Information for Seniors

This page is prepared by staff of the Housebound and Talking Book Services.

Mezzanine Community Centre

Reopened for Senior Groups to carry out activities and meetings, from Monday to Friday between 9.30 am and 3.30 pm. At the moment the following programme is running:
Mondays 2.00pm - 3.30pm - English Conversation Classes
Thursdays 10.00am - 11.30am - Beginners Ballroom Dancing
Fridays 10.00am - 11.30am - Tai Chi Classes

4th Tuesday of the month 10am - 2pm - Embroidery Group

Last Wednesday of the month 1.30pm - 3.30pm - Grey Power Central

Basic Computer Training: Is available at $2.00 per hour, please fill in the booking sheet, which is situated on the computer table and the tutor will contact you to arrange a suitable time.

Wellington Community Law Centre : Free Legal Advice is also available here each Thursday from 1.15pm.

If you belong to a senior group and would like to use this space to meet or carry out an activity Monday - Friday between 9.30am - 3.30pm, please contact:

Helen Young, Community Advisor, Seniors
Wellington City Council, Phone: 801 3532

New at the Library

Featured books

Marco Polo: from Venice to Xanadu by Laurence Bergreen. (2008)
"In September 1298, the rival Italian republics of Genoa and Venice fought a fierce sea battle off the rocky coast of southern Dalmatia. Among the thousands of Venetians taken captive was one Marco Polo: gentleman, merchant and sometime traveller to the East...Confined to a Genoese jail, Marco recounted his story to Rustichello of Pisa, a writer of Arthurian romances. As Rustichello listened to the extraordinary details of his fellow prisoner's travels in the Middle East, Central Asia and China, he realized that he was hearing one of the most remarkable tales ever told.This is an enthusiastic retelling of Marco Polo's timeless story. Laurence Bergreen draws from a broad range of the surviving Polo manuscripts to create a convincing portrait of how Marco was able to get to thirteenth-century China, and of what he saw, felt and did when he got there. "
(covers)

The Great Wall by John Man. (2008)
"China's Great Wall north of Beijing is one of the world's most famous sights. Millions every year climb the line of stone snaking over mountains. We all feel we know the Wall. But we are wrong. It is too big, too varied, too complex to be captured by a few images or a day-trip. Myths surround it. Many believe that the stone barrier marches across all China, that it has been in existence for over 2,000 years, and that it is the only man-made structure visible from the Moon. In fact, most of it is made of earth, and much of it is not there at all. It cannot even be seen from earth orbit, let alone the Moon.Estimates of its length vary from 1,500 to 5,000 miles. It is not a single entity, but many walls (hence the uncertain length), built at different times. The many walls are united by two ideas - self-protection and unity - which go back to the First Emperor. For 2,000 years, the Wall marked the border between China and nomadic peoples to the north and west.Mutual hostility inspired centuries of attacks, counter-attacks and Wall-building, until in the 20th century the Wall became redundant. John Man travelled the Wall from the far western deserts to the Pacific, exploring the grandest sections and many 'wild' ones. He is the first writer to describe two unknown walls in Mongolia. He covers two millennia of history, from the country's first unification to the present day, when the Great Wall has become a symbol of tranquillity."
(Cover)

Beijing confidential by Jan Wong. (2008)
"Jan Wong first arrived in China from Toronto at the height of the Cultural Revolution, a fervent young Maoist. Dertermined to change the world, she found instead, her world turned upside down and resulted in her memoir. In this book she returns to Beijing to witness the extreme makeover of the city for the 2008 Olympics and to appease her guilty conscience by betraying a former fellow student. But cultural amnesia has become a way of life, the past is bulldozed daily and the breathless pace of change has transformed the country into the Great Mall of China and her former comrades into capitalists and more."
(Cover)

Adventures in architecture by Dan Cruickshank. (2008)
"Dan takes us to the buildings he believes have changed the world, revealing how in truly great buildings function, material and purpose connect to all other parts of life - showing how architecture is the richest and most compelx of man's artistic endeavours. Do his chosen buildings live up to expectation, or does he find disappointment and lost ideals? Architecture is an art, a science and a craft. But buildings also have to fulfil a function, cater for human use, withstand the forces of nature, and be built to a budget. All these aspects are considered as he looks at some well known and many lesser known buildins. Included in the variety are the Catherine Palace in St Petersburg, the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, the Hanging Temple in Shanxi in China, Astana in Kazakhstan, Brasilia, Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, the Lupanare Brothels in Pompeii, and the building of an igloo, man's earliest exercise in the creation of shelter, in Greenland."
(Amazon.co.uk)

