Hamilton City Libraries (New Zealand)

Hamilton City Libraries are a group of six libraries in Hamilton, New Zealand, owned by the local city council.[3] They lend fiction and non-fiction (for all ages), magazines, audiobooks, CDs 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 residents without local libraries can freely use the Hamilton libraries.[6]

This article is about the libraries in Hamilton, New Zealand. For other libraries with this name, see Hamilton Library.

Hamilton City Libraries
LocationHamilton, New Zealand
BranchesSix[1]
Collection
Sizeover 400,000
Other information
DirectorStephen Pennruscoe[2]
Websitewww.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz

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 Branch, 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 six current branches:

Branch Notes
Central library In November 2016, the Central Branch was closed until 9 July 2018 for earthquake strengthening.[21]
Chartwell library Opened 10 September 1984[5]
Dinsdale library Opened 17 August 1985[5]
Glenview library Opened 8 November 1989[5]
Hillcrest library Opened in August 1982 and moved to Masters Ave in 1997[5]
Pop-up Operated temporarily while the Central branch was closed.[4] Central Library re-opened in 2018.[22]
St Andrews library Opened 23 February 1990[5]

References
  1. NANCY EL-GAMEL (January 2015). "Hamilton book borrowers owe almost $70,000". Waikato Times. Stuff.co.nz.
  2. "Hamilton City Libraries - Te Whare Pukapuka o Kirikiriroa". National Library. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  3. "Libraries". Hamilton City Council. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  4. "Pop-up library to fill in for Hamilton central".
  5. "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. "Hamilton Central Library reopens after 19 months".


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