What's On...
Children’s Summer Reading Programme:
Around the World in 80 Books, the Great Reading Expedition
This year’s children’s Summer Reading Programme starts on Saturday 17th December 2016 at your local Dunedin Public Library. We’re challenging curious adventurers to join our great reading expedition and travel to as many new places as they can through the power of books.
Journey in your imagination far beyond your everyday world on a voyage of infinite discovery..
Our partners for the Great Reading Expedition are the Otago Museum and the University Book Shop Otago, and you can start your journey from the Library, the Museum or the Book Shop. There are exciting challenges to complete at each location for triple the fun!
Saturday 17th December 2016 to Tuesday 31st January 2017
All Dunedin Libraries
Robert Burns Poetry Competition
Write a poem in English or Scots, inspired by the life or works of Robert Burns.
The Robert Burns Poetry Competition is a collaboration between the Dunedin Public Libraries and The Dunedin Burns Club, with the support of the Department of Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Otago, and the Otago Daily Times.
This year the Youth section of the competition will be open from 10th October, while the Published and Unpublished Poets sections open on Wednesday 30th November. The closing date for the competition is Wednesday 4th January, and entries will be judged by two published poets, 2016 Robert Burns Fellow Victor Roger and Dunedin writer Ruthie Morgan.
The winners will be announced and presented with prizes on Robert Burns' birthday, 25 January 2017.
Wednesday 30th November 2016
– Wednesday 4th January 2017
All Dunedin Libraries
FREE
Once Upon a Sunday Children’s Storytelling:
Celebrate our wonderful world with some stories and songs from local storyteller Kaitrin McMullan.
Bring along your poem to add to our poetry tree and help her grow!
For children of all ages.
Sunday 6th November, 2.00pm
Children’s Storypit, City Library
Are you excited about Christmas? So are we!
Come and hear some festive stories from local storyteller Kaitrin McMullan.
Plus, learn to sign a Christmas song and make a Christmas decoration to take home.
Sunday 4th December, 2pm
Children’s Storypit, City Library
Grab your pens and laptops and come write in!
An opportunity to write a 50,000 word novel in one month in the company of fellow writers of Dunedin.
All welcome. All genres of writing – the key thing is words on the page.
Thursdays during November, 3pm – 6pm
4th Floor, Dunedin City Library
Backstage at the Library: Fortune Theatre’s Production of The Mystery of Irma Vep
Behind the scenes of Fortune Theatre’s last production of the year, a hilarious mad-cap satire of a Victorian melodrama about what really happened to Irma Vep, the Lady of the House.
The cast and crew present an intriguing peek beyond the curtain of this upcoming production, based on a Penny Dreadful by Charles Ludlam.
Be prepared for howling werewolves, motley mummies, and villainous vampires everywhere you turn in this rapidfire, festive farce!
Bookings: 474 3690 or library@dcc.govt.nz
FREE
Tuesday 1st November, 6pm (join us for drinks from 5.30pm, courtesy of Fortune Theatre)
Dunningham Suite, 4th Floor, Dunedin City Library
Author Talks:
Jay Margrave: The truth behind the fiction of Mary Seacole
English author, Jay Margrave’s love of history is brought to the fore in Can Her Glory Ever Fade?, and in this talk Jay explains how she came to write about the life of the ‘black nurse who went to the Crimea’.
Having trained as a journalist and following a career as a lawyer, Jay Margrave now writes ‘mystoricals’ and other historical fiction, as well as editing professional books for the legal profession and writing travel books and poetry, and is currently touring New Zealand.
Thursday 17th November, 6pm
Dunningham Suite, 4th Floor, Dunedin City Library
Author Talk: Morning Tea with Deborah Challinor
Come and meet best-selling historical novelist, Deborah Challinor, over morning tea at the Library.
Deborah will be speaking on the topic of her dramatic new novel, The Cloud Leopard’s Daughter, featuring her much-loved characters Kitty, Amber and Rian.
Brought to you in partnership with the University Book Shop Otago and Harper Collins publishers.
Books will be available for purchase on the day, courtesy of University Book Shop Otago. (EFTPOS available)
Saturday 26th November, 11am
4th Floor, Dunedin City Library
BOOKING ESSENTIAL: 03 474 3690 or library@dcc.govt.nz
Miriam Frank: A Journey Around My Mother
Join Miriam Frank for a candid look at her latest book, An Unfinished Portrait, a memoir tracing the life of her anarchist mother through her photo album. Following her mother’s journeys from Republican Barcelona, Twenties’ Berlin, the Mediterranean, London’s Bloomsbury, and Paris’ post Belle Epoque, Miriam reconstructs a life peopled by political and cultural refugees, ex-Communists, photographers, artists, writers and historians, weaving a delicate portrait of identity, remembrance and belonging.
Miriam arrived with her mother as a WWII exile in Christchurch, where she went to high school. She went on to train at Otago University medical school, before a career that took her to Israel and then London. She is a regular visitor to New Zealand.
Wednesday 30th November, 6pm
Dunningham Suite, 4th Floor, City Library
AND
Thursday 1st December, 2pm
Chatsford Events Centre, (off Parklands Avenue) Chatsford Village, Mosgiel
RSVP Essential: 03 474 3690 or library@dcc.govt.nz
(Tickets for the Chatsford event available from Mosgiel Library)
Celebrate International Games Day with the Otago Miniature Tactician’s Society and Warhammer Dunedin.
Enjoy playing a range of table top strategy games, including the latest Star Wars.
Plus pick up a free Warhammer model, courtesy of Warhammer Dunedin, and join the painting workshop to get it battle-ready.
Saturday 19 November, 11am – 3pm
Ground and 2nd Floors, Dunedin City Library
Christmas Carols: Dunedin Harmony Chorus
We are delighted to welcome Dunedin Harmony Chorus to the Libraries this festive season to perform a medley of carols and songs. A splendid way to get into the spirit of Christmas!
City Library – Thursday December 8th 7pm
Blueskin Bay Library – Saturday 10th December, 11am
Waikouaiti Library – Saturday 10th December, 12.15pm
Mosgiel Library – Wednesday 14th December, 7pm