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 5 April 2024.
2024 shows:
5 January, 2 February, 1 March, 5 April, 3 May, 7 June, 5 July, 2 August, 6 September, 4 October, 1 November, 6 December
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 28 - March 2024: 50th anniversary of the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games: Part Two
This episode will be 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 will be 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 will be broadcast on Friday 1 March 9am, and will air again on 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 2 March 2024
Pou Kohikohinga in Residence at Matuku Takotako: Sumner
Pou Kohikohinga in Residence at Linwood Library
Big Bargain Book Sale - Friday 15 & Saturday 16 March 2024
Children's Day
Linwood - Roll For Pride - Dungeons & Dragons - 13+ years
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
Te Kāhui Ohua, part of a series
Ngā Moutere o te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa / Pasifika
Episode 25 - February 2024
This episode was broadcast on Friday 2 February 9am, and will air again on 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
Sanctuary exhibition: Ōtautahi Creative Spaces
Te Kāhui Ohua, part of a series
Te Tiriti o Waitangi - The Treaty of Waitangi
Lunar New Year 2024 - Year of the Dragon
Justices of the Peace (JPs)
Episode 24 - January 2024
This episode was broadcast on Friday 5 January 9am, and will air again on 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
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
Summertime Reading
Lunar New Year 2024 - Year of the Dragon
Listen to episodes of So Many Stories
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About So Many Stories
Christchurch City Libraries is trialling having a show on PlainsFM, so we can take our stories out to a wider audience. In our pilot four episodes, we will be: visiting different libraries; discovering the amazing staff who work there; and exploring services, resources, and programming. We'll also be talking about favourite books.