbish dump. Whilst sifting through the newly dumped trash one day, three boys find something extraordinary, something of value. They realise the object's worth when the police show an interest and want it. The boys sense the danger they are in and the determination of the police and so they run. They are persued all over the city with luck on their side.
The first thing that struck me about this novel is degree of realism with which it is written: fragile housing build on top of the dump, the constant smell, the 'stuppa' [ human muck]wrapped in paper, the crawling and sorting of rubbish. The description used when one of the boys gets taken to the police station goes far enough for the reader to realise that not all police are trustworthy. Life is generally hard for a dumpsite boy and hard for anyone who opposes the powerful.
The book uses themes of unity, loyalty, bravery and justice to demonstrate there is future and hope. It's an informing, exciting and original read for the intermediate age group.

Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New year to you all. Today becomes the year of the rabbit. To learn more about this significant event for the Chinese click on lantern

2011

Hello to everyone and welcome back to the library blog. We wish you all a happy new year [ even if it is belated] and hope you are refreshed and ready to attack 2011. All the children are going back to school today full of stories from their holidays . We took our family to Northern India and travelled approximately 2,000km visiting 15th century forts, palaces temples and monuments, rode camels in the desert and haggled at markets. What were your holiday adventures? Perhaps, you would like to post a comment and tell the library about them.

We have changed the displays in the library to incorporate the Matamata Sculpture symposium, The Tower Fun Run, Cricket World cup and a children's table with books relating to India. Come in and have a look and hopefully learn something new.