It’s Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu (National Volunteer Week) and at PLNZ, we want to acknowledge the mahi of all those who dedicate their time, experience and skills to support and advance the place of Public Libraries in our community.

Fiona Farrell writes about her love of libraries in this arresting essay commissioned by Public Libraries and published by the Spinoff. 

Rachel Esson, Te Pouhuaki National Librarian, introduced Hon Jan Tinetti, Minister of Internal Affairs, at the Public Libraries New Zealand (PLNZ) National Forum at The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa.

Documentary photographer, Pene Coleman, arrived in Tauranga 28 years ago and the first outing with her two young sons was to check out the local library and get membership cards. This is her experience of settling into a new community.

Now more than ever it is important to come together to connect, adapt and find creative ways to grow and thrive as individuals and as a community. Thanks to The New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme, Porirua Libraries now have the services of librarian, Noha Ibrahim, whose passion is digital inclusion. 

Last month Fiji was hit by one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded leaving a path of devastation in its wake. The second to batter the island nation, in recent months, Cyclone Ana caused severe flooding and forced around 10,000 people to evacuate. The NZ Government was quick to send aid. 

On this day, 7 April 1871, three men had a meeting at the Masonic Hotel about providing the local community with reading material. Little did they know this would sow the seeds of the library that Tauranga enjoys today.

Libraries have been around for thousands of years. If society kept everything ever written whether, on tablet, scroll, parchment or illustrated manuscript, it would be a very crowded house. Culling book collections or "weeding" is a regular practice within libraries where contemporary technologies and a commitment to sustainability and good business (libraries’ budgets are finite) ensure library users can still access international publications online, as well as through interloan.

During Level 4, Manawatu District Libraries ran a poetry competition asking the community to share their feelings and experiences and then published a runaway success!

The first in a series of essays commissioned by PLNZ, Briar Grace-Smith's essay, "To My Local" can be read in The Spinoff. 

The protest is against the reduction in library resources, among other things, proposed by the Wellington City Council last week. PLNZ Executive Director explains.

The decision by Wellington City Council to cut the book budget and privatise several floors of the planned Wellington Central Library has raised considerable concern across the public library sector and throughout Wellington city communities, and rightly so. The difficulty facing the Council is not one of finding ways to make savings to compensate for big-ticket infrastructure bills, the difficulty is whether this decision is in the current and future interests of the city and its citizens. These proposed budget cutbacks are also occurring at a time when customer demand for library services is increasing. 

The National Strategic Framework of New Zealand has been picked up by an Australian library. Every few years, public libraries develop a national strategy. Learn about the direction of your local library by downloading a copy.

The NZSA Youth Mentorship Programme offers aspiring four young writers (aged 15-18) a mentorship, from May to November, and is now open for applications. Click here for more information and to apply.

Renowned for his big brown bags of books, Ross was a committed, and dedicated bookseller providing a personalised, friendly service to libraries. 

Initial problems with the library's' sprinkler system could bring down the roof in a seismic event, says Council.

Summer reading is not just for children. It is for everyone. This summer holiday join a summer reading challenge at your local library and make the love of reading a lifetime activity

Whanganui District Library has two new library vans to replace their old mobile bus.

Upper Hutt Libraries joins the movement to make public libraries more accessible. While many libraries have dropped fines for children and teens, Upper Hutt Libraries is the fourth public library in New Zealand to remove all overdue fees.

Want to learn more about books published in New Zealand. Check out this website!

Keep calm and keep on learning! 

Read about our long and interesting history - thanks to the NZHistory.govt.nz

New Zealand’s first public library, The Port Nicholson Exchange and Public Library, opened in Wellington in 1841. It was established by a group of the city’s first settlers, and operated for one year, at the corner of Charlotte Street (now Molesworth Street) and Lambton Quay, an area now occupied by the Wellington cenotaph. Read more about NZ's first public library.

Jacinda Ardern announces new reading ambassador for children and young people at a Celebration of Reading Event at the National Library.

The Reading Ambassador role, to be hosted by the National Library of New Zealand and funded by the Te Puna Foundation, will advocate for and promote the importance of reading in the lives of young New Zealanders, their whānau and communities.

Ōpōtiki CBD projects are getting an $11.9million boost from the Government. The Te Tāhuhu o Te Rangi library and research centre is set to receive some of this. A great outcome for both the project and community

Read NZ Te Pou Muramura is Igniting a love for reading and encouraging all New Zealanders to read more.

The aim is to inspire reluctant or non-readers to pick up a book. After all, reading is one of the most accessible, affordable, and enjoyable activities there is, and its benefits are well documented.

Homework can be a bore, school projects stressful but it doesn’t have to be! AnyQuestions offers free, online help to assist New Zealand students with their schoolwork.

Managed by the National Library of New Zealand and staffed by friendly, trained librarians from around the country.

It’s easy and fun. Using online chat, AnyQuestions librarians work with students to unpack their questions.

Your story matters. Write your story now.

WCL has set up a ‘virtual classroom’ for teens who are in isolation. Programme administrator Stephen says, “This time in lockdown is particularly worrying and isolating for teenagers and I thought this would be a nice way of keeping them connected with each other and the library”.

During a crisis, librarians are there on the frontline.  They number among the unsung heroes and heroines. Often ‘second responders’ stepping up for their communities during manmade and natural disasters, like earthquakes, floods, shootings, eruptions, and financial recessions.

I live in a small rural town. For us the lockdown has been heaven. None of the constant traffic or explosions of population during the tourist season. Like elsewhere in New Zealand we have experienced, cleaner air, birdsong and friendship with our neighbours in ways not possible before the pandemic. A stroll down the street is met with cheery waves and “How are you doing? Keeping safe?

Men don’t read. True or false? Or do they read more non-fiction and product manuals than works of fiction? Maybe they don’t realise how powerful it is for kids to see their Dad reading? Or that reading is a brain food with many proven neurological benefits.