31 October 2017

Summer Reading Programme embraces cultural diversity with multilingual options

Summer means holidays and for generations of children, it also means the Summer Reading Programme. When schools are closed, youngsters can take to books of their choice, reap rewards and also ensure their reading progress doesn’t drop off.

Palmerston North Library has responded to the city’s increasing diversity by introducing more multi-lingual report-in options for the programme following last year’s successful pilot. This year children can participate in Mandarin, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Thai and Korean as well as Te Reo. This allows them to share their learning experiences in a language with which they identify, in an environment that supports families and readers of all abilities.

The Te Reo Summer Reading Programme encourages tamariki to read books in Te Reo. Tikanga is integrated into the programme and sessions are opened and closed with karakia. With a strong family focus, the ‘Tuakana and Teina’ system is used which encourages older siblings to help younger siblings with their reading.

“The Te Reo Summer Reading Programme is aimed at our tamariki and mokopuna who have Te Reo as a language,” says Nuwyne Te Awe Awe Mohi, PNCC Maori Community Liaison Coordinator. “We use the Tuakana /Teina approach to reading and really encourage whanau to come in and participate.”

The Summer Reading Programme annually attracts close to 600 enthusiastic local children .Parents and grandparents are now sharing the same programme with the next generation as this is the 21st year the programme is offered. Over the school holidays, children report-in four times. At each report-in, they share with their librarian what they have read, answer questions and receive a milestone reward.

“Reading is one of the most powerful tools for creating life -long learners, visiting the library helps foster these skills, as well as developing connections with librarians and the wider community,” says Rhonda Chenery, Libraries and Community Services, Children’s Programmes Coordinator.

The popularity of the programme means children must register for a ballot for one of just under 600 places available across all the community and central libraries. Registrations to participate opened Monday 30 October and close Sunday 12 November. The programme is funded through the Eastern and Central Community Trust.

Due to the programme’s popularity, all registrations are placed into a ballot and applicants are notified if successfully placed. The programme officially kicks off on Monday 27 November and finishes with a finale on Thursday 18 January. Details of the ballot can be found on the Palmerston North City Library website - https://citylibrary.pncc.govt.nz/whats-on/event/the-summer-reading-programme

Key dates:
Ballot period: Monday 30 October – Sunday 12 November
Programme starts: Monday 27 November

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