About Island Bay
Our library and community
History of the library
Island Bay Library, built in 1954, was extended and renovated in 1998. This small "boutique" library serves Island Bay, Owhiro Bay, Houghton Bay and surrounding areas. Our building has recently undergone major renovations, giving us a new space for children, families, and school classes. The new decor is bright and attractive. Outside, a paved area beneath a landmark pohutukawa tree provides a pleasant shady area for people to sit and read on sunny days.
About Island Bay
Island Bay is one of the oldest settled areas in Wellington. Known to Māori as Tapu-te-Ranga, the area has a long tradition of Maori settlement. In the 1800s, Island Bay was a weekend resort for some city residents, and in the early 1900s a small Italian fishing community developed here. Today, there are people from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds.
The community has four primary schools, 5 preschools, the Tapu Te Ranga Marae, several rest homes, six churches, a medical centre, and some vibrant cafes and shops. Island Bay Community Resource Centre (137 the Parade, ph. 383 7464) is an important contact point for the community, and the historic Erskine College is the site of The Learning Connexion art school. The local Plunket rooms are adjacent to the library.
For more information about the community have a look at the Island Bay page in our Local History section.
Our library team
The Island Bay team has a broad range of interests, including music, gardening, languages, art, gym, yoga and drama. We work as part of a "cluster" of 3 libraries (Newtown, Island Bay and Brooklyn), with staff based at one site but sometimes moving between libraries to help each other out.
Services we offer
As part of Wellington City Libraries, Island Bay library offers a wide range of books and services. Particularly popular are our pre-school story times, our local history collection, local newspapers (including Cook Strait News and Capital Times) and a computer offering free internet access to pre-selected sites.
