Hamilton City Libraries
LocationHamilton, New Zealand
BranchesSeven[1]
Collection
Sizeover 400,000
Other information
DirectorRebecca Whitehead[2]
Websitewww.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz

Hamilton City Libraries are a group of seven libraries in Hamilton, New Zealand, owned by the local city council.[3] They lend fiction and non-fiction (for all ages), magazines, audiobooks, and DVDs. From November 2016 to 9 July 2018, a substitute library compensated for the temporarily closed Central branch,[4] and the libraries closed for over 2 months for COVID-19 in 2020.[5] Waikato District residents living close to Hamilton City can freely use the Hamilton libraries.[6]

Public library history

In 1871 Hamilton Institute appointed a librarian,[7] with support from Auckland Provincial Council. By 1874 its reading room had 209 books and 72 subscribers,[5] but, although its books were largely saved from a fire,[8] the secretary then decamped with the funds.[9]

A poll under the Public Libraries Act 1869 rejected a rate to set up a library by 17:7 in 1883;[10] without a council decision, the Act required at least 10 ratepayers to request a poll.[11] Next year a new library was established by subscriptions in the Union Bridge toll house,[12] tolls having ended in January 1883,[13] and it was officially opened on 10 October 1884. A new building at the south end of Victoria Street opened on 22 April 1899. Andrew Carnegie library, designed by Rigby and Warren,[5] opposite Garden Place,[14] was opened by Sir Joseph Ward on 17 February 1908.[15] By 1928 it had 892 subscribers and 10,000 books[16] and, by 1948, 2,344 subscribers and 130,674 books.[17] In June 1960 a new council building opened on Worley St and the library moved from the Carnegie site, which was sold.[5] The Carnegie Library briefly became a Lions opp shop,[18] before being demolished about 1961.[19] In 1968 it moved to William Paul Hall, formerly the Waikato Winter Show building and has been in Garden Place since 20 March 1993.[5]

Frankton Library opened on 22 December 1923 and in 1950 became a branch of Hamilton Public Library.[5]

As of 1980, Hamilton had one of the country's largest public libraries.[20]

Branches

Hamilton Central Library, located in Garden Place, converted from the Arthur Barnett department store (former Drapery and General Importing Company - DIC) and opened on 20 March 1993

There are seven current branches:

Branch Notes
Central Library - Te Koopuu Maania o Kirikiriroa In November 2016, the Central branch was closed until 9 July 2018 for earthquake strengthening.[21] A pop-up library operated temporarily out of the reception lounge in the nearby municipal building while the Central branch was closed.[4]
Chartwell Library - Kukutaaruhe Opened 10 September 1984.[5]
Dinsdale Library - Te Tiwha O Pareiiriwhare Opened 17 August 1985.[5]
Glenview Library - Mangakootukutuku Opened 8 November 1989.[5]
Hillcrest Library - Manga-o-nua Opened in August 1982 and moved to Masters Ave in 1997.[5]
St Andrews Library - Waiwherowhero Opened 23 February 1990.[5]
Te Kete Aronui - Rototuna Library Opened 21 July 2023.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Hamilton City Libraries. "Locations and hours". Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "Library leadership team". Hamilton City Libraries. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "Libraries". Hamilton City Council. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Pop-up library to fill in for Hamilton central". 4 December 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "History of Hamilton City Libraries". Hamilton Libraries. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  6. ↑ Agreement reached over Hamilton city libraries
  7. ↑ "HAMILTON: THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 5 July 1871. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT HAMILTON. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 14 April 1874. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  9. ↑ "WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 July 1874. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 24 May 1883. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  11. ↑ "Public Libraries Act 1869 (32 and 33 Victoriae 1869 No 67)". www.nzlii.org. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  12. ↑ "THE PROPOSED LIBRARY FOR HAMILTON. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 September 1884. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  13. ↑ "WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 January 1883. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  14. ↑ "Hamilton and environs: street map". University of Waikato. 1 October 1953. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "The Prime Minister. WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 18 February 1908. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  16. ↑ "FIFTY YEARS PROGRESS, WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 8 February 1928. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  17. ↑ "Hamilton Library TE AWAMUTU COURIER". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 23 July 1948. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  18. ↑ "Lions Opportunity Shop". Hamilton Libraries Heritage Collection Online. 1962. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  19. ↑ "Public Library. Hamilton". Hamilton Libraries Heritage Collection Online. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  20. ↑ J.B. Ringer (1980). Hamilton Public Library: A Brief History.
  21. ↑ Danielle Nicholson (November 2016). "Hamilton library shut over earthquake safety concerns". Hamilton News. The New Zealand Herald.
  22. ↑ "New library brings community space to Rototuna". Hamilton City Council. Retrieved 21 July 2023.

37°47′16″S 175°16′57″E / 37.7879°S 175.2824°E / -37.7879; 175.2824


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