To celebrate Eid, the joyous festival that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, two items from the Eastern Manuscripts collection are being showcased in the Real Gold case. You can view these at Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection reading room Level 2 of the Central City Library.

In this podcast, Sue Berman talks with Dr Natasha Barrett - Senior Curator Archives and Manuscripts about the selection she has made in celebration of Eid.

The Qu’ran (Koran) and work of poetry on display are both from the 1830s and reflect the high level of penmanship and illumination associated with these types of religious and secular manuscripts.

Both manuscripts were collected by bibliophile Henry Shaw (1850-1928) whose interests included items displaying fine calligraphy and illustration. Shaw’s collection contains some of the library’s oldest Middle Eastern and Islamic manuscripts.

Read more at our Heritage et AL http://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2019/06/eid-mubarak-blessed-eid.html

EASTMS S294, Qu’rān. c.1830, Arabic in naskh (or naskhi) script.

https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/manuscripts/id/11793/rec/1

EASTMS S297, Jāmi, Mawlavī. Yūsuf va Zulaykhā, 1830, Persian in nasta'liq script.

https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/manuscripts/id/11181/rec/1

Photograph reference: EASTMS S294 - illustrated pages from the Qu’rān. c.1830.

Raymon Naisbitt graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Minors in History and International Studies. He served on the Board of Directors for the Utah Genealogical Association, and as a commissioner for the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen), accredited in England. Raymon has worked as a consultant, instructor, trainer and manager at the Family History Library and currently manages the Professional Services team.

He speaks here with genealogist Jan Gow QSM FSG.

Sue Berman talks with Andrew Henry about the 18th century publication popularly known as Picart's Ceremonies.

Picart’s Ceremonies is a beautifully illustrated seven volume work with over 260 plates of engravings by Bernard Picart who was one of the most famous engravers and book-illustrators of the time. Much of the text that accompanies these images was written by Jean Frederic Bernard, a successful book publisher, although his name never appeared on any of the editions.

What made this such a revolutionary work was that Bernard & Picart try to present as positive a version of other beliefs to their European readers who were largely Christians. To achieve this, they focus on ritual rather than discussions of doctrine. The illustrations depict events familiar to all humanity, rituals for births, deaths, marriages and processions.

The ceremonies and religious customs... was initially written in French and published in Amsterdam by Jean Frederic Bernard between 1723 and 1737. Dutch (1726-1738), English (1733-1739), and German (1746) editions followed.

The Auckland Libraries' copies were donated by Henry Shaw and Norman Spencer. You can view the English edition at Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection reading room Level 2 of the Central City Library.

Read more at our Heritage et AL blog http://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2016/07/bernard-picarts-ceremonies-book-that.html

Catalogue Record: https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1963838

The ceremonies and religious customs of the various nations of the known world: together with historical annotations, and several curious discourses are equally instructive and entertaining .Written originally in French, and illustrated with a large Number of folio copper plates, all beautifully designed by Mr. Bernard Picart, And curiously Engraved by most of the best hands in Europe. Faithfully translated into English, by a gentleman, some time since of St. John's College in Oxford. Printed by William Jackson, for Claude du Bosc, Engraver at the Golden Head in Charles-Street, Covent Garden| MDCCXXXIII. [1733]

Mark from Research Central speaks with Special Collections library assistant Harriet Rogers about research resources available at Tamaki Pataka Korero for those wanting to delve further into the subject of dressing up and the history of fancy dress in New Zealand.

In particular Harriet discusses the collection of photographer Herman Schmidt whose extensive collection was rescued by former librarian Patricia French upon the demolition of Schmidt's Shortland Street studios.

You can read more about this collection on the Auckland Libraries website here: http://bit.ly/2Hefv49

This introduction precedes Marguerite Hill's talk "Playing Dress Up..."

Image: Miss Laking 1911, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 31-68724

Recorded on Thursday 18 April 2019

Revisit our our fancy dress history as we celebrate NZFW 2019!

Marguerite Hill, heritage researcher with Auckland Council, takes us on a journey of fancy; a history of fancy dress in New Zealand. Her talk is illustrated with examples found in New Zealand museum and library collections.

This talk is also available on Auckland Libraries' YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/2XlgHMc

The talk begins with examples of aristocratic dress including both royalty and high class New York society - look out for an electric light dress!

Hill then shifts her focus to the New Zealand ball scene including an guide for "What to wear at fancy balls" (1887)This is available in digital form through the Internet Archive.

Both formal and informal occasions for donning fancy dress are explored. An Onehunga Congregational Church camp photograph and a Lacrosse team, both from the early 19th century, illustrate popular dress up choices, some revealing trends and tastes of the time, such as black-face, and other more timeless characters such as pirates and clowns.

