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 PlainsFM 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. We also bring you a peek between the pages of interesting pukapuka.
- Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM Fridays at 9am.
- The next show is on Friday 7 April 2023.
2023 shows coming up:
7 April; 5 May; 2 June; 7 July; 4 August; 1 September; 6 October; 3 November; 1 December
Episode 14 - March 2023
This episode was broadcast on Friday 3 March 9am, and aired again on Sunday 5 March 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Here's what you will hear in Episode 14. This month’s episode is all about the diverse people of Ōtautahi | Christchurch and the Christchurch City Libraries network.
International Women's Day: Wednesday 8 March
We talk to Digital Curation Librarian Sarah Snelling ahead of International Women’s Day.
Trustee Sarah Mankelow chats about the Humans of Christchurch | Ōtautahi exhibition, and ‘human’ Sophie Estob Gradwell shares her story.
Christchurch Pride: Friday 10 March to Sunday 19 March
Lara Moses, Library Liaison – Youth and Youth Librarian Alice McLay share how Christchurch City Libraries will be celebrating diversity and providing a safe space for tamariki, rangatahi and LGBTQIA+ allies during Christchurch Pride and beyond. Everything from magnificent Queens telling stories, to book lists and information on local organisations you can access at your local library.
Ukrainian Association of New Zealand – South: Saturday 11 March
Michael Lidski shares a little about the local Ukrainian community and invites us to join this fundraising event at Tūranga on Saturday 11 March.
Nowruz: Sunday 12 March to Sunday 26 March
Hero Modares of the Kia Ora Academy introduces us to Nowruz or Persian New Year. Celebrate Nowruz with us on Saturday 25 March 2pm to 4pm at Tūranga. There is also an Iranian exhibition on from Sunday 12 March to Sunday 26 March.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week: Monday 13 March to Sunday 19 March
Dr Annick Janson spoke to us from her home in Raglan about her personal and professional experience of the challenges and beautiful opportunities that neurodiversity can bring for whānau. Yaniv Janson’s discovery of art, his exhibition and development of his fully booked Colour me happy workshop based on the PERMA theory of wellbeing. Finally Annick invites you to join her for the Positive Parenting workshop bring together her personal experience and professional knowledge on parenting with neurodiverse whānau.
Visit our page on Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
So Many Stories
Christchurch Pride 10 March to 19 March 2023
Humans of Christchurch Ōtautahi Exhibition (until 12 March)
LGBTQIA+ stories and resources at the library
Episode 13 - February 2023
This episode was broadcast on Friday 3 February 9am, and aired again on Sunday 5 February 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Here's what you will hear in Episode 13:
- Listen to a short segment about Waitangi Day by Maatakiwi.
- Ngapiu talks about Māori Services and the Pou Kohikohinga Māori role.
- We hear from Andrew who is part of the Otago Museum team bringing the interactive Tūhura Tuarangi - Aotearoa in Space exhibition to Tūranga.
- The start of February marks the end our Summertime Reading Challenge competition so Bronwyn explains what happens now and when our lucky winners will be contacted.
- Margot and her Fendalton Library colleague Ray have a long relationship with the annual Culture Galore event at Ray Blank Park. We hear about how library is involved on the day, children’s books collection in Italian, Danish and Portuguese alongside Korean and Chinese items held at Fendalton Library that are part of the library network World Languages collection.
- A highlight of summer has been our partnership with Orana Park bringing our library van into the zoo and presenting special Storytime sessions at various animal exhibits including the gorillas and Spider Monkeys! We hear from park representative Khloe Peck about working at a zoo and some of the important conversation work they are involved in.
- To mark the restart of Wā Pepi Babytimes and Wā Kōrero Storytimes around the network we hear from experienced Fendalton Library presenter Margot White about what these regular programmes include and why your whānau are welcome to join. If you would like to bring the whole whānau down to relax and enjoy stories and craft, Margot has her special Bedtime Stories in the evening on the first Friday of the month, with the 3rd of February being a special Lunar New Year session.
- Robyn tells why her whānau are big fans of their local Storytimes sessions at Hornby Library.
