For those of us who were able to attend yesterday evening and today, and for any who had other commitments that precluded attendance, I have attached a brief summary of the Symposium.

A huge thanks to all those who made the event a reality.  It was a a whirlwind across the vastness of the Pacific, one that opened up the many possibilities and needs for research.  I look forward to many future developments in these areas.

Here’s the roster of events for the Centre for the Book Symposium, Books and the Pacific, 17–18 November: 2022 Symposium Programme.

We will be hosting this year’s Symposium for the Friday meeting via Zoom Events.  Logging in requires no special software from you beyond your usual Zoom connection.  A separate Zoom link for Thursday evening’s public lecture at the Dunedin Public Library is listed in the programme. To Register for the main event on Friday please visit the Events page.  If you do not use Zoom, email us and we’ll add you.  We’d be very grateful if you could do so by 8 November so that we have time to prepare name badges and can let catering know of all dietary requirements for the morning and afternoon teas.  There are no fees to register, but if you are not registered, you will not be able to join the meeting online and might miss out on bikkies and drinks if you come in person.

Thanks to everyone for your patience.  We.have been trialling a new software package, Zoom Events, that will facilitate participation by distance, but also enable recordings that will remain available to those registered until the end of the year.

The downside of Zoom Events is that the University is still refining its systems and so we have some limitations on what we can control.  A number of you will have received various emails; please mostly disregard them.  They are automatically generated, but we cannot go into the module that would permit us to turn them off.

The positive news is that we currently have more off-campus registrations than we’ve ever had, and we should have a lively audience both in-person and online.  The Events site also makes it easy to post the abstracts for each presentation, arranged by sessions, and you can see those online once you have registered.  Even if you are not going to attend through Zoom (and we much prefer to see people in person where possible), we still need you to register through Zoom Events ASAP, in order to finalise catering by this Wednesday, 9 Nov.  So please click here and complete the simple questions or we won’t have a name badge for you or enough cups of tea.

If you have any trouble with the link, or just do not use Zoom at all, you are welcome to email me stating your name, whether you will be attend in person and, if you will be present in person, indicating any dietary requirements.

We think the Symposium is coming together well and look forward to seeing many familiar faces and meeting lots of new people.

First up is Reading Allowed at 5.30 pm by the Cube. This time you’ll hear extracts from two seaworthy books: Lorraine Johnston will be reading from The Old Man and the Sea, and Paul Tankard will be reading The Wizard of Earthsea.

No need to book. Tea and coffee available. https://www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz/article?id=xFYgqnM

And for those who love a good old school story, Continued Sense of Wonder at 7pm on Floor 4 of the City Library is discussing books written for young people (but enjoyed by people of all ages) where school is part of the plot.

From Billy Bunter to The Compleet Molesworth, Hogwarts to St Clare’s. From sweet first days to boarding school nightmares.

Share a favourite or a new discovery, for this adult conversation about children’s books.

Please book for this event if you are planning to attend (this is a reminder if you Have already booked) https://www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz/news-and-events/events-calendar#event=70080355;instance=20221109190000?popup=1 Tea, coffee and choc biscuits available.