Auckland Libraries blog

Auckland City Council. Architectural model of the planned new Auckland Public Library, May 1964. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, 580-10199. Last updated - June 2021 Central City Library is open with its normal hours. Level 2 remains closed until further notice. Research Central services are operating from Level 1 for the foreseeable future. Due to further construction work on Level 1 from Monday 14 June - Friday 23 July, the Research Central services available at Level 1 will be operating with reduced hours on weekdays.  Research Central services will be available from 9am - 6pm.  Customers can experience disruptions on Level 1 due to noise and other building-related work. The Research Central area on Level 2 including Special Collections, Reading Room, the gallery, atrium, Whare Wānanga, Level 2 bathrooms and study spaces are not available. Closure information Central City Library was temporarily closed in late March and in April due to an unpleasant smell within the library

We are transforming East Coast Bays Library to put you at its heart.  With over 1.5 million visits in the last five years, East Coast Bays Library is an important and much-loved community facility in the area. As with all high-use facilities, regular, planned maintenance is needed to continue servicing the community well. East Coast Bays Library will be temporarily closed from Friday 12 March 2021 for planned building maintenance and refurbishment. The work will take approximately five months and is part of the Auckland Council Long-Term Plan (LTP)  supported by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board. What work is being done? Remedial, maintenance and renovation work throughout the building Reconfiguration of the main entrance and some internal areas to improve customer service Upgrading existing public toilet facilities and increasing the number of available toilets Improving and expanding space for fiction and children's collections Creating a new, dedicated space for community progra

Our 'Ask us to buy it' service has made a comeback! We are now ready to take your suggestions for Auckland Libraries’ collections again.  Council’s Emergency Budget resulted in reduced funding for our collections this year. Also, the publishing world and international distribution networks continue to be impacted by COVID-19. This meant our ‘Ask us to buy it’ service was put on hold while we worked through the effects of these challenges. We have taken the opportunity while the service has been on hold to evaluate it and make some improvements.  Our online request form has been re-developed to make it a more streamlined experience. Thank you for your patience as we have worked through these challenges, and we look forward to receiving your valued suggestions for our collections once more.  Visit the 'Ask us to buy it' request form .

Library hours at some libraries in the Howick Local Board area are changing from 1 December 2020 to better suit customer habits.  From 1 December 2020, Howick Library , Highland Park Library and Pakuranga Library will operate with the following opening hours: Monday to Thursday - 9am to 6pm Friday - 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday - 10am to 4pm Hours at Botany Library are not changing and are as follows: Monday to Wednesday - 9.30am to 5.30pm Thursday and Friday - 9.30am to 8pm Saturday - 9.30am to 5.30pm Sunday - 10am to 5.30pm  Library services and programmes offered at these libraries will continue. Our JP services at these libraries may adjust to suit our new hours. Check with your library for more details. Click here to read more at OurAuckland about the changes to Howick Local Board area library hours.

Finish your stack of books with the help of our new auto-renewal function! Kick back, keep reading and we'll take care of things for you! From 30 July 2020, we'll automatically renew most unreturned items on your library account for another 28 days. Read on for what you need to know about this new feature.  What you need to know about auto-renewal Your first renewal will now happen automatically unless the item has been requested by another customer. Auto-renewals apply from the due date of the item - ensuring you have another full 28-day loan. Most library items can be renewed twice unless requested by another customer. You must manually renew your item before the due date if you would like to renew it a second time without accruing overdue charges. If the item has been requested by another customer, you will not be able to renew the item. You can renew your own items in your library account online, in the Auckland Libraries app, or with the assistance of our librarians. Some

For the busy, on-the-go, 'just popping in' or adventurous reader, Ready-to-go Reads is a new way to get your book fix, fast! Ready-to-Go Reads book packs are the perfect pick-me-up for yourself, friends and whānau of all ages.  It's simple - our librarians will choose five great books from your favourite genres and bag them up. You drop by with your library card, grab your bag, use the self-checkout and you’re ready to go! Choose from a selection of prepacked Ready-to-Go Reads book packs during your visit, or visit our website to order a pack online . We’ll send you an email when your Ready-to-Go Reads book pack is ready to collect from your local library. Don't want a lucky dip? You can still browse our catalogue and place a request if you're wanting a particular read. Read on for how to click and collect a request. Click and collect Place a request for the hottest new blockbuster or the upcoming book in your favourite series to ensure your place in the reading qu

