Feature: The North Shore’s Libraries

Checked Out - the North Shore’s Libraries 

In November last year when the seven Auckland councils amalgamated, the respective public libraries across the city were united, creating one of the largest library collections in the world, and certainly the largest in Australasia.
The results for our communities have been enormous. Library users now have access to increased services, resources, events and of course, one of the largest collections of books available to anyone.
As a result, there has been a huge uptake of people using the library services.
“The libraries have been a great success story,” says Mirla Edmundson, North and Western Libraries Manager. “They’re more accessible; we’ve got more people coming in now than ever before, and it’s the first time in my career that I’ve constantly had members of the public tell me how pleased they are with the library and the services available.”
For starters, as all the libraries are united Auckland wide, users from one side of the city can access and use libraries from another. You can also order from the entire collection. If a book is unavailable at your local library, but there is a free copy at another library, you can request it and it will be delivered to your choice of location. It can later be returned to any library in the city. Best of all this can be done either in person, or from the comfort of your own home online.
“This makes the library far more convenient, and is bringing in a lot of new customers who never had the opportunity to use the library before,” says Mirla. “There’s also real value in the size of our collection now, which offers a huge variety and options to chose from.”
In the past libraries have struggled to cater to people with really specialised interests, but now with such a large collection available, the libraries are able to cater to these people better.
“It’s great that people can discover these things, treasures they never would have been able to come across before.”
Along with the growing collection of books, our libraries offer a range of other products, services and activities.
The products available – range from traditional books, CDs and DVDs etc., to new technology driven applications such as eBooks, which is a new service that is becoming more and more popular and will continue to improve. EBooks can be ordered online from the Auckland libraries’ website.
Other digital resources give access to popular databases the library subscribes to on behalf of their customers, giving access to a world of knowledge and learning tools, including published magazine articles and online encyclopaedias etc.
The library is also setting up a research centre for people who are interested in our local history and want to learn about our area. This gives users access to a fully digitised heritage of the Shore and the greater Auckland region, including old photographs, articles and collections.
However, the library’s best-kept secret is not a new one, but it’s a great one once you know it: Audio Books.
“For those that have worked it out, audio books are actually great for commuting,” says Mirla. “People don’t often think of it, but they’re fantastic if you’re spending time on the motorway and don’t have time to read.”
The range of audio books available is huge across all genres and is guaranteed to improve the most tedious of daily commutes.
The Library also hosts the Angela Morton collection, which is a collection of New Zealand specific art catalogues and is the only collection of its nature in the Auckland region.
The collection is ideal for people who are interested in art history or contemporary art. This collection is one of New Zealand’s best and gives an in-depth look into New Zealand art.
The real value of the libraries is through their activities, which offer the community a chance to take part and interact through story times, exhibitions, book readings and signings, reading clubs, book groups and seminars. All ages and demographics are catered for, so there truly is something for everyone.
Wriggle and Rhyme is a fun educational programme, designed for parents and babies and is focused on learning and development, promoting early literacy in babies. It is described as a fun, free programme that provides positive movement experiences, to stimulate development of both the brain and the body for babies 0 – 2 years. Older pre-schoolers are also welcome to attend sessions, which are based on the Active Movement set of 14 activity guides, using a range of music and movement. The sessions have attracted a lot of new users to the library, with parents and caregivers invited to take part and learn new skills to help their children develop.
Returning to that community theme, Takapuna is fortunate in that it has a very active “Friends of the Library” initiative that aids and enables the library to engage in special events and services unique to our community.
“There are a couple of things that are unique to Takapuna and one is the Active Friends Group which helps out with talks and information evenings, and the other one is the North Shore Library Foundation.”
The North Shore Library Foundation is a private group that actually helps fund programmes for the library, including bringing in well-known authors for speaking events.
“This has been great for our customers who get a bit more than some of the other areas do,” says Mirla. “The people in Takapuna are big readers, they enjoy listening to authors, and they enjoy hearing from the authors themselves. These sessions are very well received.”
The Foundation is also providing funding for the Chelsea archives to be digitised, which is a piece of local history unique to our area, focusing on the Chelsea factory and its impact on our economy.
The library encourages the community to interact with it. Books and services that people wish to see the library take on, can be requested by either visiting the library and talking to a staff member; or online.
“A lot of our collections are driven by people actually suggesting purchases, because we know if one person makes a suggestion there are a whole lot of other people who will want it. That’s a really good way to make sure we’re buying the things that people want to read. It’s a great way to build the collection.”
“The whole community relationship is really strong, because libraries are strongly rooted in their community and they have to reflect the community that they are in. These relationships are really important.”
The last and possibly most important thing to mention is the expertise of the library staff, who are passionate and dedicated to learning and sharing knowledge.
“What we hear from our customers all the time and what people really appreciate, is that out staff are happy to provide expertise. Librarians are pretty passionate about information access and like to help make good decisions, so their expertise is really available.”
“We’re less about being a book warehouse and more about being a book service that informs the community.”

North Shore Library Locations:
Albany Village Library, Kell Drive, 486 8460 • Birkenhead Library, Nell Fisher Reserve, Hinemoa St, 486 8460.
Devonport Library, Windsor Reserve, Victoria Road, 486 8460 • East Coast Bays Library, Bute Road, Browns Bay, 486 8460.
Glenfield Library, 90 Bentley Ave, 486 8460 • Northcote Library, Norman King Square, 486 8460.
Takapuna Library, The Strand, 486 8460. www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz
The services available at your local library may include: Book a librarian, Computer access and free computer classes, Display space, Internet access (free), Mobile libraries, Photocopying, printing and faxing, Research services and information supply, Room hire, Wi-Fi access (free).