Stretch your imagination at libraries

As we wrap up a busy two weeks of Matariki celebrations which included puppet shows, lantern making, story times, kapa haka and kai, we are gearing up to leap into July school holiday activities. Starting things off off, this Monday at 11am we are excited to present Jerome Kavanagh who brings to life the ancient art of Taonga Puoro, for what will be a wonderful performance at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po. This will be a great family event to kick off the holidays.

Of course, it wouldn’t be the July school holidays without a reading programme. We run two reading programmes for tamariki each year, in winter and in summer. This year our winter reading programme has had a makeover. Research shows that fun, curiosity and play improve learning and, while some of us could not be happier on a cold winter’s day than with a pile of books, we want to recognise and encourage the diversity of learning styles and interests our tamariki have. The library is a great place to visit whether you’re a reader, a writer, a listener, a maker, an artist, a builder or a puzzle solver! So, this July, join our Winter Read Along by picking up a card from your local library, complete three literacy-based activities and receive an incentive as well as go into a prize draw. Activities can include reading books, listening to an audiobooks, board games, building, writing, creating something crafty and puzzles. Tamariki can complete multiple cards for more entries. To further support literacy skills through play, you might have noticed more puzzles popping up in our collection to borrow. Also new to our children’s collections are Vox talking books. Vox books are picture books and audiobooks in one. No need for a tablet or screen, an attached audio reader transforms an illustrated print book into a fun read- along.

For more fun these holidays, with a certain gigantic film franchise concluding recently, and the deep sense of nostalgia attached to it (say what you like about Chris Pratt, but I can’t pretend I don’t shed a wee tear hearing that epic theme song in the cinema), we couldn’t help but lean into the theme of Jurassic July these holidays. So, bring your tamariki down to the library to get creative and Cretaceous with our drop-in craft and activity sessions. No need to register, we’ll be making volcanoes, creating our own fossils, sculpting dinosaurs and making dino puppets and masks. There’s something new each weekday, and the best part is, it’s not in your lounge or at your kitchen table, and it doesn’t stop there! If your tamariki have a competitive streak or just love Lego, join us for our Mega Lego-saurus Challenges on Wednesdays from 1-4pm at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ or complete an exciting build at Shannon Library or Te Awahou Nieue Stroom any weekday during the holidays to go into a prize draw. There are some great Lego prizes to be won. We can’t wait to see what their imaginations create.!

Now that it’s back open, the Youth Space will also be abuzz these school holidays with a Midwinter Beach party, Block Master Lego Challenges, the ever-popular Beats and Basketball, Skate Competition, Manga Madness and even a Copycat Cookoff. Do not forget the highlight of the week The Amazing Race: The Jurassic Version. Our youth team Jared and Natalie have something special in mind for this. Guaranteed prizes and food galore!