Rodney Libraries have a variety of exciting events on offer over the next few weeks.
This May Rodney Libraries are launching their seventh annual reading challenge aimed at improving the literacy skills of local children. Rodney Mayor Penny Webster is leading ‘Mayor Penny's Reading Challenge’ which encourages children to ‘read for half an hour a day during the month of May.’
Last year 32 Rodney schools took up the challenge to participate, and the event is expected to be popular once again this year with a bike on offer for one lucky youngster who completes the challenge.
During Youth Week, Rodney Libraries will also launch a second reading challenge for older children. The Teen Reading Challenge will run from Monday 24 May until the end of Term three in September. The challenge is to read five books across a range of literary genres by September. Participants who complete the challenge will go into the draw to win an iPod and other prizes.
May marks New Zealand music month and Whangaparaoa Library is hosting New Zealand artist Josef Trethowen who will be giving a free performance of songs from his Debut Release - 'Inside the Wendy House.'
May is also an exciting month because on May 19, the winners of the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards will be announced.
To celebrate the awards, Rodney Libraries will be holding a series of stories and craft sessions at various locations. The sessions will have a piggy theme in honour of ‘Piggity Wiggity Jiggity Jig goes to Dad’s Café’ by Diana Neild which is one of the finalists in the awards. Author and illustrator Gavin Bishop will also be visiting Kumeu Library on Tuesday 11 May to talk about his works.
Two guest speakers will also be visiting Orewa Library in May and June. St John’s Life Link will be talking about the Life Link service which provides medical assistance through personal alarms and the New Zealand China Friendship Group will talk about their objectives and how they can help new migrants.
More information about library events is available online.