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Kia ora!
Welcome to our Ākuhata | August 2026 newsletter. 

Scheduled library system outage
Our library management system is conducting system maintenance this month. This means that most of our digital systems will be unavailable from 1am-11am on Wednesday 12 August and Wednesday 19 August. The following services will not be available during these times:
  • Returning and renewing books
  • Accessing our eResources (including Libby and Borrowbox)
  • Using the Library App
  • Joining the library
  • Using the library catalogue
  • Managing your library account
Thank you for being patient with our staff and systems during this outage.
Your access to our systems should return and work as normal after 11am on these two days. If in doubt, plan ahead or wait until after 11am to access our library systems.
More information about the system outage

Family History Month
Ancestry Library Edition
Carter's price guide to antiques
August is Family History Month across New Zealand and Australia. Learn more about the library resources available to help you dive into local history and genealogy research.
  • Browse our local history collections
  • Access Ancestry Library Edition (available on site at Arrowtown, Frankton, Hāwea, Queenstown, or Wānaka Library)
  • Use Carter's Price Guide to Antiques to learn about your family heirlooms
  • Learn about and make connections with our district's local history groups
Read our local history resource guide
New digital resources from New Zealand Geographic
New digital resources from New Zealand Geographic
Exciting digital resources from New Zealand Geographic are now available to library members.
  • NZGeo Archive: Read every story ever published by the NZGeo magazine, including the latest stories and digital-only content.
  • NZGeo VR: Features some 200 remarkable VR experiences from around NZ, works on desktop or mobile.
  • Tahi (NZGeo AI): Ask almost anything related to Aotearoa, New Zealand with the NZGeo AI, Tahi. Tahi is constructed in collaboration with data owners, tangata whenua and public agencies, ensuring ownership and tīkanga are respected and upheld.
Access our New Zealand Geographic digital resources
Resetting your library password/pin
Resetting your library password/pin
We are often asked for help to remember or reset the password/pin for library accounts and/or Libby and Borrowbox. 
The safest way to get or reset your password/pin is to do it yourself without involving anyone else. This is to protect your privacy and keep your data secure. It's easy to do, available 24/7, and should take less than 5 minutes!
Reset your password/pin using these easy steps
Karawhiua Collection: Bright light therapy lamp
Borrow a bright light therapy lamp
Borrow a bright light therapy lamp
If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you may have heard of 'SAD' lamps or light therapy as a possible treatment.
Before you commit to buying, why not borrow a light therapy lamp to help decide if it's for you?
Available from Frankton and Wānaka Library.
Borrowers must be permanent adult members of Queenstown Lakes District Council Libraries.

New Fiction
Click on the book cover to place a hold on these new title in our library catalogue.  If you're having problems placing a hold on any new books, ask your local library team to help you!
Long wave by Daisy Johnson
Main characters by Bobby Palmer
The one day you were my husband by Rosie Walsh
Tata by Valerie Parrin
The hair of the pigeon by Mohammed Massoud Morsi
The last of earth by Deepa Anappara
Platform decay by Martha Wells
Lore Olympus Vol 10 by Rachel Smythe
Canon by Paige Lewis
 

New Non Fiction
Click on the book cover to place a hold on these new title in our library catalogue.  If you're having problems placing a hold on any new books, ask your local library team to help you!
 
Dream Dealer by Greg Newbold
The wilder way : a memoir of adventure, freedom, and an unchartered life by Eva Zu Beck
Rory by Alan Shipnuck
The cost of quiet by Colette Jane Fehr
Container gardening by Tammy Wylie
Frostlines by Neil Shea
Rule of lies by Jamison R. Firestone
Wise by Frank Tallis
Easy as pie by Wendy Morgan

Staff picks: Children's collection

Each month our passionate children's librarians handpick the most delightful, heartwarming, and engaging books for young readers.
Find more children's recommendations on our blog
For the ones you love by Jeremy Dronfield
Fuzzy feelings by Michelle Mackintosh
Fox Kid and the mud men by Adrian Beck

Staff picks: Young Adult collection

Each month, our passionate librarians handpick captivating and inspiring reads just for you. 
Find more young adult recommendations on our blog
Lu by Jason Reynolds
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night by Steve Barlow
Augmented by Kenechi Udogu

What's on at the library

To keep up to date with events and activities across all library branches, check our What's On webpage, follow us on social media, and keep an eye out for event posters and flyers when you're next in the library.
Event highlights
Teen Art Show
Come see our Teen Art Show submissions between 10-31 August at Frankton and Wānaka Library.
National Poetry Day 2026
  • Wānanga Waharua | Thursday 13 August, 5.45-6.45pm
  • Verse Poetry Class with Stephanie Fieldsend | Thursday 20 August, 5.45-6.45pm
  • Library Poetry Slam | Thursday 27 August, 5.45-6.45pm
Regular events across the district
 
Arts and Crafts
Wānaka Woolies Knitting Group, Wānaka Library | Mondays, 12-2pm
Hāwea Knitters, Hāwea Library | Tuesdays, 12-2.45pm
Origami Club, Frankton Library | Saturday 22 August, 1-3pm
 
Queer Quarterly Reads, Wānaka Library | Thursday 13 August, 5.30-6.30pm
Teen Book Club, Wānaka Library | Wednesday 26 August, 4-5pm
Libby Reads with Jacqueline Bublitz, Online | Wednesday 26 August, 7.30-8.30pm
Queenstown Library Book Club | Thursday 27 August, 5.30-6.30pm
Wānaka Library Book Club | Friday 28 August, 10-11am
 
Digital Help, Wānaka Library | Every Monday, 3.30-5pm
Digital Help, Hāwea Library | Every Wednesday, 11am-12pm
Digital Help, Arrowtown Library | Every Thursday, 10am-12pm
Digital Help, Frankton Library | Every Friday, 10-11.30am
Digital Help, Kingston Library | Wednesday 12 August, 3.40-4.30pm
Digital Help, Glenorchy Library | Wednesday 26 August, 2.30-3.30pm
 
Social English, Wānaka Library | Every Monday, 10-11am
Social English, Frankton Library | Thursday 20 August, 5.30-6.30pm
 
Screenwriting Group, Queenstown Library | Thursday 13 August, 5.30-6.30pm
Wānanga Waharua, Wānaka Library | Thursday 13 August, 5.45-6.45pm
Verse Poetry Class with Stephanie Fieldsen, Wānaka Library | Thursday 20 August, 5.45-6.45pm
Library Poetry Slam, Wānaka Library | Thursday 27 August, 5.45-6.45pm
Check out what's on across our libraries
 

Kupu o te Marama |
Word of the Month
Hītori | History
 
 

NZ Sign Language 

This is the NZ Sign Language motion for 

Hītori | History
This is the NZ Sign Language motion for Hītori | History

Kā mihi,
- Your Libraries Team.

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