America's Top Ten List of the Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2010 has just been released by the American Library Association, and yes, we have the top three plus a couple more.

A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting that a book or other material be restricted or removed because of its content or appropriateness.

So if you'd like to read the books Americans want banned, here are the top three:

1. "And Tango Makes Three" by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson - an award-winning children’s book about the true story of two male Emperor Penguins hatching and parenting a baby chick at New York’s Central Park Zoo.

2. "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie

3. "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

And further down the list we have:

8. "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

10. "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

I was in Christchurch last weekend delivering the Library content for the rescheduled On-Campus Day and Earthquake Support Sessions and thought others out there might be interested in my experience. The thing that struck me most is how removed we are from the reality of just living in Christchurch at the moment. You cannot avoid being reminded of how damaged the city is without even venturing into the CBD. We hear a lot of good news stories in the media about the progress being made (and that is positive) but has the risk, I believe, of lulling those of us not in the area into a false sense of wellbeing.

The Massey team were based at the Chateau on the Park (the west side of Hagley Park) so the roads were mostly open, but there was damage and liquefaction to be clearly seen. From talking to the students there, even in the "unaffected" areas, life is still difficult - the water is back on but the pressure is not good (and you can't drink it). Where a load of washing might have taken 40 minutes previously, it can now take much longer just to do something that simple. Many retail and food outlets are still not open and those that are, are not fully stocked. It is hard just getting around the city, things like getting the kids to school or daycare become much more difficult, without considering getting to work (if you still have work). Housing is in short supply for those that have to find somewhere else to live, (and the rent rates have skyrocketed - I was told that this is being fuelled, in part, by businesses being prepared to pay the escalated rates to get open again).

The students I met have my full admiration for their strength, courage and sense of humour (there were even some earthquake jokes!). There was strong support for setting up a “Christchurch cohort” from the students studying this semester to keep encouraging and supporting each other and Tom Music (Massey’s Christchurch based Student Liaison Advisor) is a fantastic ambassador for Massey in the Region too.

Heather Lamond
Distance Library Service

90-96% of students rate Library services and resources as good and very good, according to the University-wide 2010 Student Experience Survey. And we're taking on board the suggestions for improvements in the survey comments. Thanks for letting us know what you think.

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Okay, it's not Massey, but it's still good...

It is alarming to realise that the Millennium celebrations took place nearly ten years ago. Partying like it’s 1999 and worrying about the Y2K bug seem as if they happened only yesterday while, admittedly, also appearing as ancient as bell-bottoms and the Mull of Kintyre. Anyone old enough to be reading this will probably remember when the Millennium was a distant prospect and the year 2000 was a suitable place in which to set futuristic fantasies – that’s right, silver suits, ray guns, food pills and beam me up.

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