With libraries closed and Aotearoa in lockdown over the last 8 weeks, many Aucklanders turned to our eCollections and online resources to read, watch and learn while staying safe at home. A whopping 498,287 eBooks and eAudiobooks were issued, and we welcomed 3,772 new members to the Auckland Libraries whānau. Our staff were also getting busy, making over 15,000 calls to members of Auckland's over 70s community and offering support in these difficult times.  Many of our heritage collections staff spent time transcribing nineteenth-century letters in the collections , making them more accessible for keyword searching. Our Stay Connected series on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter saw Aucklanders share with us (and each other!) their stories, whakapapa, lockdown lives and more. We also got creative and started offering our popular events and programmes online. With musical performances, craft activities, storytimes, webinars, virtual bookclubs and knitting groups, it’s been amazing

We chatted to a few members of the Rainbow Working Group at Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero Central City Library to find out how their mahi is making a difference for Auckland’s diverse communities.  We are lucky enough to have a uniquely positioned library in Tāmaki Makaurau, which sits at the heart of our bustling CBD. The Central City Library caters to customers from all walks of life, and the staff that work there are committed to ensuring the library is a place that supports and embraces all customers – especially the local rainbow communities.  The Rainbow Working Group at Central City Library has been collaborating closely with the community to find out what we can do to make library experiences fun, safe and engaging but, most importantly, to give a genuine sense of belonging here at Auckland Libraries.  We spoke to members Rhion and Rhi about their innovative projects and their experiences being a part of Auckland’s diverse rainbow community.   Rhi Lennox: Library Assistant a

Auckland Libraries loan periods for books, DVDs and magazines will change temporarily over the summer holidays. From Saturday 23 November 2019 you will be able to check out certain items for a longer period of time to accommodate reduced hours during the summer holiday period. Loan rules for Nov 2019 - Jan 2020 From 23 November - 28 day loans become 42 day loans  From 7 December - 14 day loans become 28 day loans  From 4 January - 28 day loans go back to normal  From 11 January - 14 day loans go back to normal 

Auckland Libraries are collecting food donations for the Auckland City Mission from 24 September - 8 October. The Auckland City Mission is seeking food donations to ensure their holiday food parcels can be delivered to Aucklanders in need. Auckland Libraries are supporting the food appeal by providing local drop-off points at 55 locations in communities across Tāmaki Makaurau. How you can help Drop off your donations of non-perishable food in the collection boxes during opening hours at any of our 55 Auckland Libraries . The following food items are especially helpful: Canned meat, fish, tomatoes, corn, beans, fruit salad Rice, pasta, biscuits, peanut butter, jam Tea, coffee and long-life milk. Donations are also accepted at the Mission Distribution Centre, 15 Auburn St, Grafton, between 9am and 3pm Monday - Saturday. For large donations, get in touch with the Mission at  distribution@aucklandcitymission.org.nz  or call them on 09 377 4322. Find out more about the Au

Help shape the services and activities our new $21 million Avondale Library and Community Centre will offer, which will, in turn, inform the design process and types of spaces that are available! Whau Local Board Chair, Tracy Mulholland, says that it is important for the Avondale community to have their say. "This facility will be at the heart of the Avondale community, and we want to know how people want to use it. "Over the years the community has told us about the types of things they want to see there, but now is the time to help us build on that feedback with the design process about to begin. "It is really important to us that the connection between the community and this new facility is strong, so we want to hear from as many people as possible during the consultation so that the final facility is well used and enjoyed by everyone." Have your say! Consultation is open now until 26 April and there are a number of ways to contribute your feedback:

Massey Library will close at 4pm on Sunday 17 February and re-open with reduced hours and reduced services in anticipation of the opening of our new library and community centre, Te Manawa in late March. Transitioning from the existing Massey Library to Te Manawa is a complex task and we know for a short time it may be inconvenient. We thank you for your patience and can’t wait to share Te Manawa with you on Tuesday 26 March. Read on for the answers to some frequently asked questions about the Massey Library closure and about our new library and community centre, Te Manawa. Why is Massey Library closing? The closure of Massey Library and the opening of our new library and community centre, Te Manawa, has been in the works for well over a decade. It is a legacy project that was committed to by the former Waitākere City Council and passed to the new Auckland Council in 2010. While the Massey Library will be closing in its present building, it will be re-opening as part

Massey Library will close at 4pm on Sunday 17 February and re-open with reduced hours and reduced services in anticipation of the opening of our new library and community centre, Te Manawa in late March. Massey Library will be closed from Monday 18 February - Sunday 24 February, inclusive. The library will then re-open for four weeks with reduced hours as follows: Monday 25 February – Thursday 28 February, 10.00am – 3.00pm Monday 4 March  – Thursday 7 March, 10.00am – 3.00pm Monday 11 March – Thursday 14 March, 10.00am – 3.00pm Monday 18 March – Thursday 21 March, 10.00am – 3.00pm Massey Library will then be closed permanently from 3pm Thursday 21 March. Reduced services will be as follows: Request pick-up and return drop-off only No Internet access or printing facilities For a full range of services nearby, Kumeū Library , Waitākere Central (Henderson) Library , Rānui Library , and Te Atatū Peninsula Library will be open regular hours. Our new library and comm

