The day has finally come! Five of our libraries (Johnsonville, Cummings Park (Ngaio), Karori, Newtown, and Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie)) are back open to the public, with two more (Arapaki Manners and Wadestown) opening on Monday. Check here for all the details! Although we’re back, things might look a little bit different. Here’s what you can expect to see when you visit one of our libraries during Level 2:
- A security guard or librarian checking people off as they enter. Because we have to be careful about how many people can be in the library at once, we have to tick you off and take your details as you come in. Sometimes this will mean you’ll need to wait a little while to get in — don’t worry, everything we’re doing is to try to keep you and your family safe.
- People keeping far apart. When you’re in the library, you’ll see people trying to keep 2m apart as they make their way through the building picking up books. Please remember to keep inside your bubble at all times, and be patient if you need to wait for someone to leave a shelf before you can leap in and grab the book you want!
- Lots of hand sanitiser! We’re providing a whole bunch of hand sanitiser so everyone can keep clean and safe. Remember, washing your hands often is the best way to kill germs, so make sure you remember to sanitise your hands after touching your face, and before you enter or leave the library.
- No comfy chairs to sit and read in. We want you to keep your visit as short as possible — pop in, grab your books, and head back home so the next person can enter the library. We know it’s very tempting to find somewhere cosy at the library to curl up and read a book, but to help keep everyone safe and happy, please save the reading for when you get home.
- No storytimes or other library activities. During Level 2 of the lockdown, we won’t be able to run any of our regular programmes and activities, like Preschool Storytime, Baby Rock and Rhyme, Let’s Go LEGO, Code Club, or CRAFTerschool in person at the library. We’re still running a bunch of these activities online, so be sure to check out our Facebook page and Family Lockdown Challenge blog posts to join in!
- No big family groups visiting together. Generally, we want to keep groups of people entering the library as small as possible. If you can, look at the library catalogue online, decide what you want, reserve it if you’d like, and send one person from your bubble to the library to collect it. That might not always be possible, which is fine, but just remember to stick inside your bubble if you are visiting the library in a group.
Our librarians are very excited to see you back again — here’s a photo of the staff at Johnsonville Library at Waitohi giving you a wave and a smile! Make sure to give the librarians a big smile and wave back when you see them as well — it will make them very happy!
Come and visit us! We’re happy to be back online.
Guts, Raina Telgemeier
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This book is the third book in the Raina series. This book is in a graphic novel format, which I really really love.
Raina is in fourth grade (year 5). The stomach flu (crypto) is going around. Raina catches it. Raina hates to vomit. But, a lot of things make her vomit. To make it worse, there is a mean girl who seems to hate Raina’s guts. How will Raina cope?
I recommend this book for ages 8+. I rate this book 5 stars.
5 stars
Reviewed by Hannah from Cummings Park and , 9 years old
Ivy + Bean and the ghost that had to go, written by Annie Barrows ; illustrated by Sophie Blackall
There is a ghost at Emerson school. Will Ivy and Bean have fun getting the ghost out of the bathroom? Of course they will have fun getting the ghost out of the bathroom at Emerson school! This book is really really good for 6 years old to 8 years old. I have read the first Ivy and Bean book. The Ivy and Bean books are really really good. The next Ivy and Bean book is called Ivy and Bean break the fossil record. In every Ivy and Bean there is a sneak preview of the next Ivy and Bean book. I rate the Ivy and Bean books ten out of ten. I really really love the Ivy and Bean books. I have only read the first and second Ivy and Bean book.
5 stars
Reviewed by Alice from Cummings Park and , 6 years old
Unbored : the essential field guide to serious fun, Joshua Glenn & Elizabeth Foy Larsen ; design by Tony Leone ; illustrations by Mister Reusch & Heather Kasunick ; chapter lettering by Chris Piascik
This book is amazing! It has a range of fun activities for everyone. There are activities that you can do outside as well as inside. My favourite activity inside is the recipes that kids can make by themselves.
This book is good for people 6 plus.
5 stars
Reviewed by Hannah from Cummings Park and , 9 years old
Dear zoo, Rod Campbell
This book is called Dear zoo. It is a very nice book. Especially if you don’t know what pet to get. You should get a puppy . My favourite pets are puppies and monkeys. Both of these animals are in the book. I really really, really love this book! This book is really good for 2 years old to 6 years old. 🐶🐵
5 stars
Reviewed by Alice from Cummings Park and , 6 years old
Pick Your Poison, Lauren Child
This book is about Ruby Redfort, a code breaker for the spy agency, Spectrum. With the help of her butler/spy handler Hitch; she solves mysteries. Ruby comes face to face with villains. This book is thrilling and there’s lots of plot twists. This book is by Lauren Child who wrote Charlie and Lola, but the Ruby Redfort series is very different.
This book is good for ages 8 and half and older.
5 stars
Reviewed by Hannah from Cummings Park and , 9 years old
Ivy + Bean, written by Annie Barrows ; illustrated by Sophie Blackall
The first book of Ivy and Bean series has no subtitle. The Ivy and Bean books are good for six years old to eight years old. They never want to be friends. But then something happens. I really really want to get all the other books in the series, there are 11 books. There are really really good pictures in the book. 😁
5 stars
Reviewed by Alice from Cummings Park and , 6 years old
My happy life, written by Rose Lagercrantz ; illustrated by Eva Eriksson ; [translated by Julia Marshall]
This book is called my happy life. The main character is Dani . Her best friend is Ella. Everything is really good, but then something happens that changes it all. This book is good for 4 years old to 6 years old.I really really love this book because I have read it about 10 times.😫
5 stars
Reviewed by Alice from Cummings Park and , 6 years old
Spot says goodnight, Eric Hill
Spot says good night to all his friends.It is a lift the book. I really really really like this book.It is really really really good for 2 years old to 6 years old kids.There are other spot books . I think I have all the spot books.
5 stars
Reviewed by Alice from Cummings Park and , 6 years old
Alice-Miranda in China, Jacqueline Harvey
This book was amazing. Alice-Miranda is a character to be loved. It’s set in China. Alice-Miranda’s school is going on a student exchange. This book takes many twists and turns and there will be a plot-twist when you least expect it.
I recommend this book for ages 8 and up. You can also learn a little bit of Mandarin along the way! It’s a bit of a longer book but don’t worry, it’s really interesting!
5 stars
Reviewed by Hannah from Cummings Park and , 9 years old