The combination of costume and consumer advertising is explored through the "poster ball" and also in an impressive example of a dress overprinted with newspaper for a Canterbury Cricket Association fundraiser(pictured).

Finally Hill looks at the phenomenon of cosplay, a term derived from the words costume play, where costumes are modeled on characters from popular culture. She uses the example of "Flat Man" a home-grown superhero who appeared in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakes and asks whether he might fit this definition.

Ultimately the talk concludes that the essential motivation for dressing up hasn't changed, although the means available to people and social fashions have of course moved along.

Recorded at the Auckland Central Library on Wednesday 10 April 2019

Main image: Dress worn by Miss Banks who won first prize in the Human Poster Competition at the Canterbury Cricket Association Floral Fete, 19 December 1908. Red satin overprinted with Canterbury Times newspaper of 16 December 1908, the intended date for the fete. (Canterbury Museum)

Images referred to in this talk are taken from a number of both New Zealand and international collections. Links to these can be found below:

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at the Bal Costumé of 12 May 1842 (Royal Collection Trust) : http://bit.ly/2Jz2qUQ

Fancy dress ensemble, “Electric Light,” worn by Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt at the 1883 Vanderbilt Ball, (Museum of the City of New York) : http://bit.ly/2Jk9tkS

Fancy dress ball at the Choral Hall. The Auckland Graphic, c1860 (Alexander Turnbull): http://bit.ly/2Jfoswz

Lord Nelson fancy dress costume, WW1

Auckland Queen Carnival Children's Floral Fete (Auckland War Memorial Museum): http://bit.ly/2JftNUr

Onehunga Congregational Church camp (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 743-9333): https://bit.ly/3fwGxDb

Elizabethan style fancy dress (Canterbury Museum): http://bit.ly/2VfuxdT

CFCA float, Timaru Centenary Parade (South Canterbury Museum): http://bit.ly/2JfOekd

Miss Laking 1911 (ALHC 31-68724): https://bit.ly/2YO1xPP

Young lady advertising Aulsebrook's products (AT): http://bit.ly/2VTWmwN

Representatives at poster ball, Woodville ; Papers Past: http://bit.ly/2HhDka8

Fancy dress, Mangere East(?) ca 1930 ; ALHC Footprints 01114 : https://bit.ly/2yCKHc6

Fancy dress football, Waiuku, 1895 ; ALHC Footprints 04600: https://bit.ly/35OCqxG

Fancy dress lacrosse match, North Shore, 6 October 1900 (ALHC AWNS-19001012-8-4): https://bit.ly/3bfi5CU

Flatman : http://bit.ly/2VDzYIM

Poets Doug Poole and Ria Masae talk with Louisa about their pride in being able to express their Pasifika identity in writing and performing poetry.

Read more on the Auckland Libraries blog:

https://aucklandlibrariesblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/books-and-beyond-stars-of-pasifika-poetry.html

Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and… beyond. Catch us on Planet FM 104.6, Sundays at 9.35pm.

This episode originally aired on Planet FM 104.6 on 3 March 2019.

Bestselling author Catherine Robertson chats with Karen about her new Gabriel's Bay novel 'What you wish for' and about what she wishes for her readers: interested and varied characters, topical themes and lots of laughs.

Read more on the Auckland Libraries blog:

https://aucklandlibrariesblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/books-and-beyond-catherine-robertson.html

Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and… beyond. Catch us on Planet FM 104.6, Sundays at 9.35pm.

This episode originally aired on Planet FM 104.6 on 10 March 2019.

Dawn McMillan talks with Louisa about how her picture book 'I need a new bum' came to be known around the world when it was read by the famous Scottish Granny in one of her YouTube videos.

Dawn’s latest book is 'There’s a tui in our teapot'.

Read more on the Auckland Libraries blog:

https://aucklandlibrariesblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/books-and-beyond-dawn-mcmillan.html

Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and… beyond. Catch us on Planet FM 104.6, Sundays at 9.35pm.

This episode originally aired on Planet FM 104.6 on 17 March 2019.

Owen Gill talks with Karen about his new book 'Turning Point Auckland: radical policy to prepare Auckland for 2 million people', a change agenda for Auckland in its three roles: productive city, city of the Pacific, and city enjoyed by its population.

Owen is a public policy advocate with experience in urban services and regulation.

Read more on the Auckland Libraries blog: https://aucklandlibrariesblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/books-and-beyond-owen-gill.html

Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and… beyond. Catch us on Planet FM 104.6, Sundays at 9.35pm.

This episode originally aired on Planet FM 104.6 on 24 March 2019.

Jan Gow talks about how submitting a DNA test can greatly enhance your genealogical journey; but, she warns, be ready for a few twists and turns!

To find out more about LivingDNA visit their website; you will find information about testing and interpreting results under the Support tab on the front page: livingdna.com

Recorded at the Auckland Central Library on Wednesday 3 April 2019.