So Many Stories
Conversations with Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi
Join Christchurch City Libraries on the first Friday of each month at 9am on Plains FM and discover what our libraries are all about – connecting people, inspiring discovery, and enriching communities. Each show features stories from people who work in libraries, and the members of our community we engage with every day.
- Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM first Friday of the month at 9am. The show plays again the next Sunday at 3.30pm.
- The next show is on Friday 6 December 2024.
Episode 36 - November 2024
Summertime Reading Challenge and other celebrations
This episode was broadcast on Sunday 3 November 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Kim Slack introducing this year’s Summertime Reading Challenge;
- Janaína Moraes, the Artistic Director of TinyFest;
- the Māori and Multicultural Services team on Parihaka and more;
- and Citlalic Syme on Day of the Dead.
Kahurangi Carter (Green Party List MP) talks at the Tiny Fest launch
6MB, 8 minutes 3 seconds
Chris Hay, manager of Tūranga talks at the Tiny Fest launch
3MB, 4 minutes 10 seconds
Episode 36
Summertime Reading Challenge
Dia de Muertos / Day of the Dead
Episode 35 - October 2024
Local stories and chilly celebration before summer
This episode was broadcast on Friday 4 October 9am, and Sunday 6 October 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
In this episode, you'll hear:
Libraries Learning Specialist Amy Chiles talks to Local History Librarian Alison Rodgers, CCC Archivist Annabel Armstrong-Clarke, and Assistant Archivist Sarah Tester about the Christchurch Central City Living History Walk.
4MB, 5 minutes 10 seconds
Amy talks to Digital Curation Librarian, Sarah Snelling about Christchurch Photo Hunt 2024 (1-31 October)
3MB, 3 minutes 6 seconds
Karlia Larsen, Library Assistant, explains what's happening for Ōtautahi Author Fest this month
Kaitakawaenga Maatakiwi Wakefield and the Māori and Multicultural Services team with their regular segment, this time featuring Kīngitanga and Koroneihana, introduce new Librarian - Pasifika, Lorna Blackler, and discuss the role of Pasifika Librarian.
47.87MB
Library Assistant, Wendy Blair talks about Days of Ice
Episode 35
Jobs - Current vacancies
Ōtautahi Christchurch Central City Living History Walk
Write on!: Ōtautahi Author Fest
Christchurch Photo Hunt: 1 to 31 October 2024
Koroneihana and Kīngitanga
Days of Ice: 8 to 13 October 2024
Episode 34 - September 2024
Programme Design and Delivery, and Language Weeks
This episode was broadcast on Friday 6 September 9am, and Sunday 8 September 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Libraries Learning Specialist Rachel Dodds for her introduction to life in the Programme Design and Delivery team;
- Libraries Learning Specialists Elaine Drumm and Uai Liu for their Aquabots chat;
- Tom Smith, Dan Shepherd, and Hanya Gallagher of Blind and Low Vision New Zealand for their discussion around accessible resources; and
- Kaitakawaenga Maatakiwi Wakefield and the Māori and Multicultural Services team for their regular segment, this time featuring NZ Chinese Language Week and te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
Episode 34
Celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 14 -21 o Hepetema 2024
Auahatanga - Creative Spaces
New Zealand Chinese Language Week: 22 to 28 September 2024
Episode 33 - August 2024
Readers, writers, and stories of heritage
This episode was broadcast on Friday 2 August 9am, and Sunday 4 August 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Specialist Librarians Eamonn Redmond, Alice McLay, and Helen Mepham talk the WORD Christchurch Festival 2024
- Libraries Learning Specialist Amy Chiles and Specialist Librarian Fee Jay interview the author and bookseller Ruth Shaw
- Specialist Librarians Wendy Blair and Alison Rodgers and Exhibitions Curator Poppy Wallace-Bell introduce the Women of the Wheel: Past and Present exhibition
- Member of the Ōtautahi | Christchurch Somali community Ahmed Tani looks forward to Somali Heritage Month. There will be a popup exhibition at Tūranga for Somali Heritage Month from Saturday 17 August to Friday 13 September.