So Many Stories 13
Te Tiriti o Waitangi - The Treaty of Waitangi
Waitangi Day in Christchurch & Canterbury - Mon 6 Feb 2023
Wā Pēpi: Babytimes
Summertime Reading Challenge
Wā Kōrero: Storytimes
World Languages Collection
Episode 12 - January 2023
This episode was broadcast on Friday 6 January 9am, and will air again on Sunday 8 January 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Here's what you will hear in Episode 12:
- Children and Young Adults Service Specialist Ky McWilliam speaks to Jessica Urlichs, a poet and author from Aotearoa. They talk about Jess's picture book The Rainbow in My Heart, her writing process and how the book can be used to help children learn about their emotions.
- Electronic Resource Librarian Simone Entwisle tells us about how you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks anywhere you are over the summer including the very popular and guiltiest of pleasures; the romance novel.
Jessica Urlichs' suggestions for the Summertime Reading Challenge - He Wero Pānui Pukapuka mō Raumati.
So Many Stories 12
Read a hot romance eBook this summer
Best eBooks for Adults 2022
Have yourself a merry little Christmas: eBooks
Historical fiction - eBooks and eAudiobooks
Romance - eBooks & eAudiobooks
Romance fiction reading guide
Episode 11 - December 2022
This episode was broadcast on Friday 2 December 9am, and will air again on Sunday 4 December at 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Here's what you will hear in Episode 11:
- Sarah Cameron (Public Programmes Coordinator) and Susan Osteen (Children’s Librarian) tell us how our Summertime Reading Challenge helps tamariki avoid the slump in reading and literacy levels over summer by encouraging reading for pleasure in a fun and rewarding way.
- We needed to hear from tamariki about what they are reading so we hear from library regular Zahra Toumi on her latest reads and Library Assistant Jon Truesdale chats with budding broadcasters Jimmy Cribb, Theo Garing, and Macklin Keatley.
- Co-chair of the local English teachers collective Waitaha English Laura Borrowdale attended at a recent zine making workshop held in Tūranga Central Library and for secondary school English teachers in Waitaha, Canterbury.
- Professional Learning and Development Advisor Alice Cameron gives a glimpse of how Christchurch City Libraries staff are supported in professional development to provide quality services and access to resources for all library users.
So Many Stories 11
What's on: March, April, and May 2023
Best Books of 2022 for Kids & Teens
Summertime Reading Challenge
Episode 10 - November 2022
This episode was broadcast on Friday 4 November 9am, and will air again on Sunday 6 November at 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Here's what you will hear in Episode 10:
Katie Brazil, Team Leader for Outreach and Learning provides an overview of how we provide services to a wide range of community groups and individuals as well as programming such as Shared Reading.
Library Assistant Toni Campion-Cusack talks to Marionette and Monique from Kilmarnock Enterprises about the Library van service and how the library supports their team.
Tokona te kaika, Homelink customer Joan Rendall shares her love of reading and how the Outreach library van and our new Tokona te kaika services allows her to continue to read despite limited mobility.
Teacher Nicki and two tamariki, Marley (4) and Nate (3) from Sydenham Community Preschool talk about their experience of our Pre-School Outreach Delivery Specialist Susan Dodd.
Jono from Housing First along with Dave and Michelle talk about the safe community gathering place The Commons has become each Wednesday where kai, music and art is shared. World Homeless Day Photovoice Exhibition.
Lis Rate-Smith from Drug Arm Art East tells us about the Recovery Garden exhibition coming to Tūranga on the 18th of November. The therapeutic potential of art and how libraries have provided opportunities to discover new mediums and technology that inspire further creativity.
Listen to Lis:
Ngapiu Tainui-Maclure (Pou Kohikohinga Māori) shares how she and her team provide iwi research guidance in groups and one to one.
Mataakiwi Wakefield (Kaitakawaenga) shares the significance of November 5th and Parihaka.
So Many Stories 10
How we can help you: Use the library from home
Episode 9 - October 2022
This episode was broadcast on Friday 7 October 9am, and will air again on Sunday 9 October at 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Here's what you will hear in Episode 9. We focus on topics related to heritage and history and celebrate International Day of Older Persons (October 1):
- Lyn Gifford (Librarian – Family History) chats with Poppia Marriott (Library Assistant) about Christchurch Heritage Festival
- Sarah Tester (Community Stories Liaison) and Maeve Platts (Resource Description and Access Librarian) talk Photo Hunt and Canterbury Stories
- Toni Campion-Cusack (Library Assistant) describes her work with rest homes and care centres
- Darral Campbell (CEO Dementia Canterbury) reflects on an almost decade-long partnership between Christchurch City Libraries and Dementia Canterbury
- and we feature Louisa Vowles’ (Exhibitions Project Manager) address to guests at the opening of the In Search of Ngaio exhibition.