The black swan: the impact of the highly improbable by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. (2007)
"Elegant, startling, and universal in its applications, The Black Swan is a concept that will change the way you look at the world. Black Swans underlie almost everything, from the rise of religions, to events in our own personal lives. A Black Swan is a highly improbable event with three principal characteristics: it is unpredictable; it carries a massive impact; and, after the fact, we concoct an explanation that makes it appear less random and more predictable than it was. The astonishing success of Google was a black swan; so was 9/11. And why do we always ignore the phenomenon of Black Swans until after they occur? As Nassim Nicholas Taleb reveals, we are hard-wired not to truly estimate risk, too vulnerable to the impulse to simplify, narrate, and categorize and not open enough to rewarding those who can imagine the 'impossible'. In this revelatory book, Taleb explains everything we know about what we don't know, and shows us how to face the world."
(Amazon.co.uk)

Large Print Collection

These books have print that is larger than usual. The collection is available at Central and all branches. You can find the recent additions to our Large Print collection, or all the Large Print items in our catalogue. All Large Print titles are available to borrow or reserve. If you need to any of our staff can show you how to make your own reserves from our public access catalogues or from your home computer.

Julie Andrews: an intimate biography by Richard Stirling. (2008)
"Julie Andrews is the last of the great Hollywood musical stars - her extraordinary career spans more than forty years. Her first film, "Mary Poppins", was Disney's most successful film, and in 1965 "The Sound of Music" rescued Twentieth Century Fox from bankruptcy. Three years later, "Star!" almost put the studio back under, and the leading lady of both films fell as spectacularly as she had risen. But Julie Andrews is nothing if not a survivor; and despite many setbacks - including the tragedy of losing her singing voice in 1997 after a botched operation - she's still a performer, recently starring in "Shrek and The Princess Diaries". Richard Stirling's deeply researched biography - based on many years of contact with Julie - is a frank but affectionate portrait of an enduring icon of stage and screen."
(Amazon.co.uk)

Tales from the country matchmaker by Patricia Warren. (2006)
"Since she founded the Farmers' and Country Bureau from her farmhouse in the Peak District more than twenty years ago, Patricia has been helping love blossom the length and breadth of rural England. She has hundreds of marriages to her credit, numerous babies and one set of quads. A born matchmaker whose warmth, patience and humour have literally changed the lives of hundreds of people, here she brings us stories of love and romance she has helped to create. Of course love isn't always on the cards for her clients. Take George, who wouldn't leave his lady friend until she'd finished knitting his jumper. Or the pig farmer who omitted to take a shower. But for the truly romantic take Harry, the poetry writing farmer who found his perfect match just when he'd given up hope. Patricia Warren's tales are pure delight - and a heartening reminder that there really can be a 'happy ever after."
(Amazon.co.uk)

Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand. (2008)
"When Vicki Stowe arrives in Nantucket for the summer with her two young sons, her best friend Melanie and her sister Brenda, she is hoping for peace, rest and comfort. Her mother always used to say that any ailment in the world - physical or emotional - could be cured by a little Nantucket sand between the toes. The three women need all the help Nantucket can offer: Brenda has just lost her prestigious job as a professor of literature; Melanie, who has been struggling for years to have a baby, has just discovered that she is pregnant - and that her husband is having an affair; Vicki herself has been diagnosed with cancer and is facing months of treatment. Although they have the best of intentions and plan to support one another while enjoying the summer, the women soon find life in a cramped cottage with only one bathroom not quite the idyll they imagined. When put-upon babysitter Brenda places a help wanted' ad, the three women find salvation in the form of Josh, home from college for the summer. Soon Josh is part of the chaotic household, acting as childminder, confidant and, eventually something more."
(Amazon.co.uk)

Sound and Vision

On DVD, video, CD and cassette. Discounts on all audio visual items with your Community Services Card.

DVDs we recommend:

Lovely Rita: a painter's life Produced and directed by Gaylene Preston. A doumentary on the life and work of New Zealand painter Rita Angus.

Pierrepoint Based on the true story of Britain's last hangman. With Timothy Spall, Juliet Stevenson, Eddie Marsan and Christopher Fulford.
"Pierrepoint is the gripping and dramatic true-life story of Albert Pierrepoint, Britain's most notorious hangman. Following in the footsteps of his father and uncle before him, Albert joins the 'family business' in 1934. Living a secret life as a master hangman, as well as a humble grocery deliveryman and loyal husband, Pierrepoint's reputation as the most highly regarded executioner in the land results in him executing some of Britain's most infamous murderers including Derek Bentley and Ruth Ellis, and also the Nazi war criminals convicted at the Nuremberg Trails. But the media coverage from these shatters Pierrepoint's closely guarded anonymity turning him into a minor celebrity. As his two lives collide, and public opinion turns against capital punishment, Pierrepoint troubled by his notoriety is ready to give it all up, but fate has other plans in store for him. Featuring an outstanding performance by Timothy Spall, as the executioner struggling with his work, duty and conscience, Pierrepoint is a provocative tale of crime, punishment and redemption, set against a fascinating backdrop of British social and political change."

Featured Magazine

Uno: Wellington lifestyle magazine
This is a new quarterly magazine focussing on the greater Wellington region. Each issue features include health, fashion, homestyle and architecture, reviews of books and film, business, and travel. The nice thing is it promotes the best in the Wellington area, people, places and what to see and do. A great read..

