Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Sharlene from Real Life Reading that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.
Hello! I am briefly back after a wonderful two months in New Zealand, gearing up to head off to Europe shortly for another exciting three months of travel. New Zealand was amazing in so many ways and while most of my time was devoted to the outdoors, I did of course find time to read. I’m so used to travelling in non-English-speaking countries that the novelty of having libraries full of English-language books everywhere I went in NZ never wore off.
While my e-reader was my best friend on the trip, I did find time to pop into libraries throughout my visit and make significant progress in my quest to read all of Essie Summers’ books. Here’s what that looked like:
- In Hamilton, I spent a pleasant couple of hours reading at the library to beat the heat after a morning visiting the gardens and walking along the river (reading, arguably, the worst Essie Summer’s book I have yet to find – His Serene Miss Smith)
- During my week in Wellington, I took advantage of the National Library and spent several rainy and windy afternoons reading in their comfortable chairs. It’s easy to sign up for an account and be able to order items from the collection (to be read on site). I did try to access some non-book items and was unsuccessful but received the most helpful and detailed response from the archivist who was heading the search with alternative suggestions
- In Picton, I spent the afternoon before I headed off on a five day hike hiding from tourist hoards in the lovely public library
- In Christchurch, I spent a very rainy late afternoon at the gorgeous main library branch skimming through local interest books and gazing out the window at the restoration of the cathedral
- In Dunedin and Auckland, I was spoiled beyond belief as I was able to get library cards (for a fee) and take books back to my accommodation to read at night! Dunedin was a particularly amazing offer as you provide a $50 cash deposit and they deduct $2 for every week you use the service. When I returned my card after 5 days, I got $48 dollars back. In Auckland, it was a flat $40 for several months of access so even at home I am still enjoying their digital library, which is full of titles by New Zealand authors I’ve not been able to access anywhere else and, most excitingly to me, the audiobooks of my favourite Lucy Parker novels
What did you pick up this week?
The Captive Reader 
How fun! Glad you have caught up on Essie; now you can move on to Mary Burchell.
I got a library card for the British Library when I was in London last June and I am amused every time I receive a group email that says things like, “Our electronic catalogue is down” as if I am about to drop in again.
I did read my first Mary Burchell while travelling. A Song Begins didn’t do anything for me but I’m willing to read more and be converted. I did discover Lucy Walker’s Australian romances recently and am hooked on those now.
As for the BL, of course you are going to drop in again! Might take a while but there are always reasons to go back to London.
That sounds like the best vacation ever — hiking and new library access!! Love it!
The perfect pairing!
Love that you got to visit libraries in NZ! How fun! It’s especially interesting that a visitor can join as a temporary member. Here in California at least, proof of residency is a requirement to sign up for a membership.
For normal memberships that is a requirement there too, but they had special classes for visitors. I was familiar with the idea from time spent in the Palm Springs area where temporary memberships are common for snowbirds so it’s always worth asking or checking online!