Meet new librarian now in Horowhenua
If you visit any of our libraries this month you will hear the dulcet Scottish tones of our new Community Engagement Librarian, Pam Coleman.
Pam is from Glasgow, Scotland and has lived in New Zealand for 10 years now. She has a background in education and has worked in libraries for the last five years.
Pam will be part of the team responsible for developing and supporting activities in all of our libraries in Horowhenua. Here's an introduction from Pam.
“I have always loved the library. I am from a big, bustling city, Glasgow, on the other side of the world. As a child I would read amazing stories which opened up a whole new world to me. It made me adventurous and keen to explore. Now I am living in this beautiful new country New Zealand, with new wonders, language and taonga to explore.
As a teacher I quickly realised how important it is for families to share in a love of reading and visiting libraries together.
As well as teaching my class of 8 year olds, I looked after the school library and opened it up to families in the Porirua Community, making sure we had plenty of books, not only written in Ma¯ ori and English, but books from Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands for everyone to enjoy.
I most enjoy being out and about in the community and down in the library helping people with computer issues or talking about what to read next.
It's really important to me to encourage and support people of all ages to learn new skills and discover more about the world around them.
Lifelong learning can be learning to draw, use a computer or even learning to sing. You can find books and people to help you in the library. Singing in the book aisles is optional!
I love to read — fantasy adventure, scifi, zombie horror and graphic novels, but you'll equally find me reading classic literature or children's fiction.
I have really enjoyed discovering New Zealand fiction these past years too.”
Pam will be based in Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , Shannon or Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom. Say hello or share your top 10 favourite reads on our Facebook page.