About Karori Library

Karori Library is a branch in the Wellington City Libraries network. The present two level building was opened in November 2005 and includes Cafe on the Square (ph 476 2777). We welcome you to enjoy your food and drink in the library, at the coffee tables downstairs. The site has offered a library service since the 1840's when the library originally operated from the community hall. During the early 1890's it shared the building with the borough council.

Beauchamp Street, just down from the library was named after New Zealand author Katherine Mansfield who lived in Karori for many years. Today Karori is still home to several notable writers.

Karori has a wealth of amenities including many pre-schools and day care centres, primary schools, a private girls school, rest homes, a Victoria University campus, swimming pool, recreation centre (just behind the library) and a wildlife sanctuary. In addition, a shopping mall is located just across the road from the library and to the side are public toilets and a post office.

A significant feature of the walkway adjacent to the library that connects Karori Road to the community centre is a collection of commemorative bricks that were planted by children from local schools. The library holds a plan of their names and the bricks they contributed to the project.

For more information about the community, please have a look at the Karori page in our local history section, or browse our collection of Karori Historical Society files which are kept on the first floor of the library.

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 several 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

Our photocopier is on the first floor of the library and provides both A4 (20 cents per copy) and A3 (40 cents) copies. It is coin-box operated, but we are able to give change.

ZoomText

ZoomText software is available to use on one of our public computers located on the first floor of the library. ZoomText enlarges font size on webpages and electronic documents (email, newspaper databases etc) and can be set to read these aloud or display in high contrast large print. Ask at the upstairs information desk and a librarian will show you the ZoomText computer.

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

Karori Library offers a range of fun and inspiring programmes and events for children including Baby Rock & Rhyme, Preschool Storytime, BookBusters, BookSeekers, school visits and holiday activities. For more information about these programmes please visit the Karori Library what's on page.

Adults' Programmes

We also host a range of events and meetings for adult customers including a monthly book group and Chinese social gatherings. The library often holds special events for senior citizens too. For more information about these events please visit the Karori Library what's on page.

The Karori 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, adult learning (ESOL), comics, maps, reference material and online databases. We also have a Chinese collection and foreign magazines in various languages including Russian and Hindi.

Local history buffs are catered for by the Karori Historical Society files which are kept on the first floor of the library.

The library holds a week's worth of copies of the Dominion Post and the New Zealand Herald. In addition to these newspapers, we also have many Wellington City Council publications and various local news and information sources available.

Karori : Te Māhanga

The Māori branch name for Karori library is Te Māhanga. Te Māhanga stream is the main head branch of the Kaiwharawhara Stream rising at Karori and flowing past Wilton Bush to join the Korimako branch at the top of the gorge of the Kaiwharawhara, a mile and a quarter from its mouth. Interested in other Māori branch names? Visit our Māori branch names page.