Best reads - Librarian's choice 2020 Posted on 12 January 2021 This year’s list of Best Reads according to our Librarians' choices is many and varied. Non-fiction items, teen books and junior fiction were popular this year as well as the usual fiction items. The year of publication varies widely. Best Reads 2020 - Librarians' Choice The Seven Sisters, Lucinda Riley (Fiction) The night fire, Michael Connelly (Fiction) Zero Day, David Baldacci (Fiction) Read on Book awards and reviews Cambridge & Te Awamutu
Libraries open Posted on 11 January 2021 Our libraries in Cambridge and Te Awamutu are now open with regular hours back in operation. Our late nights are on Wednesday and Friday. The Summer Holiday Reading Programme (Take a Shelfie) continues. Checkins recommence from Wednesday 13 January which is also the date for the next Story Session featuring 'Fun, fab fairy tales'. We look forward to welcoming you back to Waipā District Libraries. Read on Te Awamutu Cambridge
Happy Holidays Posted on 21 December 2020 For the holidays our libraries will be closed from 2pm on Thursday 24 December 2020, reopening Monday 11 January 2021 at 9am. Please note our revised hours on the following days: Monday 21 December - 9am until 8pm Tuesday 22 December - 9.30am until 8pm Wednesday 23 December - 9am until 8pm Thursday 24 December - 9am until 2pm Read on Cambridge & Te Awamutu Community
Christmas activities and holidays update Posted on 01 December 2020 It’s that time of the year and we’re pleased to announce our Christmas activities for 2020 and provide an update on our holiday hours. Join us for one of our card or craft making sessions or why not enter our Christmas Tree Craft Competition? Christmas Tree Craft Competition Ages 10-17 and 18 and above. PaperPlus gift vouchers to be won Entries close 11 December Read on Events Community Competitions
Craft supply swap success Posted on 21 November 2020 Participants arrived early to Saturday’s Craft Supply Swap eager to get first pickings at available items. This was the first ever Craft Supply Swap held by Waipā District Libraries, and for a first event the support was encouraging. Read on Te Awamutu Events Community Cambridge
Author events in November Posted on 03 November 2020 We are delighted to showcase three local authors in three separate events in November - Carolyn M King, Oliver McLeod and Scott Bainbridge. Join Carolyn. M (Kim) King for a presentation on her new book on invasive predators in New Zealand which offers a much-needed insight into one of New Zealand’s longest-running national crises. Read on Events Cambridge
Get Active programme continues Posted on 19 October 2020 Have you been along to one of our FREE Get Active 2020 classes? Or attended a session with one of our partner providers? It's not too late to start working on an Activity Passport. There is still a number of FREE classes to attend inhouse and partner providers will be handing out vouchers to new attendees for the duration of the programme. Read on Events Community Te Awamutu Cambridge
Library services return to normal Posted on 22 September 2020 Library services have returned to normal following the move to Level 1. Normal hours have resumed with the return of late nights on Wednesdays and Fridays. On Saturdays both libraries are open from 9.30am until 1pm. Computers, printing services, magazines and newspapers are all available again. Books may also now be returned inside the libraries. Regular children's programmes will return in Term 4. Read on Cambridge & Te Awamutu Events
Get Active 2020 Posted on 10 September 2020 Waipā District Libraries Get Active campaign is on again! We're encouraging Waipā residents to Get Active - with some incentives along the way. The campaign, Get Active 2020, will run from 14 September to 14 November. You can collect an activity passport from your library from Friday 11 September. Read on Events Cambridge & Te Awamutu
Programmes, events and hours update Posted on 04 September 2020 The Government has announced that the current alert levels will remain in place until at least 11.59pm on Wednesday 16 September. A number of library events had previously been rescheduled and our inhouse children's programmes have been on hold. Our opening hours have also been restricted. Our libraries will now reopen on a Saturday from Saturday 12 September, 9.30am to 1pm. Read on
Library events rescheduled Posted on 28 August 2020 A number of library events have been currently rescheduled on the assumption that the Waikato will move to Alert Level 1 at 11.59pm on Sunday 6 September. These include Film Club nights, Art Therapy Workshops for Children and the Kim King author talk on Invasive Predators in New Zealand. We are also pleased to announce new events including Make Give Live, a Beekeeper talk and details of our Get Active campaign for 2020. Read on Events
Alert Level 2 conditions Posted on 12 August 2020 The Waikato Region is now at Alert Level 2. Our libraries are open but with restrictions in place. This affects our opening hours (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday only) and our programmes will also be affected. There will be no Toddler Time, Wriggle n Rhyme or Makerspace until Alert Level 1. No events will take place until further notice. This affects Film Nights currently scheduled and may affect other forthcoming events. Read on Cambridge & Te Awamutu Community
