Children's Services (0-12 yrs)

Waitakere Libraries have a specialist Children's Team - the Kidz Team. They can assist with advice on reading materials, and organise storytimes, holiday programmes and school visits on a regular basis.

Does it cost to join the library?

Membership is free for all children and teens who live in Waitakere City or attend preschool, primary, intermediate or secondary school here. (Parents or Guardians are responsible for all items borrowed on a child's card). You can start the enrolment process by filling out the online form. Please take note of your registration number as this will be needed when you come into collect your library card.

Do I have to have my library card to borrow books?

Yes, you will need your card with you to borrow books or anything else from the library.

Does it cost anything to borrow books or puzzles?

No, it's free to borrow:

• Fiction (Harry Potter, Cat in the Hat, Animal Ark)
• Non-fiction (Science, Horrible Histories, Pets)
• Picture / Board Books (Hairy Maclary, Maisy, Kapai the Kiwi)
• Magazines (Disney Adventures, Lucky, Helix, Baby Bug)
• Books-On-Tape
• Puzzles

There are no late charges for children's books on children's cards. Check out the current featured material and new items especially for kids.

How long can I borrow things for?

• Books, books-on-tape and puzzles can be borrowed for 4 weeks
• Magazines can be borrowed for 2 weeks
• Music CDs, children's videos, CD-ROMs and Playstation games for 1 week (there is a small charge to borrow these)

Waitakere Central Library also has CD-ROMs and Playstation games.

Does the library have story times?

Preschool story times
Mandarin story times

Note: Story times are delivered during school terms only.

Yes, the Children's and Teens' Librarians hold free weekly story times.

The story times run for about 30-40 minutes and involve story reading, songs, action rhymes, felt boards and a lot of fun.

Anyone wanting further information can contact any library branch or the Children's Librarians.

Preschool story times

Mandarin story times

Christmas Storytime!

Come to the library and celebrate Christmas with us!

Don your Christmas hats and skip into Waitakere Libraries for three evenings of jolly jingles, sparkly stories and merry mayhem!
Be entertained by Mark the magician and meet Santa and his helpers!

Massey Library
Tuesday 8th December @ 6:30pm

New Lynn War Memorial Library
Friday 11th December @ 6:30pm

Waitakere Central Library
Wednesday 16th December @ 6:30pm

Babies wriggling and rhyming at the library

Westie Kids' Fav 50

Vote and Win! Waitakere Library and Information Services want to know what your all-time favourite books are! You can vote for your top 3 books by grabbing a voting form from any Waitakere Library Branch or from your school library. All votes go into the drawer to win a $50 book voucher.

We have had an overwhelming response to Westie Kids' Fav 50 votes and we're still counting them. Watch this space for the Fav 50 book list and winner of the $50 book voucher to be announced!

Recommended reading material

The following are recommended book lists for children and their parents on a range of topics. For more information or assistance in selecting reading material, please email the Children’s and Teens’ Services Librarians or phone us.

Check out the current featured material and new items.

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.

Any Questions?

Let us help you find the answers.

Any Questions is an online service for New Zealand school students, which enables users to get real-time online help from librarians in finding quality information to meet their school work needs.

Any Questions is available Monday to Friday from 1-6 pm by visiting www.anyquestions.co.nz.

Check out the useful websites and resources available in the FAQ section.

Internet safety for children

Netsafe - www.netsafe.org.nz
Internet safety information for kids, parents and schools.

Kidz Links

Study Help
 

The British Museum - One of the top museums in the world.

Science Museum - For those with a fascination with science and technology.

Any Questions - For students with homework questions. Search the FAQ database or chat to a 'live librarian' on weekdays from 1- 6pm.

Guinness World Records - Useful facts for those who just need to know.

Learning Planet - Neat learning activities from kindergarten to year 8.

National Geographic - For kids interested in the world around them.

Older kids

Teenreads - Book reviews, polls, author info, trivia and games for teens.

Urge - NZ teens dealing with stress, depression, drugs, anger, image.

Attitude - NZ teens dealing with life issues.

Wild about movies - A must for keeping up to date with the movies.

Funbrain - Stretch your mind with fun ways to help practice your reading and maths.

Scholastic- A variety of activities to keep you reading for fun.

Graffiticreator - Practice your tagging without the grief of real life.

Architectstudio3d - Be your own architect and create your own house.

Munchables - Make your own alien.

Captain Underpants - Calling all Captain Underpants fans.

Professor garfield - Garfield helps you boost your brain power.

Garfield fungames - Your favourite cat keeps the fun coming with a variety of activities.

Kidsreads - Book reviews, polls, author info, trivia and games for kids.

Younger kids

Jumpstart - Online activities from the company that provides cool learning programs.

First School - For kids just getting started at school.

Easy Fun School - Learning activities for the younger people.

Get Ready For School - Practice the skills you'll need for school, before you go.

Starfall - Learn to read the fun and easy way.

PBS kids - Fun sites for younger children.

BBC children - Everything for children from the BBC.

Services Brochure

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.

Children's and Teen's Services Brochure (Size 150K)

Books

The Family Book by Todd Parr

@ home with your Ancestors.com by Diane Marelli