Each June the City Library supports the awareness campaigns and amazing mahi of InsideOUT Kōaro, a national charity providing education, resources, consultation and support for anything concerning rainbow and takatāpui communities. 

School’s Pride Week runs from 17-21 June and celebrates rainbow staff, students and whānau across the country. In 2023, a record 300+ schools from around Aotearoa took part, including over 60% of all Secondary Schools.

The Out on the Shelves campaign not only helps to connect rainbow young people with their stories and with each other, but also contributes to  rainbow visibility and inclusion in our schools and communities. Aspiring writers are encouraged to submit to the Rainbow Storytelling Competition and have their voices heard.

This year, the City Library has created an exciting Read the Rainbow Reading Challenge to explore stories by and for the rainbow communities and allies. Join through the online reading platform Beanstack to start earning badges that will enter you into spot prize draws and help you complete the challenge. Open to anyone 13yrs and over, Read the Rainbow is available 17 June – 31 October 2024.

Looking for inspiration? Visit the Out on the Shelves online reading resource or search the library catalogue with the keyword ‘LGBTQIA’