- Specialist Librarian Katherine Moody and Annette Williams trawl the archives for Family History Month
Episode 33
WORD Christchurch Festival 2024
Family history eResources
Zinefest workshops at the library
Local Lives Lived! - a Family History Month exhibition
Women of the Wheel: Past and Present Exhibition, part of a series
Zine Club, part of a series
Episode 32 - July 2024
Outreach team
This episode is all about our Outreach team who deliver services and programmes out in the community to enable access to the library for all the residents of Ōtautahi. It was broadcast on Friday 5 July 9am, and Sunday 7 July 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
In this episode, you'll hear:
Episode host Stacey, Associate Team Leader at South Library
Ky, Team Leader of the Outreach and Learning team will give an overview of services the team provides
6MB, 3 minutes 47 seconds
Susan our Librarian Community who delivers Better Digital Futures sessions in rest homes will explain why we provide this programme and what it entails
5MB, 3 minutes 12 seconds
Betty, one of our library assistants talks with Nicole, the diversional therapist from Ultimate Care Rose Court about the impact library book deliveries have on their residents
5MB, 3 minutes 35 seconds
Librarian Community Gemma brings the library out to the people with the Outreach van, at various stops around the city. She has a kōrero with Joscelyne a long-time user of this service.
5MB, 4 minutes 5 seconds
Ebony is our Librarian Community who delivers programmes to adults throughout the city. One place she visits is Maurice Carter Courts where she enables social housing residents to access all kinds of library resources. She talks with Kathryn, Amanda and Marie
4MB, 3 minutes 17 seconds
Library Assistant Toni has been taking the Library Outreach van to Odyssey House for 6 years now. Toni talks with Men’s Residential Team Leader Rachel and resident Chris talking about how the library supports recovery
8MB, 5 minutes 11 seconds
Wendy is our Librarian Community who visits primary schools promoting the love of reading to our Ōtautahi tamariki. She speaks with Te Kōmanawa Rowley School deputy principal Niki Penny about the impact of this service at their kura.
5MB, 2 minutes
For our tiny tamariki, Librarian Community Lynette delivers sessions to new parents and their pēpi, tailored to engage them with building their children’s literacy and encouraging them to interact with their babies and other whānau. Lynette is speaking with Rukmini (Rook-Minnie) from Playcentre who facilitates the Babies Can Play programme.
8MB, 5 minutes 1 second
We appreciate the time our interviewees have given to us to bring you this episode, this is just a small glimpse into what the Outreach and Learning team provide to our communities. Keep your eye out for our library outreach van around the city at events or parked at one of our many stops, and if you see us come say hi!
Episode 31 - June 2024
Mānawatia a Matariki me Puaka
Celebrating Matariki and Puaka
This episode was broadcast on Friday 7 June 9am, and Sunday 9 June 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
This special episode has been put together by the Māori and Multicultural Services team. Find out about Matariki in Aotearoa and around the world.
Matariki: Māori New Year
Matariki in the Zone Hāngī: Picturing Canterbury
Matariki Learning Resource
Te Iwa o Matariki
Episode 30 - May 2024
This episode was broadcast on Friday 3 May 9am, and Sunday 5 May 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
Here is what you will hear in this episode:
- Libraries Learning Specialist Amy Chiles chats Music Trails with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra Principal Bassoonist and Head of In the Community Programme Development Selena Prior
- In a first for So Many Stories, Aquatic Supervisor Marcus Kowalczyk introduces the new Matatiki Hornby Centre
- South New Brighton School students George and Alex reflect on their 2023 Top of the Pods win ahead of this year’s competition launch
- Kaitakawaenga Maatakiwi Wakefield is back with updates from the Māori and Multicultural Services team, featuring World Languages Librarian Hayley Concepcion and Pasifika Librarians Malakai Waqasokolala and Mal Veu
- Community Librarian Wendy Blair has all you need to know about Speaking 4 the Planet
- Libraries Learning Specialist for Special Projects Danny McNeil talks Techweek 24 with Education Consultant and Facilitator Wilj Dekkers and PB Tech Service Technician and Event Coordinator Riley Paterson
Techweek 2024
Libraries Learning Specialist for Special Projects Danny McNeil welcomes some special guests to talk Techweek at Christchurch City Libraries (think eSports, robots, prizes, and more!). Techweek runs from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 May.
17.2MB, 18 minutes 1 second
Danny talks with Education Consultant and Facilitator Wilj Dekkers and PB Tech Service Technician and Event Coordinator Riley Paterson.
6.75MB, 7 minutes 2 seconds
Danny talks with Hornby High School teacher Ben Carter, and Christchurch Boys’ High School Teacher Andrew Thawley.
