Library Week 2010 will be held from August 16-22, 2010 and is a week-long celebration of libraries and librarianship in New Zealand.

The theme this year is "Ask me: you might be surprised".

Libraries are wondrous places full of information, treasures and fun things. But there's more to libraries than meets the eye. So why not ask your local librarian what we have to offer - you might be surprised with the answers!

Look out for posters of Hamilton librarians doing what they love, you might be surprised what they get up to when not at work!

We have several activities you can do as part of Library Week and there are also country-wide competitions being run as part of the celebrations.

Check out all the details below.

For more information on Library Week 2010 and all the competitions, visit the Library Week website.

Where:
Garden Place Library

When:
Two one-hour tours to choose from:

Who:
Everyone welcome. Bookings are essential as numbers are limited.

Archives tours

Ever wanted to find out what's hidden in our treasure troves at Garden Place Library? Then here's your chance to find out!

There are two one-hour tours during Library Week 2010. You'll spend half an hour in the mysterious "3B", where many of those treasures are kept and then half an hour with our resident photo expert, who'll talk about the vast array of photographic resources.

This is a great chance to get behind the scenes and tour an area normally off limits to customers.

Bookings are essential as spaces are limited. Please phone 838 6842 to secure your place.

NZ's Biggest Storytime

Join in NZ's Biggest Storytime as part of Library Week 2010(August 16-22) and listen to the wonderful children's story Mr Muggs the library cat. It is being read all over the country on the same day at the same time!

Readings will be held at all Hamilton libraries on Wednesday, August 18 at 10.30am. Some of these readings will be part of the libraries' regular playgroup sessions.

Where:
Chartwell, Garden Place, Dinsdale, Glenview, Hillcrest, St Andrews libraries

When:
Wednesday, August 18, 10.30am

Who:
Children of all ages and their parents/caregivers welcome.

Where:
Level 2, Garden Place Library

When:
Saturday, August 21, 2010
1.30pm

Who:
Everyone welcome.

Book launch

Colonel Richard Hall "A long road to progress: Dispatches from a Kiwi commander in Afghanistan"

Join Colonel Richard Hall as he talks about his experiences in Afghanistan which led to his book "A long road to progress: Dispatches from a Kiwi commander in Afghanistan," and presents photos from his time overseas.

This book is a personal reflection of the six months he spent leading the New Zealand Defence Force Provincial Reconstruction Team (NZPRT) in Afghanistan, from October 2008 to April 2009.

His candid dispatches cover the wide range of issues that Kiwi soldiers have to deal with as they serve in a harsh climate amid daily threats to their lives and to those of locals.

Hall vividly and movingly recalls his experiences, but also explains the vision he tried to implement on behalf of this country. He tackles the complex issues involved in an army that seeks to bring both aid and a Western way of doing things in a deeply Islamic country.

And he offers an astute perspective on working with New Zealand troops, American soldiers, Afghani officials, intransigent aid organisations, while tackling crippling poverty, insurgent attacks, impossible terrain and severe weather.

Colonel Hall will have copies of his book for sale on the day - cash or cheque sales only.