Libraries: Embassies of reading

December 7th, 2022. By Ben Brown

In this video, Ben talks about libraries — ‘embassies of reading’.

The staircase at Tūranga

Staircase inside Tūranga (Christchurch Central Library)

Image credit: Jo Buchan. All rights reserved.

Watch Ben at Tūranga — his reading embassy

Te Awhi Rito partners acknowledge the support from Christchurch City Libraries in creating this video.

  • Transcript — Libraries: Embassies of reading

    Visual

    Ben Brown sitting inside Tūranga library in Christchurch.

    Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador logo is superimposed over the video of Ben sittinng in a chair inside the library.

    Audio

    [Background voices inside library/]

    Ben Brown: So, Te Awhi Rito Children’s Reading Ambassador. What’s that about?

    Well, what do ambassadors do? They represent.

    And where do they do their representing from?

    They do their representing from an embassy.

    So, what’s an embassy?

    Well, I’m a reading ambassador, so I represent reading. The embassy of reading is a library. And, oh I just happen to have one with me today.

    Visual

    Ben looks around the library.

    Audio

    Tūranga library, Christchurch New Zealand.

    Visual

    Slide with Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador logo.

Transcript — Libraries: Embassies of reading

Visual

Ben Brown sitting inside Tūranga library in Christchurch.

Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador logo is superimposed over the video of Ben sittinng in a chair inside the library.

Audio

[Background voices inside library/]

Ben Brown: So, Te Awhi Rito Children’s Reading Ambassador. What’s that about?

Well, what do ambassadors do? They represent.

And where do they do their representing from?

They do their representing from an embassy.

So, what’s an embassy?

Well, I’m a reading ambassador, so I represent reading. The embassy of reading is a library. And, oh I just happen to have one with me today.

Visual

Ben looks around the library.

Audio

Tūranga library, Christchurch New Zealand.

Visual

Slide with Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador logo.

Tags
public libraries / reading

By Ben Brown

Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Paoa) was the inaugural Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador. Ben has been a writer and publisher of children's and adult literature since 1992. His works include non-fiction, poetry, short stories, and children's books. He is a regular contributor to the Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Writers in Schools programme.