10.44 MB, 10 minutes 59 seconds
Episode 30
Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta - Rotuman Language Week
NZ Music Month
Matatiki Hornby Centre
CSO music trails through the library
Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa - Samoa Language Week
Episode 29 - April 2024
This episode was broadcast on Friday 5 April 9am, and aired again on Sunday 7 April 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
Here is what you will hear in this episode:
- Community Librarians Miles Henderson and Kim Anderson talk library holidays programmes: Creative Cartography and Paper Making
- Libraries Learning Specialist Amy Chiles and Children’s Librarian Katie Lumsden dig into dyslexia friendly resources
- Children’s Librarians Debora Fernandes and Susan Osteen introduce Sensory Time
- Kaitakawaenga Maatakiwi Wakefield reflects on Anzac Day
Kaitakawaenga Maatakiwi Wakefield shares updates from across the Māori and Multicultural Services team
9MB, 10 minutes 7 seconds
Interview: Katie talks about dyslexia
Librarian Katie talks to Amy about dyslexia for an upcoming episode of So Many Stories.
[MP3, 17 minutes]
Confessions of a dyslexic librarian
Episode 29
Sensory Hour at Redwood Library, part of a series
Dyslexia
Picture Books about Neurodiversity, Autism & Sensory Issues
Sensory Storytimes
Anzac Day and Gallipoli
Episode 28 - March 2024: 50th anniversary of the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games: Part Two
This episode was broadcast on Wednesday 6 March 5pm to 6pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
This special episode includes memories from athletes, organisers and staff who brought us this wonderful event.
75.67MB, 55 minutes 5 seconds
Wayne Hawker
Wendy talks to Wayne Hawker from the New Brighton Memorial Museum about their Games exhibition. The New Brighton Memorial Museum celebrated the Games anniversary in style, decking out their whole space with memorabilia.
6MB, 6 minutes 44 seconds
Les Rackley
Linda interviews Les Rackley, bronze medal winner in the boxing middleweight division:
3MB, 3 minutes 33 seconds
Brian Duffy
Brian Duffy, bronze medal winner in the weightlifting featherweight division:
7MB, 7 minutes 31 seconds
Garry Bell
Rachel talks to Garry Bell, cyclist in the 114-mile road race:
2MB, 2 minutes 38 seconds
Jaynie Hudgell (née Parkhouse)
Linda talks to Jaynie Hudgell (née Parkhouse) our 17 year old Gold and Bronze medal winner, in the 800m and 400m freestyle:
4MB, 4 minutes 34 seconds
Lorraine Moller
Linda speaks with Lorraine Moller who ran her lifetime best in the 800m (which is STILL the fastest ever time set by an under 20 NZ woman) and went on to be a 4-time Olympian:
8MB, 9 minutes 30 seconds
Dick Tayler
Gold medal winner in the 10000m Dick Tayler:
15MB, 17 minutes 7 seconds
Xth British Commonwealth Games 1974
Episode 27 - March 2024: 50th anniversary of the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games: Part One
This episode was broadcast on Tuesday 5 March 5pm to 6pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
This special episode includes memories from athletes, organisers and staff who brought us this wonderful event.
In this first part we will hear from the folks who made it happen, from security guards to drivers, committee members and media.
69.6MB, 50 minutes 40 seconds
Bruce Ullrich
Wendy speaks with Bruce Ullrich, Vice Chair of the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games Organising committee, who travelled far and wide to help bring the games to us in Ōtautahi.
41.8MB, 48 minutes 34 seconds
Check out his autobiography My Arena available at the library.
Garth Dale
Linda speaks with Garth Dale, secretary of the combined sports committee:
2MB, 2 minutes 25 seconds
Roger Tweedy
Linda interviews Roger Tweedy who was part of the Reception and Recreation committee:
4MB, 4 minutes 10 seconds
Sean Regan
Rachel talks with Games security guard Sean Regan:
3MB, 2 minutes 55 seconds
Joy Ryan-Bloore
Our next interviewee wanted to attend the Games as a spectator but ended up being offered a position as a technical official instead! Here’s Linda with Joy Ryan-Bloore:
4MB, 4 minutes 4 seconds
Jill Price
Rachel speaks with Jill Price who was a driver for some Games VIPs:
2MB, 2 minutes 46 seconds
Lynne Andrews
Rachel speaks with Lynne Andrews who was a news media hostess for the games, responsible for bringing us all the up-to-date excitement!
