Wellington City Libraries

From 1841, various organisations operated a public library, often subscription-based, in Wellington.{{Cite news|date=8 Feb 1940|title=Closing tonight: Old City Library: Opening of New Building|work=Evening Post|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19400208.2.112|access-date=2 Oct 2021|via=Paperspast}} The first library operated from 1841–1843 in a raupo hut at the bottom of what is now Molesworth Street, and this was followed by libraries in other locations around the city.{{Cite web |title=History of Wellington City Libraries |url=https://www.wcl.govt.nz/services/help/history-of-wellington-city-libraries/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=www.wcl.govt.nz |language=en-NZ}} In 1889, local businessman and politician William Levin donated money to the city for building a library, prompting the setting up of the 'Free Public Library Fund' with fundraising events and donations from other people.{{Cite news |date=20 June 1890 |title=Town and country: Free public library |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZMAIL18900620.2.89 |work=New Zealand Mail}} Wellington City Council agreed to build and operate a public library, which was officially opened on 21 April 1893{{Cite news |date=22 April 1893 |title=Opening of the free library |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18930422.2.48 |work=Evening Post}} on the corner of Mercer and Wakefield Streets in a building designed by William Crichton, a prominent architect of the time.{{Cite book|last=Yska|first=Redmer|title=Wellington: Biography of a City|publisher=Reed|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7900-1107-3|location=Wellington, New Zealand}}{{Rp|85}}{{Cite web|date=11 Aug 2016|title=William Crichton|url=https://www.wellingtoncityheritage.org.nz/architects/william-crichton|access-date=2 Oct 2021|website=Wellington City Council}}

The reference section of the library opened on 1 May 1894 and in its first month was used by 306 men and 28 women. The most requested items included novels by George Eliot, works on sanitary engineering, yacht architecture and sailing, New Zealand Statutes, and science books.{{Cite news |date=4 June 1894 |title=The public library |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18940604.2.15 |work=New Zealand Times}} The most popular novelists in the circulating area of the library in its first six months of operation included Sarah Grand, Marie Corelli, Edna Lyall, Arthur Conan Doyle, H. Rider Haggard, Stanley Weyman, E. F. Benson, Thomas Hardy, Mrs Henry Wood, and Mrs Humphry Ward.{{Cite news |date=13 October 1894 |title=The free public library |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18941013.2.17 |work=New Zealand Times}}

The library closed in 1940 and the building was demolished in 1943.{{Cite news|date=8 Mar 1943|title=Weakness of Oamaru Stone|work=Auckland Star|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19430308.2.5|access-date=2 Oct 2021|via=Paperspast}} The site was later occupied by the City Council Municipal Office Building which was to be demolished in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Wannan |first=Olivia |date=9 December 2024 |title=Wellington's Civic Square being transformed into a 'corporate park', critics say |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360516347/wellingtons-civic-square-being-transformed-corporate-park-critics-say |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}}

In 1940 a new library opened on a block between Mercer and Harris streets.

{{main|Wellington Central Library}}

By the early 1960s, the existing library built in 1940 had become too small: some books were stored offsite because of lack of space, the newspaper reading room and some staff sections were housed elsewhere and there was a lack of space for casual seating and study.{{Cite web |last=Wellington City Council |date=1991 |title=Meet Your New Library [pamphlet] |url=https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/120835 |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=Archives Online}}

In 1989, Athfield Architects were commissioned to design a new Wellington Central Library. Their design won the Environmental Award in the 1992 Carter Holt Harvey Awards and the New Zealand Institute of Architects National Award (1993).{{Cite news |date=December 1992 |title=Wellington Central Library – Top Tourist Spot |work=Wellington City Newsletter |url=https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/562865 |access-date=15 January 2023 |via=Wellington City Archives}}{{Cite news |date=16 June 1993 |title=Wellington Library "World Class" |work=Independent Herald |url=https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/562865 |access-date=15 January 2023 |via=Wellington City Archives}}{{Cite web|last=Wiltshire|first=Laura|date=10 Sep 2020|title=Wellington's 30-year-old Central Library may be given heritage status|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/122729273/wellingtons-30yearold-central-library-may-be-given-heritage-status|access-date=2 Oct 2021|website=Stuff|language=en}} The library was built by Fletcher Development and Construction.{{Cite web |last=Honey |first=Tommy |date=23 June 2020 |title=30 years on: Wellington Central Library |url=https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/30-years-on-wellington-central-library/ |access-date=2 Oct 2021 |website=Architecture Now |language=en-AU}} The new Wellington Central Library was opened in 1991, and the previous library building then became the City Gallery. Both buildings are located in Civic Square, with the library having its main entrance on Victoria Street and another entrance from the mezzanine level onto Civic Square.

