It struck me on our travels through New Zealand, that Kiwi’s treasure their libraries.
Few can be any sweeter than Glenorchy’s historic library, first built in 1891, by 1911 it had over 1,000 items catalogued (they now have a modern library building too).
But what we did notice was that the libraries we spotted, seemed very innovative.
In Napier you didn’t even need the library to be open to return a book, I’m pleased to see the ‘loved it’ letter box is more worn than the ‘not for me’.
We should never underestimate the power of a library, or librarians, to change lives.
In Rotorua, they fund raise
In Devonport, a suburb of Auckland, the library was open on Sunday. Not something I’ve seen in the UK.
They weren’t shy at attracting visitors either, the trees outside were swathed in purple and white, in celebration of New Zealand’s proud history of women’s suffrage about which they were staging an exhibition.
They’ve every right to be proud, 1893!
They can be proud of the new library building too, it’s gorgeous. And wait for it, its even got microchip-activated cat door for elderly tabby Benjamin
There is a lot going on in the libraries beside books; knitting groups, for example, some have gained international publicity recently, which has led to an avalanche of orders. I loved the reaction to the demands for a certain beanie baby hat
January 15, 2020 at 12:02 am
Our we the only so called civilized country in the world actually shutting libraries?
January 15, 2020 at 10:15 am
Definitely world leaders in this, sadly.
January 15, 2020 at 10:14 am
We were also impressed by the Kiwis’ commitment to their libraries. Had a chat to the staff at the wonderful Devonport Library, who seemed nonplussed at the carnage being inflicted on libraries in the UK. New Zealand is a very civilised country!
January 15, 2020 at 10:44 am
Lovely post and pictures. I’ve been a regular public library user for over 65 years. My local one is now open for a few hours on Sunday but shut all day Monday and a couple of afternoons. xx
January 15, 2020 at 12:55 pm
A micro-chip activated cat door is genius. That’s the answer to other critters helping themselves to the easy access! And libraries open on Sunday? That’s pretty darned civilized, too.
January 15, 2020 at 1:12 pm
Our cat has a door like that, you can get one you can programme it do all sorts of things! Letting different cats in and out at different times, or preventing them from going out at all!
January 15, 2020 at 1:13 pm
Gracious. I never would have imagined…
January 15, 2020 at 6:57 pm
Setting them up can be a bit of a fiddle, you have to wave the cat around quite a lot 🙂