Summer library programme leads pack

More than 450 tamariki and families took part in the district-wide programme with youngsters earning taniwha trading cards by completing quests. Twelve of the cards were common but three were rare, sparking a frenzy of activity as participants chased the coveted purple cards.

Created by Ange Simonsen, Team Leader for Kaitāia and Kāeo libraries, with support from Te Ahu Museum Manager Whina Te Whiu, the Raumati Toa/ Summer Legends programme will feature in the Library and Information Association of New Zealand (LIANZA) magazine discussing the success of the programme and all the great mahi being done in libraries in the Far North.

Quests to earn a taniwha card included: borrowing a book; visiting Te Ahu Museum and taking part in the Museum Mystery; attending kids' programmes at the library; chatting with Kahika Moko Tepania to get a card; visiting a council isite to learn about a local area and snapping a photo of themselves; completing projects in the Creative Makerspace; filling in a reading log; drawing a taniwha; and uploading a photo with their favourite taniwha to social media.

The programme was targeted at children aged between eight and 12, but some tamariki as young as five took part, as well as a few adults who joined in.

The programme ran for two months and Te Ahu Museum reported a 168 per cent increase in numbers during that period. South Taranaki libraries are currently adapting Raumati Toa to fit with their district and aim to run their own version during the winter.

Go to fndc.govt.nz to read the full story.