events & activities

Green Storytime at Karori Library

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Help the library celebrate around Earth Day by coming along to this special storytime all about the environment – and how we fit in it!

Come along for magical eco-stories including The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and many beautiful new tales of sustainability and our relationship with nature.

We’ll also be making incredible zines about the environment!

Time: Saturday 27th April from 11am to 12pm

Place: Karori Library Children’s area

No registration required!

Here are some of our favourite books about the environment for you to check out!

Here we are : notes for living on planet Earth / Jeffers, Oliver
Well, hello.And welcome to this Planet.We call it Earth. Our world can be a bewildering place, especially if you’ve only just got here. Your head will be filled with questions, so let’s explore what makes our planet and how we live on it. From land and sky, to people and time, these notes can be your guide and start you on your journey. And you’ll figure lots of things out for yourself. Just remember to leave notes for everyone else… Some things about our planet are pretty complicated, but things can be simple, too: you’ve just got to be kind. (Catalogue)

If sharks disappeared / Williams, Lily
A nonfiction picture book tracing the repercussions of what would happen if sharks disappeared from our planet (Provided by publisher)

 

 

 

Where’s the elephant? / Barroux
“Where’s the elephant? Where’s the parrot? Where’s the snake?…And where are the trees? What starts as a game of jungle hide-and-seek quickly turns into something more significant in this charming, unique book by award-winning illustrator, Barroux. (Catalogue)

 

 

Think green and we hope to see you soon!

Special Seaweek Storytime at Newtown Library!

Stephen Clothier

Get those flippers on and dust off your snorkel, we’re helping you celebrate New Zealand Seaweek 2019 with a special Seaweek storytime at Newtown Library! Join us this Wednesday, the 6th of March, at 10.30am, for a shimmering submerged safari of more seaworthy stories than even the saltiest sailor could shake a stick at.

We’d love to see you there! While you’re here, why not check out all the other stuff that’s going on in Wellington for Seaweek this year?

The theme for Kaupapa Moana NZ Seaweek 2019 is Tiakina i tātou Moana — Care for our Seas.

Seaweek 2019 – Kaupapa Moana – is here!

Stephen Clothier

New Zealand Seaweek 2019 has officially begun!

This year the theme of Seaweek is Tiakina i tātou Moana — Caring for our Seas, and it runs from the 2nd to the 10th of March. We know that looking after the ocean is really important. We rely on it for food and fun (and a whole bunch of other things, too!), but sometimes the things we do can have a bad effect on the overall health of our seas. Plastic packaging is often thrown away carelessly, and ends up in the ocean, where it can be eaten by sea creatures who mistake it for food. Fertilisers that we use to grow our food on land can make it into the ocean due to runoff into streams and rivers, which feed into the sea. Fertilisers in our waterways often cause toxic algae to grow, which makes it impossible for most animals to live in the area.

Seaweek 2019 is your chance to learn about how you can help! Zoom out to the beach and see if you can help organise a local clean-up, or head along to one of the over 40 events taking place in Wellington for Seaweek this year!

Your library has a bunch of books that can help you learn about what you can do to care for our seas. Check the list below, or ask a friendly librarian to help you find the perfect read for Kaupapa Moana 2019!

Ocean / Howell, Izzi
This book helps you learn all about ocean habitats, what creatures live there, and what we can do to protect these precious parts of the planet’s ecosystem.

The sea book / Milner, Charlotte
Featuring fascinating fishy facts accompanied by bright, bold, and beautiful illustrations, this book takes you on a journey through the sea and all its zones.

Go green! / Gogerly, Liz
Learn all about ways you can reduce, reuse and recycle your way to a healthier planet — and a happier ocean!

Hero of the sea : Sir Peter Blake’s mighty ocean quests / Hill, David
Read this awesome and inspiring book about the life of Sir Peter Blake and how he contributed to safeguarding our oceans and waterways for future generations.

Under the ocean : explore & discover the seas around New Zealand / Candler, Gillian
Learn more about all of the amazing animals that live in and around the oceans of Aotearoa New Zealand, and find out what makes our little corner of the marine world so special!

Let’s Go LEGO Schedule Update

Stephen Clothier

With another new year comes another set of LEGO adventures for Wellington library-goers! We’re making some changes to the Let’s Go LEGO schedule this year, so check the days and times below to see when it’s on at your local library!

