Upcoming Literature Events at all Libraries
Regular Literature Events
Come and share your passion for reading with library staff and fellow book lovers. Talk with others about books you have enjoyed and get ideas for new books and authors you might like to read.
Suitable for adults.
Hey kids, are you up for a challenge? The Children's Book Club at St Andrews Library is for 9- to 12-year-olds who love to read. We set the reading challenges and you pick the books!
Hey there book lovers! Ready to dive into some awesome reads? From thrillers to romance and everything in between, we've got your literary fix covered. Bring your friends, make new ones, and let's chat up a storm about our latest book obsessions over a cuppa at Glenview Library.
Hello poets, slam poets, theatricals, and other literary artists. Join us monthly for a night of exciting and mind-blowing open-mic poetry at Central Library! There’s no obligation to sign up or perform. You are welcome to simply bask in other people's poetry.
Join the Book Club at Te Kete Aronui to discuss your favourites with other book lovers in a welcoming atmosphere.
Suitable for adults.
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.
Suitable for adults.
Seasonal Literature Events
Summer and Winter Reading Programmes
Reading Programmes are an important activity for children to help keep up their literacy levels. Our seasonal reading programmes are for pleasure - allowing kids to choose what they want to read, with the focus being relaxation and enjoyment. You can sign up your children to our reading programmes for fun activities and competitions, including a grand finale event at the end of the programme.
Kirikiriroa Hamilton Zinefest
Kirikiriroa Hamilton Zinefest (kHz) is a yearly event which has been held at Central Library for the past few years.
If you’re new to this kaupapa, Zines are short run, self-published magazines that allow your imagination to run wild! Full of comics, collage, fan-art, photo essays and more, Zines draw inspiration from anywhere and everywhere.
Come along and have a look at the stalls where creatives from Hamilton and around the country share their zines and other work, or take part in zine-making workshops held during the festival month!
See when the next Zinefest will be held, and highlights from previous years.
Occasional Literature Events
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.
Harry Potter in the Library
Each year we invite Harry Potter fans aged 8-13 along to the library for a fun-filled day of wizarding events. Test your knowledge and earn points for your house! In 2021, due to demand, 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.
Reading Buddies
Reading Buddies involves reading to therapy dogs to build confidence with reading. This programme is designed specifically for school-aged children/young people who have print disabilities, dyslexia, or other disabilities which impact upon their reading; children who are very frightened of dogs and would like to improve their confidence around dogs through reading; and children who are learning to read in English as their second language, or children who are learning to read in Te Reo.
Reading Buddies sometimes has public intakes, taking place in our libraries; at other times Hamilton City Libraries works with local schools to bring this programme to pupils in the classroom.
To find out where and when the next public intake for Reading Buddies is open, keep an eye on our Event Calendar, Facebook page, or sign up to our newsletter, ePaanui. To enquire about running the Reading Buddies programme at your school, please contact the Whakaahu/Innovation Librarians.