Books Alive Special Events Posted on 05 August 2020 This year, in association with the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, an innovative approach to the Books Alive events has been created in response to challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Books Alive finalist events and virtual storytimes are being offered online for the first time. Waipa District Libraries is hosting two events. Read on Events Family interest
Regular programmes return for Term 3 Posted on 17 July 2020 We are pleased to announce that regular programming returns after the school holidays. This means the return of our weekly children's programmes: Wriggle & Rhyme - Tuesdays 10.30am-11am Toddler Time - Thursdays 10.30am-11am Makerspace - Tuesdays/Thursdays 3.30-4.30pm Read on Family interest Cambridge & Te Awamutu
School holiday activities and events Posted on 02 July 2020 The theme for the School Holiday programme in July is Winter Warmers! This is a virtual programme that families can do at home or away. Some inhouse events are also taking place. Packs can be collected at either library while stocks last. A few basic supplies from home will be needed but the packs contain instructions (with daily videos on Facebook and YouTube available at 10.30am) and most of the materials needed to do the activities. Read on Cambridge & Te Awamutu Family interest Events
Normal hours and services return Posted on 16 June 2020 Opening hours at our Cambridge and Te Awamutu libraries have returned to normal. Patrons can enjoy the convenience of late nights on both Wednesday and Friday (open until 8pm). Saturday mornings have also returned which operate from 9.30am until 1pm. Read on Cambridge & Te Awamutu
Services return from 15 June Posted on 09 June 2020 We are now in Level 1 and our libraries are preparing to return to normal business hours from Monday 15 June! Amongst other things this is to allow time for library furniture to be returned to normal, computers to be tested for use and items for browsing to be rearranged. We are working on returning services such as newspapers and magazines as soon as possible. Read on Cambridge & Te Awamutu
Winter Reading Challenge underway Posted on 04 June 2020 Waipā District Libraries Get Lit! Winter Reading Challenge is back, starting Thursday 4 June. This year sees the introduction of a teen challenge card as well as an adult challenge card. The bingo card is back as are the challenge squares! The challenge lasts for 12 weeks, so there is plenty of time to join the programme and work on an entry or two. Read on Cambridge & Te Awamutu Events
Libraries reopen Posted on 25 May 2020 After being closed for nine weeks our Waipā District Council’s libraries are now open (from Monday 25 May). It has been a busy time for staff during the closure. As well as cataloguing and processing numerous new books, staff have been able to stocktake each of our collections. While we will be open to patrons, our top priority is to ensure your safety and the safety of our staff so we ask that you work with us and adhere to restrictions which will be in place. Read on Te Awamutu Cambridge Community
Libraries prepare for opening during Level 2 Posted on 13 May 2020 New Zealand is now at Alert Level 2 and our Waipā District Council’s libraries are preparing to reopen. Our libraries will reopen at Alert Level 2 in stages. We’re excited to announce we will be opening our doors to patrons from Monday 25 May. Some services will be available from Monday 18 May. Our top priority during this time will be ensuring your safety and the safety of our staff so we ask that you work with us and adhere to restrictions which will be in place. Read on Te Awamutu Cambridge Community
Celebrate the music from New Zealand Posted on 05 May 2020 It’s May, which is NZ Music Month, a celebration of music from New Zealand, and the people who make it. We’re celebrating Level 3 style with a Songs in Lockdown Contest and an opportunity to learn to sing through the Zoom event, Discover your Voice. Read on Te Awamutu Cambridge Events
eResource boom during lockdown Posted on 21 April 2020 Waipā Libraries has experienced a boom in eResource loans since entering lockdown. The increase is not unexpected. With the number of avid readers in Waipā, it was not going to take long before readers were looking for options online. Waipā District Council announced that eResources would attract no charge and this and the need for continued reading material has sparked the boom. Read on Te Awamutu Cambridge
Library activities at home Posted on 01 April 2020 While reading is always a great option in these challenging times, there is a range of other options available through our library pages when you need a bit of a break. If you enjoyed our Heritage month, why not listen to one of our growing list of podcasts? Read on
