Calling young heroes for holiday adventures

Calling young heroes for holiday adventures

Dunedin, 9 December 2014 – Children from all over the city are being called to embrace their adventurous spirit and become the heroes of their own stories with the launch of Dunedin Public Libraries’ 2014/15 Summer Reading Programme on 13 December.

The theme of this year’s programme is ‘Be the Hero’ and children are invited to join the quest to reach their reading goal. When they finish their reading adventure they will be awarded their own hero certificate. The Libraries have teamed up with Otago Museum and University Bookshop to set a series of adventurous tasks for kids to complete over the summer. These will find them battling mythical museum monsters and solving baffling bookshop clues, while the community libraries will lead them all over town in search of the hidden treasures of Mosgiel, Port Chalmers, Blueskin Bay and Waikouaiti.

The main goal of the programme continues to be for children to compete the task they set themselves as to how many books they plan to read in the holidays.

“Schools, in particular, recognise the value of the Summer Reading Programme. It doesn’t just help to maintain reading skills during the long break from school, but it also makes children realise that they can read purely for pleasure and it’s actually pretty good fun,” says Dunedin Public Libraries Youth Services Supervisor, Phillipa Crack.

With about 750 children taking part each year, the Libraries’ Summer Reading Programme is probably one of the most popular holiday activities in Dunedin. It is free to join at any Dunedin Library. Each child who commits to reading at least five books will receive a “Be the Hero” booklet so they can record their achievements. Every hero who reaches, or exceeds, their goal will be invited to a special celebration at Dunedin Public Libraries to be awarded their hero certificate.

Dunedin Public Libraries Events Co-ordinator Kay Mercer says she is amazed at the number of books some children read.

“It’s not unheard of to find kids happily stretching themselves by getting through dozens, with a few reaching over the one hundred mark. It’s great to see that real love of books at a young age. Whether its five books or 105, the main thing is children have reached their own milestones. That’s a heroic achievement in my book!”

The summer reading programme begins on 13 December 2014 and finishes on 1 February 2015.

For more information visit www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz/summer-reading

ENDS

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