28,829 children, 26,402 books, 38,418 adventures, 166 public libraries And the final figures are still trickling in as many programmes host their closing functions. This summer, children across Aotearoa took part in holiday programmes at their local libraries.  Public Libraries of New Zealand (PLNZ) supported the programmes with a dedicated webpage, tracking progress and participation by children throughout the period. We received lots of photos of kids enjoying library-based activiti...

Adventure awaits… at your local library and it's a truck-load of fun! How, you ask? Sign me up! Kids who exercise their brains are smart kids. With carefully crafted and well-planned literacy programmes, public libraries are an excellent place to keep those imaginations whirring.  Holiday programmes vary from region to region, but the aim is the same - keep children engaged throughout the summer, in an informal, fun-filled way. This may be focussed on the pleasure of reading, o...

The Helen Zwartz Scholarship provides funding to enable a librarian or staff member working in a public library serving one of New Zealand’s smaller communities, to undertake an internship at the National Library of New Zealand. The internship gives the recipient of the Helen Zwartz Scholarship the opportunity to experience working at the National Library and receive mentoring from National Library staff. Applicants must be a staff member working in a New Zealand public library serving one...

It was announced in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, that LIANZA and Te Rōpū Whakahau have won the bid to host the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Auckland July 28 - August 5, 2020. The world knows New Zealand as home to the All Blacks, The Lord of the Rings, and Lorde – now our global colleagues have the chance to experience our open, trusted and united library communities. Our bicultural partnership approach and commitment to indigenous knowledge will take centre-stage as ...

A new organisation to promote digital inclusion was announced today. The Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa (DIAA) aims to help expand digital inclusion initiatives throughout New Zealand, so that everyone has a chance to participate in the digital world.  “Our goal is to help reduce the barriers that prevent people from participating in their communities using digital technologies,” says DIAA establishment Chair of the Alliance, Laurence Zwimpfer.  “This includes p...

20/20 Trust today welcomed the government’s announcement of a new fund to promote digital skills in homes. “We look forward to working with the government in delivering digital inclusion programmes” said Laurence Millar of 20/20 Trust. “There are still 100,000 school-aged children without internet access at home, and they continue to be a priority group for investment. Their exclusion drives a wedge into New Zealand society, affecting education, employability and social ...

The Waimate District Library will no longer impose fines for children’s and young adult books being returned after their due date.  It is the ethos of the library to encourage people, especially young people, to use the library and imposing fines goes against the grain of this ethos.  Mayor Craig Rowley says exposing children from an early age to a world rich in words helps them become competent readers and writers, giving them an advantage in school and life.  “We ...

Beyond the Page, a literary festival for tamariki and their whānau in the winter school holidays, is back bigger than ever, with events expanding to 25 libraries across the Wellington region in 2018. Libraries will take tamariki on a journey through different aspects of storytelling, creating experiences for them to immerse themselves in and express their creativity. The aim is to enhance experiences for tamariki and their whanau, across the wider Wellington regiont, by offering them the t...

Puke Ariki in New Plymouth, presents its very first, and very exciting, library festival, AdLib.

Did you know many public libraries offer a winter reading challenge for children? It's a great way to brighten cold, dreary days and keep the family reading over the school holidays. ECREAD’N Winter Warmers is one such programme which runs for six weeks June 25 to August 3. This year's theme. Climb into Reading - Piki ki te Pānui! offers a range of activities that engages kids' imaginations; writing reviews, drawing pictures, designing covers of the books they&rsq...