• James Dunning - Takapuna Library
  • Chrissy West - Glenfield Library
  • Jerome Rivera - Birkenhead Library
  • Marie Sullivan - Northcote Library

School holidays with North Shore Libraries

This month, we’re shining a light on our local libraries and interviewing the hard-working and passionate people from across four different libraries on the Shore. With school holidays upon us, the local libraries have a ‘time warp theme’. There are plenty of different activities to do at your local library along with other regular activities for younger kids and our older generations.


James talks working at his childhood library

James Dunning is the Senior Librarian for Children and Youth Services at Takapuna Library. He grew in in Takapuna, his parents still live in Takapuna so he visits them at lunchtimes and he’s working at the same library he visited as a child. James lives in Torbay with wife, Claire, who’s a writer, and children Arthur (five years old) and Audrey (five months old). James was previously a secondary school teacher and has been a librarian for six and a half years now. 

Channel Mag: What school holiday activities are on at your library?
James Dunning:
In keeping with the time warp theme, we’ll be travelling back in time to medieval Japan, the Wild West, ancient Egypt and much more. There will be lots of fun crafting activities. Look out for our free interactive theatre extravaganza, The Time Machine, and our Children’s Writers Festival featuring local authors Karen McMillan and Jez Smith! You can find the full event list on Facebook, OurAuckland or in the library.

For those who don't have school-aged children, what regular activities can you recommend at your library? 
We have very popular Wriggle and Rhyme sessions for babies (Monday 10–10.30 a.m. and 11–11.30 a.m.) and Rhymetime for preschoolers (Wednesday 10–10.30 a.m.) during school time. Lots of parents and grandparents  bring their tamariki along for music and rhymes. We also have Storytime on Saturday and Sunday at 2.30 p.m where my colleagues and I read picture books. And on Fridays from 3.30–4.30 p.m. my immensely talented colleague Jiehua does after-school arts and crafts for children aged four+.

What’s your favourite book and why?
My favourite book is 'The Lord of the Rings' by J. R. R. Tolkien. I read it at a very young age and it blew me away. As a child I loved it for its imagination and its sense of wonder. As an adult I love it for its philosophy and humanity – which is ironic for a book about elves, dwarves and hobbits! Every time I reread it I discover something new to love. (Also, the first time I read it was after we saw the old animated movie at school – but we only watched the first half! So I remember coming over to Takapuna Library, where I currently work, and the librarians helping me find a copy of the book so I could find out what happens next!)

What’s the best part about working in your library?
Any and all of the following:

  • Working at the library where I used to come as a child
  • Being able to see the beach and the harbour out the window
  • Getting to work with children and sing songs and read books with them
  • Being able to go see my parents at lunchtime
  • My colleagues – librarians are the loveliest people
  • Being able to help such a wonderful community


Chrissy’s passionate about the local community and our tamariki

Chrissy West has been the Senior Library Assistant (Children and Youth Services) at Glenfield Library for the last two years. She says that if anyone asks, she tells them she has the BEST job in the world. Her favourite part of the working day is having kōrero with local tamariki and designing a fun and engaging programme to help with their information needs. She’s been involved with volunteer work through Girl Guiding NZ and Playcentre. Chrissy is currently studying at Open Polytechnic part-time and will one day get a Bachelor of Library and Information Services.

Channel Mag: What school holiday activities are on at your library?
Chrissy West:
We have a weird and wonderful ‘Time Warp’ happening here at Glenfield Library for our school holiday programmes. You can expect to jump back and forth through time, learning about gizmos, aliens and finding your inner Picasso! We have a full list of the activities and the times that they are happening so you can schedule a visit through our time warp into Glenfield Library.

For those who don't have school-aged children, what regular activities can you recommend at your library?
We have a strong pre-school programme available, and deliver Rhyme and Storytime, Wā Pēpē: Babytime, Korean bilingual and Arabic bilingual sessions throughout the week during term time. On Saturdays we have Creative Space; this session is for any tamariki who want to come and do an activity with us. It changes every week and could be something STEM related, or it could be creative or building Lego superstructures. The only thing that you can be sure of is using your imagination and having lots of fun!

What’s your favourite book and why?
I can only choose one book!?  If I must… It would be 'Where the wild things are' by Maurice Sendak. Sometimes tamariki can find it difficult to manage their emotions and Max is no exception. He is crowned the wildest thing of all, but actually, he just needed some time to calm and create a different environment for himself so he was no longer grumpy. His adults gave him the opportunity to have that time and welcomed him home with aroha. This is such a powerful message for any parent going through the terrible twos (or threes). Not to mention how fun it is to read aloud to tamariki with the full sound effects and rolling of eyes, gnashing of teeth and stomping!

What’s the best part about working in your library?
The best thing about working at Glenfield Library is the people. We have such a diverse community. I am so proud to be able to work with a team of compassionate and caring staff who want the best for all the members of our community.


Jerome loves the diversity of Birkenhead

Jerome Rivera is a  Senior Librarian Children and Youth at Birkenhead Library. He lives locally in Birkdale and has recently celebrated his 15-year anniversary with Auckland Libraries.

Channel Mag: What school holiday activities are on at your library?
Jerome Rivera:
We are just finalising our ‘time warp’ school holiday programme and we can tell you that we have some exciting activities in store including making fossils, creating ancient paper and a printing press workshop. Follow us on the Birkenhead Library Facebook page to find out more.

For those who don't have school-aged children, what regular activities can you recommend at your library? 
We run or host adult programmes like Book Chat, Korean Book Chat, Tai Chi, Digital Seniors, NZSL Meetup, Chinese Age Concern and Death Café.

What’s your favourite book and why? 
My favourite book of all time is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and my favourite to read for story time is 'The Monster at the End of This Book'.

What’s the best part about working in your library? 
The best part about working at Birkenhead Library is the connections I make with the community, especially underserved ones, and working with my fabulous colleagues who all come from diverse backgrounds and experiences.


Marie’s years of cool work stories at Northcote Library

Marie Sullivan is the Children and Teens Librarian at Northcote Library, a role she has had for quite some time. She’s a proud part of the local community and has a five-year-old who goes to Sunnybrae Normal School.

Channel Mag: What school holiday activities are on at your library?
Marie Sullivan:
We will have a retro school playground games hour, Lego play, making butter for fairy bread and more. All part of our ‘time warp’ theme!

For those who don't have school-aged children, what regular activities can you recommend at your library? 
We have a monthly Book Chat group. We partner with Age Concern for a Digital Seniors session for Chinese and English Language Partners who meet each week to practice speaking English.

What’s your favourite book and why? 
This month my favourite book is 'Say My Name' by Joanna Ho. It’s a picture book that talks about the names we are given or carry and the importance of saying them correctly. Picture books are the best.

What’s the best part about working in your library? 
I have the coolest work stories; preschoolers giving me stones as gifts, helping with CVs and they land the job, connecting people to other services, or people in the community. We change lives.


Issue 156 September 2024