4MB, 4 minutes 26 seconds
Episode 26 - March 2024
This episode was broadcast on Friday 1 March 9am, and Sunday 3 March 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
Here is what you will hear in this episode:
- Children’s and Young Adults Service Specialist Ky McWilliam talks Te Rā o Ngā Tamariki | Children’s Day
- Content Manager Elaine Sides has everything you need to know about the annual Christchurch City Libraries Book Sale
- Community Librarian Angela Romein looks forward to Pride
- Kaitakawaenga Maatakiwi Wakefield shares updates from across the Māori and Multicultural Services team (Japan Day, Polyfest, programmes, and more!)
Episode 26
Japan Fiesta: Saturday 12 October 2024
Big Bargain Book Sale - Friday 15 & Saturday 16 March 2024
Children's Day
Me Kōrero Tātou, part of a series
Māori Land Court Drop In Advisory Clinic @ Tūranga, part of a series
Christchurch Pride: 15 to 31 March 2024
Japan
Ngā Moutere o te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa / Pasifika
Episode 25 - February 2024
This episode was broadcast on Friday 2 February 9am and Sunday 4 February 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
Here is what you will hear in this episode:
Community Librarian Wendy Blair talks with Exhibitions Curator Poppy Wallace-Bell about the Aotearoa Bike Challenge - how you can get involved, the benefits of cycling and just how far your bike can take you!
6MB, 7 minutes 11 seconds
Ocean lovers of all ages are invited to come along to New Brighton Library for Dune Day, a chance to celebrate and learn more about our unique coastal landscape. Community Librarian Jamie Stevenson spoke to Coastal Ranger Jason Roberts about his work protecting the dunes and what he’ll be offering on Dune Day.
2MB, 2 minutes 32 seconds
Community Librarian Wendy has all the details for fun in our libraries in February. There’s lots of Lunar New Year excitement and our regular programming is back for 2024. There are some great family days out and beautiful exhibitions to enjoy! Check out our website for details on these events and keep your ear out for our special Commonwealth Games episode later in the month.
6MB, 6 minutes 23 seconds
Our Māori and Multicultural Services team share an update on their kaupapa for February.
7MB, 7 minutes 37 seconds
Episode 25
Justices of the Peace (JPs)
Sanctuary exhibition: Ōtautahi Creative Spaces
Te Tiriti o Waitangi - The Treaty of Waitangi
Lunar New Year 2024 - Year of the Dragon
Episode 24 - January 2024
This episode was broadcast on Friday 5 January 9am, and Sunday 7 January 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.
Here is what you will hear in this episode:
Since 2015 Ōtautahi Creative Spaces (or OCS) has worked to build a creative community of people with experience of mental distress. Now, a group of rangatahi artists from OCS have staged what the organising team calls a “takeover” of Tūranga. At the heart of the Sanctuary project is the main exhibition in Te Pito Huarewa / Southbase Gallery, but the works of the over 30 artists represented spill out to every floor in Tūranga and may even turn up in your book! To find out more, Learning Specialist Amy Chiles and Community Librarian Jamie Stevenson spoke to organiser Audrey and artists Cahaya, Rebecca, and Samantha.
Find out more about the Sanctuary exhibiton.
5MB, 5 minutes 26 seconds
Kaitakawaenga Maatakiwi Wakefield with some friends from our Māori and Multicultural Services team:
- Multicultural Liaison Amber and Multicultural Library Ambassador Pang Wei tell us all about Lunar New Year celebrations
- Poukohikohinga Ngapiu and Julia let us know about three fabulous events in January
- Pasifika Liaison Nora invites you to a special Storytime at Aranui Library
- Maatakiwi gives us some valuable insight about Waitangi Day
8MB, 9 minutes 27 seconds
There’s so much to see and do in Ōtautahi this summer and here’s Community Outreach Librarian Wendy Blair with all the info on pool parties, parks, puppies, picnics and more! There’s also a Story Walk at the Arts Centre on Wednesday 17 January and lots of drop in arts and crafts activities at our libraries around the city, see our website for the full calendar of Summertime Reading fun!
5MB, 4 minutes 44 seconds
Episode 24
Summertime Reading Challenge
International LEGO Day 2024 and Brick your Book competition
I Love My Pet - Shirley Library
Sanctuary: Creative Occupation - OCS eCatalogue
Sanctuary exhibition: Ōtautahi Creative Spaces
Lunar New Year 2024 - Year of the Dragon
Listen to episodes of So Many Stories
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