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Older Adults Ngā Kaumātua

bookclubgroupHastings District Libraries offers a range of services for our Ngā Kaumātua, our Older Adults  in the community. Expand the headings below to see what our libraries can offer you.

 

As well as the general adult collections of fiction, non-fiction, best sellers, magazines, DVDs and CDs (CDs are in Hastings only), we have some special collections that may be helpful for older library users or those with visual impairment.  

Large Print

Even though the print is slightly larger (14-18 pt) to accommodate people who have difficulty reading ordinary print, many of our large print books are the same size to hold as regular books (10–12 pt). Browse in your favourite interests such as general fiction, romance, westerns, mystery and non-fiction titles.

Remember that you can also download free books on your digital device. Check out the eLibrary page for more details, or ask one of your librarians for advice. With eBooks it’s easy to change the size of the print, change contrast to a sepia or black background, or use different fonts which may be easier for you to read, such as the dyslexia font. eBooks return automatically, so you never get fined!

Audiobooks on CD

Slip CDs into your player and listen to a book either at home or on your car stereo. We have a wide range of mysteries, romance and popular fiction on CD as well as some non-fiction titles – and they’re all free to borrow for 2 weeks.

Playaways

Playaway audio player books can hang round your neck on their lanyard, or go in your pocket - leaving you free to cook, garden, walk, DIY or feed a baby while listening. You will need to provide earphones and one AAA battery to run the Playaway (approx. 20-30 hours per battery). They are pre-loaded with one book - up to 80 hours of listening time - and some models allow you to speed up or slow down the reader’s voice.

Click here to see some of the new books and audiovisual resources we have in the Adult Area.

We want you to be able to access all parts of your library with ease, so there are some things that may help you get the most out of your visit.

Our friendly librarians are ready to help across all three libraries - from placing holds to phoning taxis we are here for you.

All three Hastings District libraries also offer:

  • Book shopping trolleys
  • Plenty of seating
  • Wide aisles
  • Wheelchair friendly toilets
  • Mobility Sticker parking spaces
  • Lift Access (Hastings only)

Liaison

We can work with an organisation delivering support services to you - to see if they can broaden the range of services offered to include the library - e.g.: organising a book club with you and others; or bringing our Books at Home service to your retirement village. Email us at libraries@hdc.govt.nz if you have any queries about what services we may be able to help you with.

Our Books at Home service provides library material on a regular basis for people of all ages who are unable to come to the library. You may have ill health, a disability, or be recovering temporarily from an accident. You could be caring for someone at home, and unable to get to the library – there are many reasons to use our Books at Home service.

Books at Home is available free of charge to residents of Hastings District, dependent on location and availability of a volunteer courier or family member.

To be eligible for the service, you must:

  • Be home-bound in some way or
  • No longer drive a vehicle
  • A temporarily housebound status may be available if you are recovering from an illness or accident

So if you are home-bound or no longer have a drivers license (or are thinking about making that change) give us a call and we can talk about how Books at Home could work to keep you supplied with reading and information.

When you enroll, you will be interviewed in your own home to find out your reading tastes and how often deliveries will be made.  We will join you up if you are not already a library member.

Contact Hastings District Libraries on +64 06 871 5000, or send an email to libraries@hdc.govt.nz for more information. 

There are a number of community services providing digital skills learning or assistance with digital devices such as smartphones, tablets or laptops.  

Cuppa Tech

Needing some basic device advice?

Emails; apps; online banking & shopping; keeping safe from scams; social media; photos; even downloading library books. 

We've got drop in sessions happening at 2 of our libraries, Hastings and Flaxmere, so you can drop in with your device and your tech questions:

Drop in to:

  • Flaxmere Library - Every 2nd Thursday of the month 10am – 12pm
  • Hastings War Memorial Library - On the Last Thursday of each month 10am – 12pm

We'll see you there, for a cuppa and some digitally focused conversation.

