Special Spanish and Japanese language storytimes are being offered at Rodney Libraries, in addition to English language storytimes.
Spanish storytime operates at Orewa library at 11am on Wednesdays. Japanese storytime is hosted by the Whangaparoa Library and Service Centre on Mondays at 10.30am.
The sessions involve reading, rhyme, and song sessions in either Spanish or Japanese, and are targeted at pre school children.
The sessions are free and prior booking is not necessary for children to attend them.
According to the 2006 Census 24% of Rodney residents were born overseas.
“Rodney is home to people from many different nationalities who speak a wide variety of languages”, says Kris Wehipeihana, Library Service Development Coordinator.
“Storytime sessions in languages other than English are a great way to ensure that children are able to converse with their parents and extended families in their own language,” she says.
Ms Wehipeihana says that Rodney Libraries would like to host storytime sessions in additional languages if volunteers can be found to run the sessions.
“Library staff would be very pleased to hear from for anyone who is interested in running a storytime session in a new language. The sessions give great pleasure to children and their families and they are extremely rewarding to be involved with.”
Friendship groups to support immigrants also operate at some libraries in New Zealand and Orewa library staff would also like to hear from people who may be interested in forming a group to meet at the library.
English language storytimes also operate at all Rodney Libraries each week. For more information about storytime sessions go to www.rodneylibraries.govt.nz