Waipā libraries to offer free electronic resources to residents Posted on 26 March 2020 Waipā residents searching for a good book to read over the next four weeks will now have free access to adult and children’s eBooks and eAudiobooks. Waipā District Libraries has removed fees on its electronic resources, or e-resources, for the duration of the nationwide lockdown in an effort to help make isolation restrictions more bearable. Read on
Libraries closed until further notice Posted on 23 March 2020 Following the prime minister’s announcement that New Zealand is now at COVID-19 Alert Level 2, Waipā District Council’s libraries will be closed effective Monday 23 March. The move comes as a precaution to slow the spread of COVID-19 by promoting social distancing where possible. The Te Awamutu and Cambridge libraries will be closed until further notice. Read on Te Awamutu Cambridge
Mystery in the library Posted on 11 March 2020 The 2020 Mystery in the library series is coming to Te Awamutu! This will be the first year the annual event has been held in the Te Awamutu Library. Join four criminally minded storytellers from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty for an evening of mirth and mystery at 'Blood among the Blooms'. Update (17 March): Event postponed until further notice. Read on Te Awamutu Events
Art with books competition Posted on 09 March 2020 Book art by Elizabeth Sagan has inspired our Art with Books competition which is being run during Author Month this March. For more information on how to enter to access a selection of Sagan's inspiring work read on. Read on Te Awamutu Cambridge Events Competitions
Author month continues Posted on 09 March 2020 Author month opened with a bang with Get Published! by Ocean Reeve Publishing last week. The seminars on the book publishing industry were held in both Cambridge and Te Awamutu in front of highly appreciative audiences. Next week younger audiences will be entertained by Sharon Holt and her Te Reo Singalong Show and in late March Trudi Caffell and Julie Thomas will be sharing their knowledge at events in Cambridge. There's also our 'Art with Books' competition. Read on Cambridge Te Awamutu Events Family interest
What's on March! Posted on 27 February 2020 Following a highly successful Heritage month, March focuses on authors and publishing. Ocean Reeve Publishing is coming to Waipā prior to releasing Lisa Tamati's new book. Our libraries will be hosting the free 2 hour seminars in both locations. Local authors will share their knowledge at two workshops and for younger audiences there will be a Te Reo Singalong Show! Read on Events Cambridge & Te Awamutu Family interest
Plough of the Pakeha presentation to close Heritage Month Posted on 21 February 2020 A successful month of Heritage related events will come to a conclusion next week with a presentation on the story of the first ten years of Cambridge as a township by Roger Gordon (Waipa District Councillor and Cambridge Historical Society) and Greg Gascoigne (farmer and Rotarian). The presentation references Plough of the Pakeha, A Cambridge Regional History by Eric Beer and Alwyn Gascoigne (Greg's father). All welcome Cambridge Library, Tuesday 25 February at 6.30pm. Read on Cambridge Events
Heritage month launch Posted on 04 February 2020 February 2020 is Heritage month for Waipā District Libraries. We celebrate Waipā's rich heritage with a number of events scheduled throughout the month in both library locations. Opening Heritage month is a presentation by Historians Alan Hall and Sandra Metcalfe about the development of Te Awamutu through some of the town's heritage commercial buildings (the result of three years' research). Read on Te Awamutu Cambridge Events
Heritage Month Posted on 16 January 2020 February 2020 is Heritage month for Waipa District Libraries. Two highlights for Heritage Month will be the Cambridge Central Heritage Walk and the Te Awamutu Central Heritage Walk. Presentations will be made by Alan Hall, Roger Gordon and Greg Gascoigne, Te Awamutu Museum, Cambridge Museum and the NZ Remembrance Army. Read on Te Awamutu Cambridge Community Events Cambridge & Te Awamutu
Best Reads 2019 - Librarians' Choice Posted on 31 December 2019 This year’s list of Best Reads according to our Librarian's choices is many and varied. Non-fiction items were as popular this year as fiction items. The year of publication also varies widely. Read on Book awards and reviews
Most popular reads for 2019 Posted on 05 December 2019 Books by Lucinda Riley, Lee Child, JD Robb/Nora Roberts, Jeff Kinney, John Flanagan and Keto diet books feature heavily on this year's list of most popular items according to issues. 'Becoming' by Michelle Obama was the most popular non-fiction book, coming in with twice as many issues as the next most popular, 'The note through the wire' by Doug Gold. Read on
New library card designs Posted on 14 November 2019 Library users will have four new library cards to choose from as we head into the New Year. Waipa District Libraries ran a Library Design Competition in early November as part of Website Launch Week, which celebrated the libraries’ eagerly awaited new website. Read on Cambridge & Te Awamutu Events