SeniorNet Hawkes Bay

A community based training network that supports and motivates people aged 50+ to enjoy and use technology in their everyday lives.  This includes free drop in help sessions, workshops, 1-1 support and tutoring, presentation sessions, and interest groups (such as iPad group, Android group, Genealogy group.) 

$20 pa membership plus minimal session charge on the day (approx. $3).

Contact 8772157 (answer phone, but answered promptly)
Various locations - based at Mary Doyle Complex, 3 Karanema Drive, Havelock North 

SeniorNet Hawkes Bay

Digital Seniors

Coordinated through Positive Aging Hawkes Bay, Digital Seniors sessions are each Tuesday, with a cost of $5 per session

Mornings - A computer literacy programme for seniors, this is a six week course of volunteer tutored 2 hour sessions.  Groups are limited to 5 people per session and participants are encouraged to bring their own devices. Course topics include email, Word documents, attachments, Skype and other content tailored to each group.

Afternoons - In the afternoons each Tuesday we have a Drop-in Internet cafe/hub where seniors can get technical assistance and support with their digital devices -  iPads, tablets, laptops etc.

Contact 8707025 (Heretaunga Seniors)
1120 Willowpark Road, Mayfair, Hastings

Digital Seniors - Positive Aging Hawkes Bay

EIT

FREE Community Computing Courses  
Start at any time during the year            

Suitable for people who cannot yet turn on a computer, or who can, but are not yet able to send an email or open a document.  You can learn basic keyboarding and mouse skills, basic Microsoft letter formatting and spreadsheet skills. 

FREE National Certificate in Computing Level 2
Start in February, May, July and October

Suitable for people with basic computer literacy.  No formal academic qualifications are required.
You will learn foundation computing skills such as Computer Hard/software, Google Docs, Google Slides, Internet, Social Media, Paint, Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, Powerpoint.

Contact 0800 22 55 348
501 Gloucester Street, Taradale

EIT Computer courses

U3A Havelock North

Provides sessions covering Windows PC information ONLY.  Lectures on topics requested by members (such as what to look for when buying a computer; organising links & passwords, scams) with demonstrations on a big screen and lots of question/answer time. 

Meets 4th Mondays from 2 – 3 or 4 pm.
$10 to join U3A plus $10 per year to attend computer lectures at the hall.

Contact Tony Briggs 876 9818  or tonybr@bnet.net.nz
Havelock North Bridge Club, Guthrie Park

Napier and Taradale Libraries

FREE Community-based Stepping Up programme

Builds your digital skills and knowledge in small easy steps, in subjects that interest you for your life or work.  Each self-paced module takes two hours, in a relaxed and sociable space, with a library tutor there to help. Choose from 38 modules such as Digital Banking, Ancestry, JUMP, Photo Books, Smartphones, eReaders.

Napier Library 834 4180
1 Tennyson Street, Napier

Taradale Library 845 9005
24 White Street, Taradale

Stepping Up Programmes at Napier Libraries

 

Hastings

Monday 10.00am - 5.30pm
Tuesday 9.00am - 7.00pm
Wednesday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Thursday 9.00am - 7.00pm
Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm
Sunday 1.00pm - 4.00pm

Havelock North

Monday 10.00am - 5.30pm
Tuesday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Wednesday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Thursday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm
Sunday 10.00am - 1.00pm

Flaxmere

Monday 10.00am - 5.30pm
Tuesday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Wednesday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Thursday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm
Sunday CLOSED

Hastings District Council - Copyright © 2024 Hastings District Council

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While every endeavour has been taken by the Hastings District Council to ensure that the information on this website is accurate and up to date, Hastings District Council shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of information on this website. Information contained has been assembled in good faith. Some of the information available in this site is from the New Zealand Public domain and supplied by relevant government agencies. Hastings District Council cannot accept any liability for its accuracy or content. Portions of the information and material on this site, including data, pages, documents, online graphics and images are protected by copyright, unless specifically notified to the contrary. Externally sourced information or material is copyright to the respective provider.

© Hastings District Council - https://www.hastingslibraries.co.nz/ / +64 6 871 5000 / libraries@hdc.govt.nz