• newtown
• storytime
• community spotlight
• new displays
• radio show

Community Spotlight

This month we talk to Kim, ESOL teacher...

Q: What is MCLaSS and how are you involved?

A: MCLaSS is an acronym for ' Multicultural Learning and Support Services.' MCLaSS offers free services to help adult migrants and refugees whose first language is not English with - English/literacy classes for beginners, advice on other English learning options and help with job-seeking. The MCLaSS base is in the Multicultural Services Centre in Webb St. I am a teacher of ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) and work at MCLaSS in that capacity. One of my classes meets in the Newtown Network Centre, next door to the library.

Q: What started your association with Newtown Library and how has this partnership developed?

A:I am fairly sure it was initiated through Ada Nally coming and speaking to my class to encourage library membership and suggesting she could facilitate library sessions. From there, a regular attendance every Wednesday for about an hour at the Newtown Library has developed. It has included discussions about topical events and sharing of experiences from the variety of cultures we represent, supported by library resources. We have even tapped into the skills of the rest of the library team with Marg Elliot guiding us through painting and bead making sessions and other team members conversing and supporting students in one to one reading on occasion.

All these shared learning experiences are carried out in the library environment and serve to make the library a familiar and comfortable place for the students.

They also contribute to demystifying the processes involved and establishing working relationships between our learners and library staff. With knowledge comes empowerment and another tool to deal with social and cultural isolation.

The library has been very proactive in following up on students' suggestions of foreign reading materials and music resources.
It has encouraged our learners to take ownership of their own learning and entertainment which also enriches other New Zealanders by providing insights into new cultures.

Newtown's Display Cabinet

We have a fun way for you to be involved in Newtown - bring us your treasured collections to display!

The current Origami collection is by Jan, a very talented young man. Many of the designs are his own!

We've had collections of Polly pockets, Dutch curios and pristine matchbox cars so all ideas are welcome.

Register your interest with one of our friendly staff when you come into Newtown library.

New Displays..

Songs of the Deep South

Somewhere between Virginia and Carolina, between Kentucky and Georgia, between Mississippi and Tennessee is a whole lot of music, surprising music, eclectic, out of the ordinary music and Newtown library has a startling selection. We're talking about Kentucky's Bonnie Prince Billy, Bluegrass firebrands Old Crow Medicine Show, blues rock legends The White Stripes and less well known Southern outsiders like Vic Chesnutt, Lambchop and Sam Baker!

Librarians Choice

New on display at Newtown is a selection of librarians choice fiction. This is to be a permanent display so if you're short of time, or a trusting soul, then just dip into the display for something pre-approved. There's novels from across the spectrum, a little dash of the sophisticated right on through to pure trash. Don't be put off by the sticker, we're not at all highbrow in the South, there's bound to be something you'll find and love. And don't forget we want your reviews too, pop over to the review form and send us your thoughts on anything you've read, there's readers choice stickers just waiting to be put to good use.

Nosfaratu

Wellington City Libraries has a brilliant collection of films involving canines, blood and empty mirrors - Vampire Films! We've pulled in all kinds of Vamp excitement, from Hammer horror films to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Blacula to swanky David Bowie in sunglasses in 'The Hunger'

Storytime

• Storytime is every Wednesday at Newtown Library at 10:30am in the children's area
• Storytime runs for about half an hour, with stories and songs
• Pre-school storytimes are fun and free - there's no charge, and you don't have to book
• Storytime is aimed at pre-school age children (three and four years old) - but younger siblings are always welcome!

Radio Show: Music Ad-Lib

Music Ad-Lib is the radio show of Wellington City Libraries. Celebrating its 21st year in 2009, the show is a chance for the music geeks, like myself, to get out and promote the Libraries' amazing CD (and related books) collection. Music Ad-lib plays once a month on Access Radio, on Saturdays at 4 pm, you can find out more here: www.accessradio.org.nz - and check out their other community focused programmes.

The show is hosted by Mark and Neil from Central, and Craig from the South (Newtown/Brooklyn/Island Bay) - they all play selections from the catalogue or endeavour to do themed shows. Each of them has their own areas of interest so the show covers a broad range of musical styles. Tune in sometime, there's bound to be something 'different' playing!