Hedgehog warriors and winged skeletons

This month our science fiction & fantasy recent picks feature apocalyptic worlds of magic and technology. Alien faster-than-light drives with dubious ethical origins, an earth riddled with tunnels that penetrate its depths and send demons boiling up through our subways and basements, alternate realities ruled by powerful, mafia-like families, and magical kingdoms with lyrical names deserted by all but a few residents. "From the Lake of the Dead and the City of Marrow, to the artists who remain behind in a ghost city of spice, here are stories of hedgehog warriors and winged skeletons, loyal leopards and sparrow calligraphers."

Purposeful, Original and Pithy

In our January management recent picks - create a message that stands out with POP, survive a downturn and use best practice to prepare a winning bid or proposal.

Why eating bogeys is good for you...

"Ever wondered why we have tonsils? What's the best way to cure hiccups? And if kangaroos keep babies in their pouches, what happens to all the poo? Mitchell Symons answers all these wacky questions and plenty more in 'Why eating bogeys is good for you... and other crazy facts explained'." Got a weird, wacky or wonderful question? Get it answered in our January kids' non-fiction recent picks.

Boys get anorexia too

In our health recent picks this month read the life stories of six teenagers with Asperger Syndrome and how they feel AS has shaped their lives so far, master the art of running and read Jenny Langley's account of how anorexia affects boys/men too. "A much needed resource for other parents in similar situations."

Library hours - temporary changes

All our libraries will be closed for Wellington Anniversary Day on Monday 21 January 2008. Libraries will resume normal hours on Tuesday 22 January.

Cummings Park Library will be closed for refurbishment from Saturday 26th January to Saturday 2nd February. For more information, see the CPk branch library pages

Sir Edmund Hillary, 1919-2008

In some ways I believe I epitomise the average New Zealander: I have modest abilities, I combine these with a good deal of determination, and I rather like to succeed. -- Sir Edmund Hillary

These very self-effacing and unassuming words embody Sir Edmund Hillary who died today, aged 88. A New Zealand icon, he shot to fame in 1953 with his and climbing partner Tenzing Norgay's ascent of Everest.

Wellington City Libraries has collected a page of resources on Sir Edmund Hillary. These include a link to The Times' 1953 article, Everest Conquered : Hillary And Tensing Reach The Summit, written after the news of his and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay's successful climb spread around the world (to access the article you'll need to log in with your library card number and surname). You'll also find many books and website links about this 20th century New Zealand legend on our Kids' Catalogue.

Churchill and Roosevelt

The war in Sicily and Italy 1943-44, America and the Korean War, the origin of the term 'Iron curtain', the Royal Navy in 1758, Indian England, the Goths and the 4.4 million year-old story of human history (just briefly in 612 pages), are among the subjects of our latest history picks.

Bloodthirsty long-dead forests and manifold minions

Legendary heroes, ancient evils, a poet-sorceror, deadly assassins, dragons, untold destruction and eternal darkness - all in our latest science fiction and fantasy picks. Plus, book two of The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant from Stephen Donaldson, and the next book in Naomi Novik's Temeraire series (imagine the Napoleonic war with an aerial corps of dragons...).

Pirate dinosaurs, boxes that aren't boxes, and the cow that laid an egg

Majorie the cow who laid an egg, Charlie and Lola on a snow day, pirate dinosaurs, a Russian fairytale, a magical box and a girl who's afraid of Santa Claus - see our children's picture book picks for some of our new favourites.

Pirates, blind faith, and songs without words

Amongst our contemporary fiction recent picks this month you'll find: two friends and childhood neighbours facing an unforeseen calamity, a canary yellow Mustang convertible and a treacherous hitchhiker, men at war on the edge of the great southern desert in Mesopotamia in 3157 B.C, and a small-time TV star with a mile-wide ego.

Jewelry, crochet and contemporary knitting

In our craft recent picks for January we feature Ruth Lee's book, 'Contemporary Knitting'. Definitely not your grandmother's knitting book - unless your grandmother happens to be a cool, creative textile artist! Materials used include: insulated wire, paper yarn, plastics, rope, elastics, and even regular knitting yarn. Also featured this month: crocheted fibre necklaces and bracelets, ideas for scrapbooking sporting adventures, baby knits, and 22 patterns for handbags, totes, and carry-alls to knit and crochet from 20 top knitwear designers.

