Read On

News from the Nelson Public Libraries

Find out which New Zealand library holds the book you're looking for

You have two ways to do this yourself, without having to log in or ask the library staff to do it for you.

The National Library recently launched the New Zealand Libraries' Catalogue that will let you search for all library holdings of particular items and allow you to link directly to individual library catalogues to check availability.

Worldcat allows you to search across world holdings of library items. When you find the item you are interested in, you can just look at New Zealand holdings, and from these (for many libraries, including Nelson) you can link directly to the local catalogue record for that particular book.

You can get to WorldCat from a Google book search too. When you find the item you want, go to the full record and click onto 'find this book in a library' under the 'Borrow this Book' option. This takes you directly to the item record screen in Worldcat, where you can get into library holdings – or of course you may find that Google Books has delivered the full-text online for you!

To borrow books from other libraries, where you are not a member, you still have to use the Libraries’ interloan service.

For more information on these services, come in and see the Libraries’ Information Services Team  or email us on library.ref@ncc.govt.nz

Hunting down your family tree?

Come in to any Nelson Library and try out our new genealogy database, AncestryLibrary. It includes:

• Over 1.5 billion names
• UK and Ireland Census collection 1861 - 1901
• UK births, deaths and marriages
• Parish and Probate records for the United Kingdom 1500 - 1800
• Military records, and much more.

Thanks very much to everyone who gave us feedback on the Ancestry Library - we hope you enjoy it.

LibraryThing

What's on your bookshelf?

The library features a web page devoted to the books discussed at Bookchat. It is a free service where you can keep track of books you've read and read reviews by others. The books' Dewey numbers are included for easy finding. Read up on reviews, or submit your own.

Click here to go to Nelson Public Libraries' Bookchat page on LibraryThing.

Recreation helpdesk

Nelson Public Libraries are increasing their focus on recreational services. In the Elma Turner Library at the Halifax Street side of the building there's a Recreation Helpdesk where you'll find fiction, large print books, magazines, newspapers, CDs and talking books.

Recreation Services Librarian Annette Monti and the team staffing the new recreation desk have great knowledge of what's available for your leisure reading and listening. Staff at Stoke Library and Nightingale Library Memorial are equally skilled in helping customers find just the book they want. Make use of these resources!

Check out one of the new Recreation Service bookmarks displayed in all three libraries next time you want to find a new author. These regularly-updated "try these authors" reading lists contain categories from spy stories, fantasy, mystery, Christian fiction, and "who writes like" including David Baldacci, Marian Keyes, Patricia Cornwell. More categories will be added from time to time.

Also available are new-fiction flyers featuring a few top books bought each month, with brief descriptions. This list, along with titles of all books bought each month, can be accessed through our website.