Episode 9
School holidays
Photo Hunt 2022: Celebrations and Commemorations
Photo Hunt 2022: Local tragedies
Photo Hunt 2022: Happy Holidays!
Christchurch Hip Hop Summit: Sunday 9 to Saturday 15 October
Photo Hunt 2022: Perplexing public proceedings
QUIZ: Milestones and Moments - Christchurch Photo Hunt
Christchurch Heritage Festival - 7 to 24 October 2022
Photos Assemble! Christchurch Photo Hunt 2022
Chat with a Living Book: Tūranga
Christchurch Photo Hunt 2022
In search of Ngaio exhibition: Saturday 27 Aug-Sunday 27 Nov
Canterbury Stories
Services for older adults
Episode 8 - September 2022
This episode was broadcast on Friday 2 September 9am, and again on Sunday 4 September at 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Here's what you will hear in Episode 8:
- Justice shares ways you can adopt te reo into your everyday conversations with some handy kupu.
- Hear about the exciting virtual reality underwater experience being shared with students in an effort to spread the word about conversation and ways to keep our waterways healthy.
- Cathy from the Richmond Community Garden and our very own library courier driver Steve share their community garden experiences and ways you can participate.
- Amber will teach us greetings and share information on events happening during New Zealand Chinese Language Week including traditional calligraphy.
- We will also hear about the wide range of newspapers, magazines and books available in our libraries and electronically via Libby / Overdrive.
Episode 8
New Zealand Chinese Language Week
Mental Health
Richmond Community Gardens - So Many Stories
Chinese language eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines
The Great Library Seed and Plant Swap
Celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori
NZ-VR
Sustainable living
Episode 7 - August 2022
This episode was broadcast on Friday 5 August 9am, and again on Sunday 7 August at 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Here's what you'll hear in Episode 7:
WORD Christchurch Festival and a welcome back to LIVE events!
Nic Low
"What are you really excited about in this year's Festival?"
Moata interviews Nic Low, Programme Director for WORD Christchurch, looking ahead to WORD from 31 August - 4 September.
The Unlikely Librarian
"Aren't we all books bound in human skin?"
Poppia chats with Mike Moroney (aka the Unlikely Librarian), Library Assistant Auahatanga | Creativity tells us about his involvement in some of this year’s WORD events.
Mike's event is Indelible: Tattoo Tales Saturday 3 September 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Ray Shipley
"There's nothing quite like a live performance."
Poppia talks with Ray Shipley, poet, comedian, and former Youth Librarian looking forward to their Late Night Poetry Hour at WORD and National Poetry Day (Friday 26th August). They'll let you in on some picks from recent NZ poetry and fiction. Check out our Poetry page for more.
Ray is appearing in:
Ray Shipley's Late Night Poetry Hour Friday 2 September 9pm to 11pm
The Stardust Cabaret Saturday 3 September 7.30pm to 9pm
Out here: An anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ writers from Aotearoa Friday 2 September 4pm to 5pm
and recommends Mohamed Hassan: How to be (a bad) Muslim Friday 2 September 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Chloe Gong
You'll also hear an excerpt from an interview with Chloe Gong talking about her latest YA novel Foul Lady Fortune with Alice and Alicia from Tūranga. Listen to the full interview.
Episode 7
Poetry
#LibraryFromHome: National Poetry Day
Meet Chloe Gong: interview
WORD Christchurch Festival 2022
Go for launch! WORD Christchurch 2022
Margaret Mahy
Episode 6 - July 2022
Here's what you'll hear in Episode 6:
- Maatakiwi talks to local weaver Paula Rigby-Hira about a new woven installation by Ōtautahi Weavers at Linwood Library.
- Ben Russell head of Music at Te Aratai (formerly Linwood College) tells us how the Library connects with his students and whānau through the annual musical showcase.
- The success of the Manga and More! hosted by Wendy.
- How the Recycle a Device initiative for Rangatahi came about and how you can support it.
- Emilie tells us about The Better Digital Futures programme and how it empowers older adults.