We wish you a Merry Christmas

Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year's break, from all the staff at Wellington City Libraries. The library will be closed for Christmas Day, Boxing Day (open again after Christmas on Thursday the 27th), Sunday the 30th December (open Monday the 31st), and Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd of January. You can find our holiday hours here on our website. Happy holidays!

Chicks, buzzy bees, lazy Daisy, and Tiddler the story-telling fish

"Charlie has this little sister Lola. It's very easy for Charlie to make Lola jump. Lola says, 'But I really want to make you jump, Charlie.' And Charlie says, 'Okay, Lola, but that will NEVER happen.'"

This month, find out if Lola manages to scare Charlie, see how brave a little mouse called George can be, have fun with Maisy, and see if you believe Tiddler's story - all in our December picture book recent picks.

Let the sun shine on your evil side

"Let the sun shine on your evil side" is the tag line for 'Solar energy projects for the evil genius' - one of our science recent picks this month. In this guide, the popular Evil Genius format ramps up your understanding of powerful, important, and environmentally friendly solar energy - and high-tech guru Gavin Harper gives you everything you need to build more than 50 thrilling solar energy projects. Also this month, global warming and the future of New Zealand, seeing through a world of numbers ("numbers have become the all-powerful language of public argument; this book shows how to see straight through them - and how to seize the power for yourself"), and where to watch birds in New Zealand.

Win an MP3 player...

Wellington City Libraries has recently introduced a Downloadable Audiobooks collection available to all members via our website.

Library members can browse hundreds of titles and download them as audio files to MP3 players to read on the go. Many customers have their own players but some are available to borrow on a short term basis.

We are offering you the chance to have you very own MP3 player. Answer the following questions to go into the draw for a Creative Zen Stone MP3 player. Tiny in size, but definitely big on value.

(Survey closes midday Friday 21 Dec)

Ankh-Morpork's Royal Mint

This month our science fiction recent picks include Terry Pratchett's new novel, 'Making Money'. Featuring former con-man Moist von Lipwig (last seen as Chief of the Post Office in 'Going Postal'), the latest from this famous writer with a penchant for footnotes has Moist in charge of the Royal Mint - serving at the whim of the Patrician, of course. Also included this month: the next installment of the Tales of Malus Darkblade series (set in the world of Warhammer); the story of a young clockmaker's apprentice visited by the Archangel Gabriel; and, 'The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 2007'. Have a look.

Holiday hours

Wondering when you can visit a library over the holiday season? Our libraries are open to a different timetable between 24 December 2007 and 3 January, check out the full details here.

Kitchens, bathrooms, and keeping chickens

Remodelling your kitchen or bathroom? This month our home & garden recent picks feature some great ideas for a range of kitchen and bathroom styles and sizes. Plus, check out 'Tea for the tui : fun recipes to entice birds to your garden', by Rosemary Tully, and enjoy a slice of organic life with Sheherazade Goldsmith's brilliant ideas and simple solutions to set you on the path to a more organic and sustainable lifestyle. If you dream of growing your own vegetables, making jam from freshly picked fruit, or keeping a couple of chickens, this is the book for you!

Pirates ate rats? And leather bags?

In our kids' non-fiction recent picks this month, cook swamp rat kebabs and mini eyeball pizza with Shrek and friends, find out about the culinary tastes of pirates (rats and leather bags...), scare yourself silly with the Encyclopedia Horrifica, find out how to draw cartoons, and read the story of chocolate, the bean that conquered the world!

Cantankerous and brilliant

In this month's DVD recent picks, Dr. House (Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie) is back for a third season. Plus, visit Wisteria Lane for the third season of Desperate Housewives, catch up with Meredith and the other Grey's Anatomy interns in Season 3 of the hit medical drama, follow the legalese and drama in third season Boston Legal, and delve further into the mysteries of Lost, Season 3.