Tūranga and the value of public libraries

November 11th, 2022. By Ben Brown

In this video, Ben introduces Tūranga (Christchurch Central Library) and talks about the value public libraries provide.

Children's area at Tūranga

Photo of the children's area at Tūranga (Christchurch Central Library) with wooden tree-like sculpture, rows of shelving, toys, search screens, bright coloured ring-shaped ornaments hanging from ceiling.

Image credit: Photo by Sgerbic. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Image cropped.

Watch Ben at Tūranga

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

  • Transcript — Tūranga and the value of public libraries

    Visual

    Ben Brown walks towards the entrance of Tūranga public library in Christchurch.

    Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador logo is superimposed over the video of Ben approaching the library entrance.

    Audio

    [Traffic noise and children's voices.]

    Ben Brown: Hey, I’m Ben Brown, Te Awhi Rito Children’s Reading Ambassador of Aotearoa New Zealand.

    And — this — is Tūranga. Come for a look.

    Libraries aren’t what they used to be, eh. They used to be these places, like, 50 years ago, I joined the library and what you used to get was ‘shhh’. It's not like that anymore. Come on in.

    Visual

    Ben Brown, now wearing a surgical mask, enters Tūranga and then walks towards and up the stairs while talking.

    Audio

    [Background noise of children and people talking]

    Ben Brown: So, in my head what a library is, is a complete public utility service.

    And they're dedicated to delivering you all the information you need, all the fantasy and imagination you need.

    If there's any document in this country that you need to find, you'll find it here somewhere. Not only that, you'll be able to download it on their computer system, you'll be able to send it to your extensive mailing list.

    Here we are in the kids' book section. It's my favourite place!

    Visual

    Slide with Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador logo.

Transcript — Tūranga and the value of public libraries

Visual

Ben Brown walks towards the entrance of Tūranga public library in Christchurch.

Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador logo is superimposed over the video of Ben approaching the library entrance.

Audio

[Traffic noise and children's voices.]

Ben Brown: Hey, I’m Ben Brown, Te Awhi Rito Children’s Reading Ambassador of Aotearoa New Zealand.

And — this — is Tūranga. Come for a look.

Libraries aren’t what they used to be, eh. They used to be these places, like, 50 years ago, I joined the library and what you used to get was ‘shhh’. It's not like that anymore. Come on in.

Visual

Ben Brown, now wearing a surgical mask, enters Tūranga and then walks towards and up the stairs while talking.

Audio

[Background noise of children and people talking]

Ben Brown: So, in my head what a library is, is a complete public utility service.

And they're dedicated to delivering you all the information you need, all the fantasy and imagination you need.

If there's any document in this country that you need to find, you'll find it here somewhere. Not only that, you'll be able to download it on their computer system, you'll be able to send it to your extensive mailing list.

Here we are in the kids' book section. It's my favourite place!

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.