This episode was broadcast on Friday 1 July 9am, and again on Sunday 3 July at 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Episode 6
Manga meet ups
Happy birthday, Pigeon: Mo Willems' bus obsessed bird
Episode 5 - June 2022
Here's what you'll hear in Episode 5:
- Learn about the significance of Matariki how you can learn more and participate in events around the city for all ages.
- Susie from our Learning Centre team will share how technology will be used to explore the virtual environment and Matariki stars for school students.
- Ky shares how you can celebrate Christchurch Pride around the library network through books and craft.
- What’s On in June
This episode was broadcast on Friday 3 June 9am, and again on Sunday 5 June at 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Episode 5
Matariki: Māori New Year
Auahatanga - Creative Spaces
What's on: March, April, and May 2023
Episode 4 - May 2022
Here's what you'll hear in Episode 4:
- Donella introduces the library at Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre.
- Dan covers Learning Centre offerings. Better Digital Futures, Minecraft club, Auahatanga - Creative Spaces. You can submit 3D print designs on our website. Inventors who have come in to print super-secret designs and even a brain! There is music equipment available at Te Hāpua and a Beats lab drop in.
- Ben speaks with Patricia who set up Give a Little page for a Transgender news publication at the library and makes make use of library computers to create content.
- Dan speaks with Venkant about helping him and his grandchildren translate their idea for a clock showing multiple time zones into and 3D printable design and print using multiple colours. This solves the issue of not calling family overseas in the middle of the night.
- Barbara Clarke talks about who Friends of the Library are and what to expect at the Book Sale.
- Bronwyn promotes CSO events, Te Ao Hou travelling exhibition, Youth Week events including Clothing Swap.
- What’s On in May
This episode was broadcast on Friday 6 May 9am, and again on Sunday 8 May at 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Episode 4
Big Bargain Book Sale - Friday 24 & Saturday 25 March 2023
Auahatanga - Creative Spaces
Te Ao Hou: A moment in time
Youth Week - Saturday 7 May to Sunday 15 May 2022
Friends of the Library
NZ Music Month at Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa NZ Music Month 2022 - Ōtautahi
3D Printing
Episode 3 - April 2022
Here's what you'll hear in Episode 3:
- Te Ao Hou: A moment in time exhibition - hear from Māia and Julia.
- Nora and Mal speak on their Pasifika roles and collection.
- Sionainn and Nameeta give a run down on April's school holiday programmes.
- Dan Drumm explains the Learning Specialist role and Auahatanga - Creative Spaces.
- Tūranga manager Chris Hay gives a brief overview of how Tūranga came about as an anchor project for the Christchurch rebuild.
- Find out about the Book a librarian service.
- Wellbeing expo Sunday 2 April 1pm to 4pm
- Sketch @ Tūranga
- Taupuni Oro/Ataata – Audio/Video Studio
- “Tuesday Terrors” Horror book club. Last Tues of month 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
- What’s On in April
This episode was broadcast on Friday 1 April 9am, and again on Sunday 3 April at 1pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Episode 3
Events: Find out what's on at the library
Ngā Moutere o te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa / Pasifika
School holidays
Tuesday Terrors Horror Book Club
Auahatanga - Creative Spaces
Focus on Wellbeing Mini-Expo Saturday 2 April 1pm to 4pm
Book a Librarian - At the Library or At Home
Taupuni Oro/Ataata – Audio/Video Studio: Tūranga
Episode 2 - March 2022
Here's what you'll hear in Episode 2:
- It’s Sea Week. Enjoy a visit to New Brighton Library and Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre
- Immigrant Journeys exhibition at Tūranga
- No More Fines! An interview with Carolyn Robertson, Head of Libraries and Information
- What’s On in March
This episode was broadcast on Friday 4 March 9am, and aired again Sunday 6 March at 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Episode 2
What's on: March, April, and May 2023
Seaweek
Books to celebrate Seaweek
Seaweek 2021: Mermaids and Mermen
Episode 1 - February 2022
Here's what you'll hear in Episode 1:
- Celebrating Lunar New Year
- A visit to Upper Riccarton Library
- Book review from The Unlikely Librarian
- What’s On in February
This episode was broadcast on Friday 4 February 9am, and will air again on Sunday 6 February at 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on PlainsFM.
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Episode 1
What's on: March, April, and May 2023
Lunar New Year 2023 - Year of the Rabbit
The Unlikely Librarian
Knitting
Events: Find out what's on at the library
Knit 'n' yarn
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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.
