Last month I wrote about a rogue letter Leys Institute Library received from a local complaining about lack of good books to borrow.
I was flabbergasted by this accusation because of my own positive experience with Leys. I regularly take out books from Leys. Some of them come from far flung libraries around Auckland City, including Pukekohe, Wellsford and Helensville - all delivered free of charge to me to pick up at Leys.
We at Ponsonby News decided to follow up that editorial with a bit more detail about library services in Auckland.
I am impressed with the range of activities that the Auckland Libraries run. At a time when ‘local communities’ are under attack in our neo-liberal, individualist, consumerist society, Auckland Libraries are doing their best to bring communities back together. I concentrated on Central City Library, but all Auckland Council libraries have similar activities going on all year-pop up events, clothes swaps, rhyme time for babies, bookable sewing machines available, morning teas for rough sleepers, 3D printer, music events and many, many more.
Rhi Munro, the head of the Unique Experiences team at Central City Library explained that they try to engage as many of the local diverse community as possible. Books remain their core business, but they seek to re-create lost community participation, being particularly careful to involve new New Zealanders. Many inner city dwellers have little space for socialising and the library is a welcoming place to meet friends.
Recently Rhi told me, the Waitemata Local Board has funded increased opening hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
There may be some criticism that the libraries are taking on more than some ratepayers would find ideal to spend their rates on, but the uptake in book borrowings and the example to kids of the importance of reading is never far from staff minds.
Just take your pick from exhibitions, workshops, fascinating author, speaker sessions and a variety of other events at one of the 55 branches across Auckland, including the Tupu Youth Library.
If parents are wondering what to do with their children over summer, check out the myriad children’s activities. Check the adventure reading programme for 5 to 13 year olds - Dare to Explore-Kia Mai te Whai.
Book a librarian free of charge for one-on-one help with homework, creating a CV, brushing up on your digital skills, coding or accessing council information.
Adults might like to try out ‘Reading Between the Wines’, a library activity at local bars.
Our libraries are doing their best to fill gaps in our community activities, and create a deeper sense of community with shared activities, fun and adventure.
Rhi Munroe is passionate about his Unique Experience role, and he is determined to engage as many of the three to four thousand daily visitors as he can in library activities. He has recently helped to oversee a revamp of the library layout, including to install phone chargers in desks and computer plugs for the free wifi available to all visitors.
Libraries are still about books and reading, but Auckland Council is determined to provide a wide range of related activities which will help to re-establish the sense of community lost in the last 30 years, as the free market, dog-eat-dog political philosophy has gained so much traction, resulting in inequality, depression and loneliness in young and old.
Libraries can be an antidote to life’s exigencies, and are a suitable replacement for anti-depressents.
They are providing a wonderful service to their communities, and the rates consumed are well worth the cost. (JOHN ELLIOTT)