150 Celebrating Christchurch City Libraries 1859-2009 RSS feed

A special visit to new parents and babies in Libraries’ anniversary year

1 April 2009

Christchurch City Libraries will this week highlight its achievement as the first public library in New Zealand to establish a Books for Babies programme by making a special delivery of the popular packs to new parents.

Libraries and Information Manager Carolyn Robertson will join Books for Babies volunteers and fellow librarians to deliver packs at the Burwood Hospital Birthing Unit and Christchurch Hospital Maternity Unit this Thursday 2 April.

The special visits have been arranged to celebrate the 150th anniversary year of Christchurch City Libraries.

Sharing books, stories and language from day one is important to a baby's development. With this in mind, Christchurch City Libraries' launched the Books for Babies Programme in 1990 which was deemed International Literacy Year.
Each year about 5,000 Books for Babies packs are distributed to parents and babies through Christchurch hospitals, midwives and the Homebirth Association. The pack contains a high contrast black and white board book, perfect for very young babies up to about six months.

The packs are regularly distributed at Burwood Hospital, Christchurch Hospital and St Georges Hospital. Friends of the Library volunteers and Christchurch City Libraries’ Pre-school Outreach Librarian personally distribute the packs at Christchurch Hospital each week.

Christchurch City Libraries has received positive feedback from parents whose children have received the pack and from organisations that assist the project.

Approximately 95,000 Christchurch parents and their babies have received a Books for Babies pack since the project began in 1990.
Ongoing commitment to the programme from the Canterbury District Health Board, St Georges Hospital, the Homebirth Association and Penguin Books NZ has made Books for Babies possible and ensured its success.

The special visits to mark the 150th anniversary will take place at:

  • Christchurch Hospital Birthing Unit at 11am on Thursday 2 April 2009
  • Burwood Hospital Birthing Unit at 2pm on Thursday 2 April 2009

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