Libraries' Multicultural Services - Collections, Programmes and Events

Talofa Lava, Fakalofa Lahi atu, Malo e lelei, Kia Orana, Ni Sa Bula, Halo olaketa, Namaste, Ni Hao, Insa, Dobro Dosli, Welkom.

A very warm welcome to an introductory tour of Multicultural Services!

Our services are aimed at supporting people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds that need assistance with finding information or wanting resources to learn a new language or as simple as wanting to do some leisure reading in their own language. Throughout the year we offer many programmes for all age groups and celebrate significant days from different cultures.  Information about Waitakere Library & Information Services is also available in a number of languages.

What's New

Samoan Language week

New Titles for the Multicultural Collection

Waitakere Libraries will be celebrating Samoan Language Week from 31st May-4th June Samoan Language week Waitakere Libraries will be celebrating Samoan Language Week from 31 May - 4 June. Various activities, inspiring talks and workshops will be held at Waitakere Central Library, Massey Library, New Lynn Library, and Ranui Library. This years' theme for the week is 'O le Tātou gagana Sāmoa I Niu Sila', Our Samoan Language in New Zealand. There will be special library tours in Samoan for the Samoan speakers. Join us to celebrate the second largest spoken language in Waitakere city. To know more about this programme click here   New Titles for the Multicultural Collection Each month our Collection Managers bring you a list of new titles that we purchase for the Multicultural Collection. View the latest list.

Multicultural Services Advisor

Waitakere Library & Information Services is the first public library in New Zealand to introduce foreign language collections and services for culturally and linguistically diverse residents of the city. The development of these collections and services is a continuous process and is aimed at providing appropriate materials and programmes that will enrich the experience of library customers. The Multicultural Services Advisor is responsible for the development of these services that cater to the information and learning needs of people from diverse backgrounds. The programmes provided by Waitakere Libraries include Mandarin Storytimes, Tala Pasifika, Basic Computer Skills in Chinese and Repeat Read Aloud programme for Adults for practicing English language.

Throughout the year various other programmes are organised, Moon Festival, Samoan Language Week, Oceania Festival of Arts and Culture, Earth People (Race Relations Day), Diwali- the Festival of Lights to name a few. These programmes intend to bring together people from diverse cultures. They provide opportunities for celebrating and showcasing the ethnic diversity of the city and build intercultural awareness among communities.

The Multicultural Services Advisor is available to meet with the community groups and individuals to listen to their suggestions as well as to inform them about the foreign language collections, ESOL resources and programmes that cater to their needs.

To contact Multicultural Services Advisor
Shivangi Pradhan
Shivangi.Pradhan@waitakere.govt.nz
Phone: (09) 836 8000 ext 7806

Multicultural Collections

In response to the growing ethnic mix of the city, Waitakere Library & Information Services provide a Multicultural Collection that comprises a range of materials in foreign languages. Our aim is to provide recreational and leisure reading materials for all age groups. Waitakere Libraries also support people to maintain their mother language and help to bridge linguistic and cultural divides within Waitakere city.

The Multicultural Collection consists of more than 15000 items in over 45 languages. The level of collections of each of these languages varies from small core collections to large collections, with a wide variety of subjects. It contains adult fiction, non-fiction, junior fiction, non-fiction, music CDs, foreign language magazines and access to online newspapers.  Some language collections are difficult to obtain and thus have limited items.

To view the collection click on the language of your choice.  This link gives you an entire list of items available in that collection.

Collection Development Policy - Multicultural

• Recreational collections of popular fiction to reflect the range of languages spoken by these groups.
• Print format newspapers in key language groups
• Electronic resources. Issues of cost and the speed of delivery mean that where possible first language newspapers may be provided in electronic form and future plans are to add such resources to our Web site so that they can be accessed remotely and throughout the library network
• Information collections of non-fiction works to support learning and study.
• These collections need to be managed flexibly, responding to the shifting patterns of immigration. Some languages are difficult to acquire.

(Note: Currently this policy is under review and the updated version will be available after June 2010)

How to find

Multicultural Collection online catalogue

•  Step one: click on Advance Search on online catalogue
•  Step two: Type * in Any Field
•  Step Three: Select the language you want to search from the language list
•  Step Four: Select the material you wish to find or leave ANY which will give you all results
•  Step Five: Click on ‘Go’ button.

This will give you an entire list of materials available in that language.
View the catalogue

ESOL Resources

Waitakere ESOL Providers' Directory 2009- 10

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print this document.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Auckland Regional Migrant Services

Readers and Volunteers gather for Repeat Reading Aloud session

Read Aloud Programme for Adults

Waitakere Libraries supports Repeat Read Aloud programme for Adults delivered by the ‘Culture Company Reading 4U’ at New Lynn, Massey and Waitakere Central Library.

The programme aims to support and raise confidence of English language learners by offering one to one reader. The target group are the adults who wish to increase their vocabulary, pronunciation and listening skills through reading. The programme is free of cost.

The programme is offered during the school term for six week.

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print this document.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Term one and term two schedules for 2010 Size 21K)

Suzhen Zhang (centre, in red) of Waitakere Libraries with a captive audience during Mandarin Story Times

Mandarin Story Times at Waitakere Libraries

Every Friday, at Waitakere Central and New Lynn Library traditional and contemporary stories are told in Mandarin.

Find out more about this fun time for the family below.

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print these documents.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Mandarin Story Times at Waitakere Central Library (Size 1049K)

Mandarin Story Times at New Lynn Library (Size 1247K)

Preschoolers gather for the Pasifika storytimes

Tala Pasifika, Pasifika Storytimes

A special fortnightly programme for preschoolers is offered at Ranui library during every school term. The programme is jointly offered by Waitakere Libraries and Auckland Museum. It provides hands on activities for children to experience traditional resources from the Pacific such as pump drills and tapa rubbing. The sessions are filled with traditional storytelling, songs and dance as well as children learns new words in pacific languages.

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Tala Pasifika, Pasifika Storytimes (Size 365K)

Basic Computer lessons in Chinese

Basic computer lessons are taught in Mandarin at Massey and Ranui learning centre.

中文电脑入门课程
Massey 和 Ranui 学习中心现在开设了普通话电脑入门课程。
了解课程详情， 请点击这里

Foreign Language Newspapers

Want to learn a new language?

Many resources are available including grammar books, kit-sets (cassette/ CDs + Book), and dictionaries to learn Burmese, Cantonese, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Marathi, Portuguese, Romanian and many more languages. These resources can be found in an adult non-fiction section in any library branch in Waitakere.

Translated Brochures

Information about Library services in many languages

• Translated Brochures
  

Archive of Multicultural events

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print this document.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.