Tag: library services

Central Library’s collection is on the move

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The Central Library collection is getting ready for its new home in the Johnsonville Collection and Distribution Centre.  A mix of approximately 400,000 books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, newspapers and other reference materials will be carefully packed in order, moved and re-shelved over the coming eight weeks.

“We are pleased to be in the final stages of making the much-loved collection available once again, and we thank our customers for their ongoing support,” says Laurinda Thomas, Wellington City Libraries and Community Spaces Manager.

“The Centre in Johnsonville provides both the climatic conditions, space and transport routes needed to manage the collection safely over the long term, until decisions can be made about the future central library services.”

“Although we move thousands of items around our 14 branches every day, this will jump substantially when people are able to order from the CDC. So we are finalising the ordering process and timings so people know what to expect. Towards late April we will advise customers how to order items, and the timings for when they can pick them up from the branch of their choice.”

Over 12,500 items are available in two of the three planned CBD libraries, which opened in May and October last year. Arapaki Library in Manners Street provides a mix of fiction, non-fiction and popular children’s titles. He Mataphi Library within the National Library has over 5,000 items with an Aotearoa and Māori focus.

The third and largest of the three CBD libraries, Te Awe will open in May. Te Awe will provide spaces where people can read, study or collaborate. There is also a dedicated space for a children’s collection, parents’ room and the popular Baby Rock ‘n’ Rhyme sessions.

People will be able to access around 31,000 items which have been tailored to represent the diverse range of subjects which Central Library customers have requested or reserved.

Council staff will be providing advice to the Council on Wednesday 25 March on options for future central library services and the external engineering assessments on the Central Library building. We will share the papers on the Wellington City Council website on 19 March.

Wellington City Libraries’ rare book collection is now housed at the Wellington City Archives at 28 Barker Street.

More information:
Timeline for Wellington Central Library Replacement Services

 

All About Anytime

Susannah
Anytime Library

 

The Anytime Library is New Zealand’s first book vending machine. It is located in the foyer of the Easterfield building at Victoria University’s Kelburn campus. It faces onto Kelburn Parade and you can access the Anytime Library anytime that the foyer doors to Easterfield are open.

The machine holds over 300 books of mainly adult fiction, with some young adult, and non-fiction books as well. To use the Anytime Library you need to have a library card with Wellington City Libraries. Just touch the screen to begin, scan the barcode on the back of your card, and then select Browse to choose a book. Once you have finished your selection, the machine will dispense your books from 1 of the 4 doors in its side.

You can also return books to the Anytime Library. To do this you need to scan your library card, and choose the Return option. The machine will then pop open a slot for you and let you return the book! However, the machine can only accept books that belong to Wellington City Libraries. You also cannot return a book that is too large for the book slot.

Be sure to visit the Anytime at anytime!

Library service changes

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As a result of the Wellington City Council Long Term Plan 2012 decisions, our programmes have been reviewed. Programmes with lower attendance could no longer be sustained but this decision was not made lightly. Also considered was the best possible schedule to maximise opportunities for customers to attend programmes in each local community area.

Part of the consideration was whether customers would still be able to have access to services we offer now, although there may be changes to the frequency or how the service operates.

This means:

  • One children’s programme only each weekday at Karori.
  • Cummings Park Baby RocknRhyme will now be on Tuesday at 10.30 starting 2nd October. Pre-school Storytimes will be on Wednesday at 10.30.
  • Holiday programmes at Brooklyn and Island Bay will cease but be retained at Kilbirnie, and Central; they will also be held at Karori or Cummings Park, Johnsonville or Tawa, and Newtown or Miramar.
  • Adult book clubs and Tea and Tales will be self-managed.
  • Johnsonville Pre-school Storytimes on Monday will cease but be retained on Tuesday.
  • Wadestown Pre-school Storytimes will cease.
  • Central library Stories at Seven and Saturday Pre-school Storytime will cease