Foreword

“Are libraries still a thing in New Zealand?” I was recently asked this question by a UK resident concerned about closures of libraries there and the impact that had on children in particular. I told her that, yes, New Zealand public libraries are busy and lively places and that every library member in Dunedin, including babies and young children, can have up to thirty items out at a time. She was amazed and impressed.

Dunedin Public Libraries have always been committed to providing an excellent collection and service to the children of Dunedin; our library led the way in this country by offering the first free lending library to children in 1910. The children’s library collection and service went on to become a benchmark, under the inspiring leadership of Dorothy Neal White, author of About Books for Children and Books before Five. Our children’s book collections today are built upon the wonderful collections established by her. She was passionate about getting children hooked on reading.

The strength of our collections, as well as the Children’s Literature Research collection (which focuses on the history of children’s literature, illustration, storytelling, author biographies and lists of best books) inspired me to begin the quarterly meeting, Continued Sense of Wonder. This brings together local adults with either a professional interest in or a personal passion for children’s and young adult books. I recently wrote about this group for The Sapling, an online magazine dedicated to promoting discussion about children’s literature.