Found in the Social Comment magazines, on the first floor in the Science and Humanities magazine collection.

Tea and Tales

Tea and Tales is now at Tawa, Johnsonville and Kilbirnie Libraries. At the Tawa Library Tea and Tales are held on the first Tuesday of the month, 10.30 to 11.30; at Johnsonville on the first Wednesday of the month, 2pm; and at Kilbirnie Library on the fourth Thursday of the month, from 10.30 to 11.30. Library staff read from some of their favourite books or poetry, and now some of those coming also volunteer their contributions. Library staff would love you to join them for this time of friendship and pleasure.

MyLibrary

Wellington City Libraries have a useful service available online called MyLibrary. This allows customers to create and customise a page on our website with links to our collections or services that are of interest. Each month recent picks from the latest material available in each of the selected areas, for example Fiction, Gardening, Cooking or History will be listed along with many others. Links to relevant Databases and Popular Topics are updated regularly; and customers can also add links to their own favourite websites.

This service is absolutely free, just be sure to include your email address when signing up so the subject areas you are interested in will be emailed to you.

new item A NEW name for the Seniors page? Do you think of yourself as a Senior? If not, how do you describe yourself? A Baby boomer? Superannuitant? I would love to hear your views on whether the name of this page should be changed to something that better reflects how you think of yourselves. Please email me at toni.finkle@wcc.govt.nz.

Collection Highlight

Wellington City Libraries has a wealth of information about genealogy (family history). Here are some useful links:

Smartview and ZoomText

Smartview makes seeing things much easier for people with low vision and ordinary eyesight. It is great for photos, letters and documents and is adjustable for particular eye conditions. Find the Smartview on the Ground Floor at the Central library by the Large Print Collection.

ZoomText is available on the Second Floor free internet computer at the Central Library. ZoomText enlarges font size on web pages and electronic documents (email, newspaper databases etc) and can be set to read these aloud or display in high contrast large print.

Talking Book Borrowers

If you have any kind of sight impairment or can no longer hold a book comfortably please visit our webpage for talking book borrowers. You can also call us on 801 4121 or visit the staff on the 2nd floor of the Central Library on Victoria Street.

Housebound Customers

Information about becoming a Housebound customer

Residents and ratepayers who are permanently or sometimes temporarily housebound through long-term illness, disability or frailty are eligible for free home delivery service. If you are unable to make a trip to the Library and are aged between 13 and 103 this could be for you. Please visit our Housebound webpage or call us on 801 4044 for more information.

Recommended websites

WCL's guide for mature employment seekers or jobseekers over 45

University of the Third Age (U3A)
Generally known as U3A, the University of the Third Age is a fast growing, informal learning environment for older adults. Each U3A group offers a range of small classes, discussion groups and larger meetings with visiting speakers. Classes are often held in private homes and are held in the daytime to suit retired people. Costs are kept to a minimum. This is a university in the original sense of the word, open to all with no admission requirements, no examinations and no awards.

To locate a New Zealand branch, try U3A Online
and for Wellington try U3A

Grownups (www.grownups.co.nz)
This site caters for the 50+ community. Includes everything you could possibly want/need.

NZedge (www.nzedge.com)
Home to a global community of New Zealanders, a new way of thinking about our identity, people, stories, achievements and role in the world. Travellers may enjoy NZedge with its great links for other NZ sites, and for connecting NZ expatriots to each other.

Age Concern (www.ageconcern.org.nz)
Age Concern is a non-governmental not-for-profit organisation working to promote the rights and well being of older people, koroua and kuia. Positive ageing is not about how to live longer nor how to avoid growing old. Its about celebrating older age. It provides information and services including accredited visiting, elder abuse and neglect prevention, and health promotion. There is much information on resources available for older people and ageing issues. It has links to other national and international websites.

Eldernet (www.eldernet.co.nz)
This site provides relevant and comprehensive information about services available for older people. It includes a database of resthomes, residential care and retiremment villages, home help, community groups and public hospitals.

Funding Information Service (www.wcl.govt.nz/mygateway/commfund.html)
If your community group is looking for funding use this free database to find which is the best source for your needs.

The Retirement Commission of New Zealand is largely devoted to financial issues, there is much food for thought.

Gale Health and Wellness Resource Center
Contains thousands of magazines, journals, newspapers, definitions, directories, and information on: Fitness, Medicine, Nutrition, Diseases, Prescription Drugs, Herbal remedies, and alternative or complementary treatments, and more.

SeniorNet
Gives people over the age of 55 an opportunity to learn more about the new communication and information technology. With learning centres throughout the country, there's sure to be one located conveniently for you.

Raising Grandchildren
A New Zealand site that aims to provide support to grandparents who are primary caregivers to grandchildren in difficult circumstances and to ensure fair treatment from the legal and child protection services in New Zealand, in order to stabilise and normalise the lives of the children involved.

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