Khandallah Library: 1st Friday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm
Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library: 2nd Thursday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm
Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library: 2nd Thursday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm
Johnsonville Library: 2nd Friday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm
Karori Library: 3rd Saturday of the month, 2:00-3:00pm

Let’s Go LEGO is a free, interactive LEGO-based programme for children aged 5+. In Let’s Go LEGO, your creative skills will be put to the test as you use the library’s LEGO collections to design and build your masterpieces. Each session will have a different theme that will inspire you to hone your skills and become your library’s very own LEGO legend.

For more information, contact your local branch library.

Chinese Language Week at Karori Library

Stephen Clothier

For Chinese Language Week, Karori Library will be holding a special Mandarin storytime session for children of all ages on Tuesday 25th of September, 10:30-11:00am. Everyone is welcome to come along to our free, fun-filled, storytime session featuring songs, stories, and rhymes in Mandarin and English.

中文周 — 普通话故事会
9 月25日星期二, 10.30-11.00am
Karori 图书馆
欢迎大家参加妙趣横生的普通话和英语双语故事会。
我们一起唱儿歌、听童谣、讲故事。

Karori Library also holds regular Mandarin Storytimes on the third Tuesday of each month, from 10:30-11:00am, as well as conversational English classes for the Chinese senior community every Tuesday from 10:30-12:00. Contact the Library on 476 8413 to find out more!

中国龙制作 – Dragon Making for Chinese Language Week @ Khandallah Library

Stephen Clothier

Come along and celebrate Chinese language week at Khandallah Library by making paper dragons! Supplies will be provided to help you make your own elegant, wise or fierce dragon. Join us at Khandallah Library on Thursday 27th September from 6:30 to 7:00pm.
No RSVP required. Suitable all ages!

Check out these books to learn more about Chinese language and culture: 

First words. Mandarin / Mansfield, Andy

Lonely Planet have put together this gorgeous children’s guide to 100 basic mandarin words for topics like food and weather.

All about China : stories, songs, crafts and games for kids / Branscombe, Allison

Explore Chinese history, tradition and art with this beautiful book.

Gordon & Li Li : words for everyday / McSween, Michele Wong

Meet Li Li and Gordon as they learn to communicate in simple Mandarin and English.

Super simple Chinese art : fun and easy art from around the world / Kuskowski, Alex

Learn how to create a range of Chinese crafts, adapted for kids with a step-by-step guide.

See you at Khandallah Library!

Let’s Go LEGO Schedule Update

Stephen Clothier

This is just a very quick update to let you know that from the 2nd of June, Let’s Go LEGO at Karori Library will be held half an hour earlier from 2:00-3:00pm. Previously it was held from 2:30-3:30pm. We hope that this change means that you’ll all have more time to chat and browse the library for books to take home following each session!

 

Here’s the updated Let’s Go LEGO schedule:

Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library: First Thursday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm

Khandallah Library: First Friday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm

Karori Library: First Saturday of the month, 2:00-3:00pm

Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library: Second Thursday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm

Johnsonville Library: Second Friday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm

For more info about the Let’s Go LEGO programme, check out the What’s On page here, email enquiries@wcl.govt.nz, or ask your local librarian

A Lego creation by the very talented Elijah at Karori Library!

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Let’s Go Lego is coming to Khandallah!

Stephen Clothier

More exciting news in the world of Let’s Go Lego — the programme is finally coming back to Khandallah Library! The first session will be on Friday the 4th of May at 3:30pm, and sessions will continue on the first Friday of every month thereafter. No need to book, and it’s totally free — just turn up on the day and have fun!

Since our last official update, the programme has also expanded to include Johnsonville Library. The full Let’s Go Lego timetable (for the moment!) is laid out below:

Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library — first Thursday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm
Khandallah Library — first Friday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm
Karori Library — first Saturday of the month, 2:30-3:30pm
Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library — second Thursday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm
Johnsonville Library — second Friday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm

Let’s build – Let’s explore – Let’s create!

Lego Legends at Khandallah Library

Let’s Go Lego is returning to Khandallah Library after a long absence — we can’t wait to see you there!

For more information, contact Stephen at Karori Library, 476 8413, or email enquiries@wcl.govt.nz

Rainbow Storytimes!

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Come and listen to some wonderful Rainbow Stories at Wellington Central Library presented by Wellington’s favourite Drag Queen, the fabulous LaQuisha St Refern and friends. Celebrate our Rainbow Families with this special fun storytime  event for children, their families and anyone who likes stories!

What: Rainbow Storytimes

Where: Wellington Central Library

When: Saturday 3rd March, 2 – 2.30pm