About Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library
Our Library and Community
Ngaio is one of the northern suburbs of Wellington, situated among hills and native trees, with glimpses of the Wellington Harbour. The area was settled during the first European settlement of Wellington, and retains many treasures of the past.
Cummings Park Library is a branch within the Wellington City Libraries network. It is situated at the entrance to Cummings Park and has a lovely backdrop of native trees.
The library is very close to the railway station, as well as being situated on a busy link route. The neighbouring car park makes access to the library relatively easy and safe. The present building was opened in November, 1989.
The park setting and the neighbouring town hall give the library and the area a special community focus. This community focus has been reinforced by the 850 tiles at the entrance of the library. These tiles were made by two local potters, Paul Winspear and Paul Wotherspoon who worked with children from Ngaio and Chartwell Schools in the town hall to design them.
Ngaio Triptych by Toni Gernert (a fabric impression of Ngaio) is installed above the enquiries desk and is much appreciated by all who view it. The artwork comprises of three panels (each 800mm by 2400mm) fashioned from pieces of manipulated fabric which, with fibre threads and unusual machine stitching, are applied to a canvas background and framed. The artist's commentary is also framed for all to share and to enhance appreciation of this unique local artwork.
Services We Offer
Free and Paid Internet Computers
We have computers offering free access to pre-selected internet sites, but if you want to use the internet for email or other general searching, we have computers available for $3 for half an hour ($1.50 for 15 minutes) plus 20 cents per page printing charge. Our free internet service provides free access to websites we think are useful for information or research. These include websites such as online newspapers, government websites, some NZ websites, the websites recommended in our kids catalogues and many more.
Word Processing
Free word processing is available from our computers and printing costs 20 cents per page. Software available includes: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Reader 6.0. CD and memory sticks (USB devices) are available for purchasing.
Photocopying
We have a black and white photocopier that can do both A4 (20 cents per copy) and A3 (40 cents) copies. It is coin-box operated, but we are able to give change.
Fax Machine
We have a fax machine available. There is a $4 base charge for all faxes, plus per page charges for national and international faxes ($1.50 per page for national faxes, $6 per page for international faxes).
Children's Programmes
Local pre-school and primary school groups as well as families are regular library users throughout the school term. Creche, kindergartens and the kohanga reo (language nest or Maori pre-school) are all regular library users.
Cummings Park Library offers a range of fun and inspiring programmes and events for children including Baby Rock & Rhyme, Preschool Storytime, Kohunga Korero, and holiday activities. For more information about these programmes please visit the Cummings Park Library whats on page!
Our Collection
The Cummings Park Library collection offers a range of different material including fiction, non-fiction, children's and young adult collections, large print books, bestsellers, magazines, audio books, kohikohinga Maori collection, comics, maps, reference material and online databases.
The library has a large audio visual collection of CDs and DVDs (for adults and youth borrowers).
The library also holds a week's worth of copies of the Dominion Post. In addition, we also have many Wellington City Council publications and various local news and information sources available.
Special Collections
A special grant, awarded in 1990 to mark the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, enabled the establishment of a local oral history collection. This captured memories of local personalities as a permanent record of the Ngaio area. Please ask Cummings Park Library staff if you would like to know further about this.
Cummings Park Library: Korimako (Bellbird)
The Māori branch name for Cummings Park Library is Korimako. The Korimako stream, named after the bellbird, is the Ngaio branch of the head streams of the Kaiwharawhara and rises on the southern slopes of Kaukau (Tari-kākā). Find out more on our Māori branch names page.
