Warning: this post is intended to be read by parents and other adults. Kids read on at your peril!
Kia ora koutou! We are so excited to let you know that next week, from the 7th of June, some of our popular children’s programmes are returning to our libraries! It’s been some time since we have been able to run these events in a consistent way for you all, so we thought we’d lay out the current schedule for you below. We can’t wait to see you there!
With COVID -19 still in the community, please remember that all of these days and times are subject to staff availability, and we may need to change them from time to time. The library’s event calendar will always have the right days and times!
We’re so excited to be welcoming back our Storytimes and other events for tamariki and their whānau!
What’s on and where?
Here is the current programmes schedule for Wellington City Libraries. We’ll be adding to this over the coming weeks, so keep checking back or subscribe to our eNewsletter for the most up-to-date info:
Arapaki (Manners St) Library
- Preschool Storytime — Every Thursday, 10.30 – 11.00am
Cummings Park Library
Baby Rock and Rhyme — Every Tuesday, 10.30 – 11.00am- Code Club Level 1 — Every Thursday during term-time, 3.30 – 4.30pm. Registrations required.
He Matapihi (Molesworth St) Library
- Code Club Level 1 — Every Wednesday during term-time, 3.45 – 4.45pm. Registrations required.
- Preschool Storytime — Every Monday, 10.30 – 11.00am
Johnsonville Library
Baby Rock and Rhyme — Every Wednesday, 10.30 – 11.o0am- Board Games — Every Monday, 3.00 – 5.00pm
- Code Club Level 1 — Every Thursday during term-time, 3.30 – 4.30pm. Registrations required.
- Code Club Level 2 — Every Monday during term-time, 3.30 – 4.30pm. Registrations required.
- Dungeons and Dragons — days and times vary depending on Dungeon Master availability; please register your interest with staff
Kōhunga Kōrero — Every Friday, 10.30 – 11.00am- Let’s Go LEGO™ — Every Friday, 3.30 – 4.30pm
- Preschool Storytime — Every Tuesday, 10.30 – 11.00am
- Sit ‘n’ Knit — Every second Sunday, 2.00 – 4.00pm (next date is 12 June). Registrations required.
- Tech Time — Every Saturday, 2.00 – 3.00pm
- Tinker Time — Every Thursday, 10.30 – 11.00am
Youth Night — First Saturday of the month, 5.00 – 8.00pm (teens only!)
Karori Library
- Baby Rock and Rhyme — Every Thursday and Friday, 10.30 – 11.00am
- Code Club Level 1 — Every Tuesday during term-time, 3.30 – 4.30pm. Registrations are required.
- Dungeons and Dragons — days and times vary depending on Dungeon Master availability; please register your interest with staff
Kōhunga Kōrero — Second Tuesday of the month, 10.30 – 11.00am- Preschool Storytime — Every Tuesday, 10.30 – 11.00am
Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library
- Baby Rock and Rhyme — Every Tuesday, 10.30 – 11.00am
- Code Club Level 1 — Every Saturday during term-time, 2.00 – 3.00pm. Registrations required, starting in Term 3.
- Dungeons and Dragons — Days and times vary depending on Dungeon Master availability. Please register your interest with staff
- Preschool Storytime — Every Monday, 10.30 – 11.00am
Miramar Library
- Baby Rock and Rhyme — Every Tuesday, 10.15 – 10.45am
- Preschool Storytime — Every Thursday, 10.30 – 11.00am
Newtown Library
- Baby Rock and Rhyme (new!) — Every Tuesday, 10.30 – 11.00am
- Code Club Level 1 — Every Monday during term-time, 3.45 – 4.45pm. Registrations required.
- Preschool Storytime — Every Wednesday, 10.30 – 11.00am
Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie) Library
- Baby Rock and Rhyme — Every Friday, 10.15 – 10.45am
- Preschool Storytime — Every Monday and Wednesday, 10.30 – 11.00am
Te Awe (Brandon St) Library
Baby Rock and Rhyme — Mondays 2.00 – 2.30pm and Thursdays 10.30 – 11.00am- LEGO™ Time — Every Saturday, 2.00 – 3.00pm
- Preschool Storytime — Every Wednesday, 2.00 – 2.30pm
Wadestown Library
- Kids’ Book Club — Last Tuesday of the month, 3.30 – 4.30pm
- Preschool Storytime — Every Friday, 10.30 – 11.00am
Frequently-Asked Questions
Do I need to wear a mask while attending an event at the library?
Yes — if you are over 12 years of age, you must wear a mask while visiting one of our libraries, including while you are attending a library event. Our staff will also remain masked. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 FAQs page.
Why haven’t you restarted every programme you used to run pre-COVID?
We do aim to bring our wonderful programmes back across the whole library network, but we’ve chosen to restart at our larger branches first so that we can take the opportunity to give newer staff some valuable experience working with their colleagues before they take that knowledge back to their home library to share with their community. Keep an eye on our event calendar and social media platforms to keep up to date with programmes resuming at our other locations.
I feel uncomfortable visiting if I know there is going to be a large group of people there. What are you doing to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19?
At all times we are adhering to New Zealand Government guidelines for the running of events in public venues. We will be continuing, as far as possible, to encourage physical distancing between groups of attendees; we will continue to require the use of facemasks for those visiting our libraries; and we will be carefully cleaning spaces and equipment used for our public programmes between sessions. You can help too, by ensuring that you stay at home if you or your child are feeling unwell or have recently been in contact with a COVID-positive person. If we all work together, we can continue to keep our community safe!
I still don’t think I will come to storytime in person just yet. Is there some way our whānau can still participate in library activities without physically coming to a library?
You’re in luck! On our YouTube channel, thanks to the generosity of New Zealand publishers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, you can find playlists of special storytimes and Baby Rock and Rhyme sessions to keep your whānau entertained without needing to come to the library. Also, the Johnsonville Library Facebook page is a great place to find videos for sensory activities, and musical and crafty sessions to keep your little ones engaged.
I would like some more information about a programme at my local library. Who should I ask?
You can always get directly in touch with your local library by giving them a call or by emailing us. Alternatively, you are welcome to get in touch with the Children’s and Youth Services Coordinator directly with your queries.