All our libraries will be closed for Auckland Anniversary Day and Waitangi Day,  with the exception of Botany Library . Auckland Anniversary Day All libraries will be closed on Monday 28 January for Auckland Anniversary Day, with the exception of Botany Library Botany Library will be open 10am - 5.30pm Mobile Libraries will not operate Waitangi Day All libraries will be closed on Wednesday 6 February for Waitangi Day, with the exception of Botany Library Botany Library will be open 9.30am - 5.30pm Mobile Libraries will not operate Looking for information or a relaxing read? Our online resources will be available 24/7, as usual. Find out more about our eBooks, eAudiobooks, eNewspapers and eMagazines

Auckland Libraries loan periods for books, DVDs and magazines will change over the summer holidays. From Saturday 24 November you will be able to check out certain items for a longer period of time to accommodate reduced hours during the Christmas holiday period. These changes will continue to roll out in December. Loan rules for Nov 2018 - Jan 2019 From 24 November - 28 day loans become 42 day loans  From 8 December - 14 day loans become 28 day loans  From 5 January - 28 day loans go back to normal  From 12 January - 14 day loans go back to normal 

Our We Love Feedback survey is now updated and better than ever. Our expanded survey aims to collect customer feedback covering many specific aspects of your experience at Auckland Libraries. We want to hear your feedback on staff service, library spaces, our collections, online spaces and much more. You may receive an invitation in your email, or you can head to our website and click the We Love Feedback link  at the bottom. We always love your feedback!

Auckland Libraries' Reading Between the Wines  brings together bars, books and bookworms from all across T ā maki Makaurau.  On the first Thursday of each month, awesome librarians will meet you at a different venue around Auckland, with over 40 books for you to browse through.  Community Librarian Laura Caygill recently spoke to  Jesse Mulligan on Radio New Zealand  about the history of Reading Between the Wines , the upcoming session this Thursday 6 September, and our exciting plans to branch out onto the North Shore in October. You can listen to the RNZ segment here. This Thursday 6 September, Reading Between the Wines will take place at The Conservatory on the Viaduct. Don't worry if you're not a member of the libraries, you can join up on the night! Enjoy a glass of wine or two and meet like-minded people, whilst searching for your next favourite read.  Keep up to date with the latest Reading Between the Wines news by following  their Facebook page . 

  Auckland Libraries, together with Spark Foundation, are helping to provide stress-free internet access to households without a broadband connection. Auckland Libraries has recently become a local partner for Skinny Jump , a programme that provides access to modems and a subsidised prepaid wireless internet connection. It is available to anyone who does not have a broadband connection at home because cost is a barrier. "We already provide access to free WiFi and public computers within our libraries, but we know internet access at home is a much more effective way to address digital inclusion. "Helping to bridge the digital divide is incredibly important to Auckland Libraries, which is why we jumped at the chance to get involved with this programme" says Digital Solutions Lead, Philip Miles . Skinny Jump participating libraries Albany Village Library Avondale Library Botany Library Central City Library Epsom Library Glen Eden Library Glenfield Library Glen

Caption: Image 1: Mr George George - MC for Cook Islands Stage Polyfest 2018, Manukau Sports Bowl Turou! Oro mai! Auckland Libraries is celebrating Te Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani Cook Islands Language Week from 29 July - 4 August 2018. The language week is a special opportunity for Cook Islanders living in New Zealand to acknowledge, celebrate and embrace Cook Islands culture, history, customs and, most importantly, language. Auckland is the largest Pacific city in the world with just over 35,000 people who identify as being Cook Islanders living in Tāmaki Makaurau. Auckland Libraries is delighted to connect with our Cook Islands community and celebrate the pearl of the Pacific. Kiaorana e Kia Manuia! Events O Moana Nui performing Arts Group Drummers, Turou Korero Mai exhibition opening - Corbans Estate Art Gallery 2017 Discover the stories, music and dance of the Cook Islands at Storytime sessions for kids , arts and crafts workshops or visit Central City

Checkouts from Auckland Libraries main digital reading platform, OverDrive, reached five million this month, making us some of the biggest digital library borrowers in the world! The lucky five millionth checkout was Spain and Portugal's best trips by Lonely Planet . Our library system is one of the fastest-growing in the world since launching in late 2007. Auckland Libraries have made especially great strides with our digital collection and have set records within the last two years. In 2016, we were one of 17 libraries worldwide and the only library system in the Southern Hemisphere that circulated one million digital books for the first time. We built on this success in 2017 with 30% circulation growth, remaining the only library system in the Southern Hemisphere to achieve one million checkouts annually. We are on pace to set another record in 2018, and have already contributed greatly to the one billion checkouts achieved across the OverDrive network earlier this y