Hey, let’s start a new conversation / Me kōrero hou tātou
The future of the Ngatea Library and Service Centre
We’ve heard very strongly that there is huge support for keeping the Ngatea Library and Service Centre in the existing building, now we need to know more about what you want to see in an upgraded community space.
How will this look and feel? What services does it need to provide?
Be part of the unfolding story
Visitors from the future arrived in Ngatea on Tuesday April 16, as part of an event designed to continue the conversation about the future of the Ngatea Library and Service Centre.
Harper, played by Olivia Dustow, told the audience she came from Ngatea, only a long, long time in the future. She explained she had travelled back to 2019 through a time portal to retrieve a copy of a special community book for her dying grandmother Edith, a much loved local librarian who raised her after her parents were killed in a commuter pod crash. The book, which was written in 2019, contains the community vision for a new library and community space. Unfortunately, it has gone missing in the future, and Edith’s dying wish is for it to be returned to the library.
Unbeknown to her, the time portal has stayed open allowing some of her friends to come through too, and the audience meets Gizmo the library cat, 10 year old robotics genius Arlo, smooth talking cyber-criminal Zeke, and cyber-cop Greta, who is hot on Zeke’s tail. During the event Gizmo runs off with Arlo in pursuit and Zeke escapes the clutches of Officer Greta to disappear into the Hauraki District.
When Harper realises she has returned before the book was written she asks for help to put something together so she can take it back to her grandmother.
Hey, let’s write a book!
We’re getting behind Harper, and over the next few weeks, we want to work with you to write a book.
We want you to tell us what you think, and then we’ll summarise your feedback, thoughts and ideas to create a community vision for a future library and community space in Ngatea. The finished book will be presented to you and Harper at a final event (date to be confirmed) before she and her friends head back to the future.
Based on all your feedback, including the earlier petition received by council, a decision will be made on the final location and concept for the future library and community space.
Follow our characters from the future…
Follow Zeke on Instagram
Follow Harper on facebook
Pick up printed copies of our newsletters from our service centres and libraries.
Some ideas to help you think outside the square
From musty old books to augmented reality
Public Libraries of New Zealand – Libraries change lives
Escape room at Whakatane Library
Rotorua Lego Club (also done at Waikato Bay of Plenty and to be run at Te Aroha Library as from May)
Matamata-Piako Libraries blog ( activities such as our 3D pens, Code Club at Matamata (teaching children computer coding))