Reading left the page for Masterton District Library’s ‘Splash into Stories’ Summer Holiday Programme this year.
Designed for children up to 12 years old and their whānau, the Splash into Stories activity book could be enjoyed anywhere from the home to the park and anywhere in between, encouraging whānau to get out and about and explore.
Masterton Library gave away over 450 activity books that included movement challenges, scavenger hunts, reading tasks, and arts and crafts, the activity book offered something for every tamariki to enjoy. Each person completing the activity book earned a book voucher to Hedley’s Books, with 150 vouchers awarded by the end of the programme, funded by Masterton Trust Lands Trust.
The library team also delivered eight events, bringing together over 350 participants, alongside the teen programme “K-Pop reading Hunters” (a play on the K-Pop Demon Hunters!) attracting more than 20 teens to the summer reading initiatives - the highest teen participation in the past six years, with this group traditionally often challenging to engage.
Library and Archive Manager Tiffany Rawlings said the activities created a vibrant, engaging, and active summer reading experience for local children.
“While we are operating in a smaller space this year, we wanted to get creative and make sure our communities could engage with our library activities – just in a different format. It was a great success and we’re pleased to see the high level of engagement,” she said.
The programme was supported by the Masterton Trust Lands Trust, which helps fund initiatives that promote literacy and learning.
“Hedley’s Books has been supplying books to the Masterton Library from when they started as a free public library service. Since the 1980s, we’ve been running joint promotions to encourage children to read which led to the establishment of the Yarns in Barns: Wairarapa Festival of Reading in 2001,” said Rawlings.
Booksellers and Librarians exist in a symbiotic relationship with a common goal to encourage a connection and enjoyment of reading. Hedley's Books and The Masterton Library team have formed a particularly effective partnership to support the Masterton community.
“It has been a delight to see children coming in with their parents and proudly presenting their book vouchers. Helping these children choose a book to read is what bookselling is all about.
“It is lovely to see children with their parents looking and discussing their choices – sometimes dads and children and other times they are with mothers or as a family. In many cases I don’t think the children have previously had the opportunity to spend their own money on a book. You could see the pleasure in their faces,” says David Hedley from Hedley’s Books.
A big mihi to everyone who took part and got involved with the summer activities at Masterton Library – the team are already planning the next one!
