Tupu library turns two!

Manukau City Council's award winning Tupu-Dawson Road Youth Library will celebrate its 2nd birthday on Saturday 9th August with a showcase of local breakdancers and bands from Tangaroa College.

The celebrations will run from 11.00am to 2.00pm and includes performances by breakdancers Qwik n Ezy and Faith City Rockers, and Tangaroa College bands Simon Says and Nu Flava. There will be spot prizes and giveaways for new library members.

Qwik n Ezy performed at the library's opening day festival, in 2001, before going on to represent New Zealand in the World Breakdancing Championships in Germany last year.

"Working at Tupu Library for the last two years has been an awesome experience," says Joseph Collins, Library Assistant. "The kids that come here provide new challenges. The opportunity to see them learn and grow is really rewarding for my job."

"Having Tupu Library win several national awards generated a lot of pride in the community," explains Rosetta Reti Simanu, Manager Tupu Library. "Of course the real test of a good library is how much it is used by the people. We really appreciate the support we get from our local community, especially the schools, churches and young people."

Since August 2001, Tupu Library has received over 309,000 visits, 2501 people have joined the library and 74,017 books and other items have been borrowed. Tupu's staff have held over 370 different library programmes ranging from pre-school storytime sessions to secondary school students research skills classes.

Tupu Library also has reading clubs for children (Tusitara Club) and teenagers (OTS - Otara True Students) and hosts an evening homework centre for local students. The after school Buddy Reading Programme is strongly supported by Dawson Primary.

Tupu Library has also been selected as the subject of a longitudinal research topic by Victoria University of Wellington - to determine the impact of a library on the literacy levels of a community.

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