Parents' Services

Baby Rock & Rhyme is a new way for parents and carers to interact with their babies through rhymes, finger-plays and stories delivered by experienced presenters. It's a great opportunity to have fun, socialise and spend quality 'one-on-one' time with your tot.

These free, weekly interactive sessions will be available at the following branches*:

• Karori: Mondays at 9.45
• Island Bay: Wednesdays at 9.30
• Central: Wednesdays at 9.30
• Johnsonville: Thursdays at 9.30
• Kilbirnie: Fridays at 10.15

*Sessions during term time only, except for the Central Library

Now you can keep rocking and rhyming at home with your tot! Wellington City Libraries has produced a CD of 33 traditional songs, nursery rhymes and waiata that will appeal to all tamariki under five.

The CD encourages parents to continue modelling early literacy skills by interacting with their children in a fun way. Baby Rock & Rhyme will be on sale very soon at all library branches for only $15 per CD! For more information please call Kini Piper on 801-3737.

Books to Babies

Books to Babies is a gift pack from Wellington City Libraries given to all babies in the Wellington region.

This pack is delivered by nurses from Plunket, Ngā Tapuhi Whakawhānau, or Te Ngāwari Hauora when visiting all six weeks old babies in their home

• a library registration form
• information about Wellington City Libraries' collections and services
• booklists about parenting and appropriate books to read with your new baby
• tips on how to read with your baby and the value of reading to your baby
• PLUS a coloured board book for your baby

It's never too soon to begin reading stories and sharing rhymes and songs with your new baby

Reading to your new baby:

• develops a love of books
• creates life-long readers
• is a happy experience for both of you
• helps your baby learn as children learn faster in the first five years of their life than they ever will again

Share a book with your new baby and have fun together!

BookBusters is a free, non-competitive and fun reading club for 7 and 8 year olds of all reading abilities. Children are introduced to the joys of reading at their own pace and encouraged to explore the extensive children's collection to be found in Wellington City Libraries.

Joining

Children can enrol at one of the 5 BookBusters libraries,

• Ruth Gotlieb Library in Kilbirnie
• Cummings Park Library in Ngaio
• Mervyn Kemp Library in Tawa
• Central Library (in the Children's Area)
• Johnsonville Library

Children will need to...

• show their Wellington City Libraries card
• have their Parent's/Carer's permission
• children can join when they're 7 or 8, or when they turn 7, you can sign them up and they can become a BookBuster

How does it work?

• Children attend regular monthly meetings at their chosen BookBusters library and are greeted by chief BookBusters, their very own personal librarian!
• The meetings are a lively mixture of fun and activities, as well as sharing favourite reads, storytelling, making booklists and the opportunity to explore the children's collections.
• Regular newsletters and our online Bookbusters page will keep you informed
• The children are encouraged to read at their own pace with 'no racing to read' - chief BookBusters encourage the children to explore new and adventurous reading material and give lots of praise
• This programme is not incentive based. However, the children are awarded with certificates after attending 6 meetings and then again after 12 meeting. Spot prizes and lucky dips also add to the fun during the year

For more information please contact your nearest BookBusters library:

Kilbirnie, Ruth Gotlieb Library ph: 387 1480
Tawa, Mervyn Kemp Library ph: 232 1690
Central Library, Children's area ph: 801 4045
Ngaio, Cummings Park Library ph: 4792344
Johnsonville Library ph: 4776151

Click to find out more details about when BookBusters meet

Pre-School Storytimes

What are Pre-School Storytimes?

• Pre-school storytimes are interactive sessions with stories, songs and rhymes
• They are fun and free
• Are at all Wellington City Libraries
• Are for children, parents and carers to share

Recommended for children aged 2 - 4, but younger children are always welcome

Where & When?