Upcoming Adults' events at all Libraries
Regular Adults' Events
There are a variety of groups which meet regularly at our libraries to discuss what they are reading. See our Literature Events page for more information on each of these groups.
No, this is not Chips and Pi in the traditional sense. These sessions focus on Microchips and Raspberry Pi’s microcomputers! Chips and Pi is essentially our LAB lesson series redesigned for adults who have little or no experience with computers and electronics but wish to learn more about electronics and technology. Come and give it a go!
In LanguageLAB participants can join a fun, friendly, and relaxed learning environment to develop their overall English skills, in particular speaking, listening and pronunciation.
There will be a variety of activities and games each session to help build a fun classroom setting! We will also have various homework exercises for participants to develop their writing and reading skills. Come and join in!
Practice your English in this fun social group! Grab a coffee from a nearby café, meet new friends and build your confidence.
Would you like help with your CV, setting up an email account, online job applications, or general computer help? One-on-one help sessions are available.
Seminars on a range of genealogical topics are held regularly on Level 3 of Central Library. Previous topics have included: Shipping Records, Military Records, Irish Family Research, and Genealogy for Beginners.
Volunteers from the Hamilton Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists are available to assist with family history research queries.
Experienced board game volunteers will be available to help explain new games, or bring your own to share and teach. In partnership with Game Centre.
Learn how to save money by caring for your own guitar. Bring along a guitar that needs work, and learn the basics of tuning, restringing, cleaning, and more.
Heritage Talks are held bi-monthly on Level 3 of Central Library. Previous topics have included: using the Maaori Land Court Minute Books, identifying locations in historic photographs, histories of selected Hamilton streets, researching the history of a house, transit camps in Hamilton, the New Zealand Remembrance Army, and the Maunder family photographs (a collection of glass plate negatives in our Historic Photographs collection).
Justice of the Peace (JP) services are available at the Central Library and Glenview Library.
Duties, which all JPs can perform, include witnessing signatures on documents, certifying copies of documents and completing declarations (including statutory declarations), affidavits or affirmations.
Come and learn New Zealand’s official language for the Deaf Community with free weekly sign language classes at Central Library.
Come along and spend an hour each week learning about the language and culture of Russia. This is a beginner level class, run in collaboration with the New Zealand Russian Community Trust.
Free origami workshop with a different theme each month! All welcome, no registration required.
Suitable for all ages.
Practice your speaking and communication skills in a fun, welcoming and friendly environment. Suitable for both fluent and new English speakers - all levels of ability are welcome.
Meet new people and enjoy a game or two of chess! All ages and levels of play are welcome.
Spend an hour with the Auaha Librarians during which we’ll talk nothing but stickers!
Got a design?
The Auaha Librarians will help you get your design ready for print and cut on our industrial vinyl printer.
Don’t have a design yet?
The Auaha Librarians can show you different tools from absolute beginner to semi-professional to help you get started with your first design.
Suitable for all ages.
Bring your damaged clothing to repair, e.g. ripped, worn or torn jeans; shirts with stubborn stains that won’t come out; or your favourite pair of holey socks that you can’t bring yourself to throw out. Tools and scrap material provided, but we encourage you to bring your own as well.
Suitable for all ages.
If you share our passion for writing, you are welcome to meet with us fortnightly, share your work, receive feedback and support on our writing journeys.
Occasional Adults' Events
Auaha Workshops
Aside from regular programming, we often run various one-off workshops and courses in our makerspace. Past and planned programmes include Candle Camp, 3D Printing Basics, Podcast Recording, TronBots, Coding Classes, Watercolour Painting, and more! View our Event Calendar to see what's coming up.
If you're proud of a creative hobby or skillset you have, and want to share your passion with others through Auaha Makerspace, please get in touch with us!
Author Events
Our libraries have hosted a number of authors for talks and workshops, particularly during the Hamilton Book Month festival each August.
Look out for the next author event on our Event Calendar, Facebook page, or sign up to our newsletter, ePaanui, for updates.
Genealogy Workshops
Genealogy Workshops are held regularly on Level 3 of Central Library. The workshops offer instruction in varying aspects of family history research and the resources we have to offer.
Keep an eye on our Event Calendar, Facebook page, or sign up to our newsletter, ePaanui, to find out when the next Genealogy Workshop will be.
Harry Potter in the Library
In 2021, due to demand for an event similar to our annual children's Harry Potter celebration, we invited grown-up Harry Potter fans to compete in teams for the "Try-Wizard Cup"!
Look out for dates for the next Harry Potter Celebration on our Event Calendar, Facebook page, or sign up to our newsletter, ePaanui, for updates.
Job Club by Workbridge
Find out how Workbridge can empower you to achieve your employment goal. Come along and speak to an Employment Consultant who can provide you with advice and support on your job search journey.
Next time Job Club runs in our Libraries, it will be listed on our Event Calendar, Facebook page, and our newsletter, ePaanui.
Kanorau Digital Literacy
Kanorau Digital is a new short course designed to help individuals who find the digital world a bit (or a lot) challenging. During this digital skills course, you will gain the skills to navigate websites and apps with more confidence. Each course topic covers different learning areas and everyday digital skills. This short course is fees-free!
To find out where and when the next Kanorau Digital course is running, keep an eye on our Event Calendar, Facebook page, or sign up to our newsletter, ePaanui. Alternatively, you can check the Kanorau Digital Literacy website.
The MoneyMates Workshop
Balancing everyday family life and money can be tough. We have workshops about how to make your own budgets and how budgets help us to achieve our goals. The workshops are a block course of 4 weeks.
To find out where and when the next Money Mates workshop is running, keep an eye on our Event Calendar, Facebook page, or sign up to our newsletter, ePaanui.
Night @ the Library
Night at the Library is an annual event, where family history researchers are allowed 8 hours of uninterrupted research time on Level 3 of Central Library. Throughout the event there are also tours of back of house areas, pizza and specialist research assistance available.
Look out for the Night @ the Library on our Event Calendar, Facebook page, or sign up to our newsletter, ePaanui, for updates.
Out of the Box: Archives in the Community
In 2021, the Whakaputu/Archives and Special Collections toured our five community libraries. Bringing local items from the collections to display, the team visited the libraries to answer your questions on anything from searching the collection, recording oral histories, digitising photographs, to how to care for your own treasures at home.
Sadly, the last few stops on the tour had to be postponed due to lockdown, but we hope to be able to resume this special programme soon. Look out for dates for the next Out of the Box event on our Event Calendar, Facebook page, or sign up to our newsletter for updates.
Learn Te Reo Maaori
In 2021 we offered beginner Te Reo Maaori classes both in person using the Te Ataarangi method, and online. Check our Event Calendar or follow our Facebook page to find out when these classes start again.