In March 2019, Wellington City Council announced that the Central Library was to be closed to the public, after receiving advice from engineers that the building has structural vulnerabilities which mean it might not perform well in the event of a significant earthquake.{{cite web|date=19 March 2019|title=Central Library closure|url=https://wellington.govt.nz/services/community-and-culture/libraries/central-library-closure|publisher=Wellington City Council}} A month later the Council announced that it would spend $179 million to repair and upgrade the library rather than demolish it.{{Cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Katarina|last2=Mitchell|first2=Rob|date=28 Oct 2020|title='Great news day' for Wellington – council agrees to spend $179m to fix, upgrade library|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/123222288/great-news-day-for-wellington--council-agrees-to-spend-179m-to-fix-upgrade-library|access-date=2 Oct 2021|website=Stuff|language=en}}

Following the closure of the Central Library, three pop-up replacement libraries opened in central Wellington: Arapaki Manners Library (opened in May 2019 in Manners Street and closed in 2024),{{cite web|date=28 May 2019|title=No clear plan to re-house 350,000 items in Wellington's Central Library as pop-up opens|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/113021768/no-clear-plan-to-rehouse-350000-items-in-wellingtons-central-library-as--popup-opens|website=Stuff}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-15 |title=Arapaki to close down on 27 September |url=https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2024/08/arapaki |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Wellington City Council |language=en-NZ}} He Matapihi Molesworth Library (opened in October 2019 inside the National Library in Molesworth Street, and closed in 2023),{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-05-27|title=New co-operative space to open at National Library – Library News|url=http://www.wcl.govt.nz/blog/index.php/2019/05/27/new-co-operative-space-to-open-at-national-library/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011214855/http://www.wcl.govt.nz/blog/index.php/2019/05/27/new-co-operative-space-to-open-at-national-library/|archive-date=2019-10-11|access-date=2019-10-12|website=Wellington City Council Libraries blog|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-15 |title=He Matapihi Molesworth Street library closing |url=https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2023/05/he-matapihi-molesworth-library |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Wellington City Council |language=en-NZ}} and Te Awe Library in Brandon Street (opened in July 2020). However, none of these has the reading rooms or the opening hours of the Central Library. Wellington Central Library's collection of 400,000 items has been relocated to a new collection and distribution centre named Te Pātaka,{{Cite web |date=2021-10-13 |title=Keeping Central Library's books safe |url=https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2021/10/te-pataka |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=Wellington City Council |language=en-NZ}} in Johnsonville.{{Cite web|title=Central City Library Services FAQs|url=http://www.wcl.govt.nz/help/central-closure-faqs.html|access-date=2 Oct 2021|website=Wellington City Libraries}}

File:Badge, promotional (AM 1999.164.51).jpg

Wellington's first branch library opened in Newtown in 1902, stocking general literature and a range of newspapers and magazines.{{Cite news |date=23 April 1902 |title=Wellington South Free Public Library |work=Evening Post |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19020423.2.3 |access-date=20 January 2023}} As of September 2024, Wellington City Libraries has 12 branches open to the public. One of these is in central Wellington, replacing the closed Central Library, and the rest are located in suburban areas.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wcl.govt.nz/about/branches/|title=Our Branches|website=www.wcl.govt.nz|access-date=2019-10-13}} Branches have also been given Māori names, usually based on a geographic feature or local legend.{{Cite web |title=Maori Branch Names |url=https://wcl.govt.nz/maori/wellington/branchnames.html |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Wellington City Libraries}}

• Brooklyn Library (Te Whare Pukapuka o Moe-rā)
• Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library (Te Whare Pukapuka o Korimako, Ngaio)
• Island Bay Library (Te Whare Pukapuka o Tapu Te Ranga)
• Johnsonville Library (Te Whare Pukapuka o Waitohi)
• Karori Library (Te Whare Pukapuka o Te Māhanga)
• Khandallah Library (Te Whare Pukapuka o Tari-Kākā)
• Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library (Te Whare Pukapuka o Te Takapū o Patukawenga). Mervyn Kemp was mayor of Tawa from 1955 until his retirement in 1983. The library was named in his honour in 1974.{{Cite web |title=The Mervyn Kemp Oral History |url=https://wellington.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/8079 |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Wellington City Libraries}}
• Miramar Library (Te Whare Pukapuka o Motu-kairangi)
• Newtown Library (Te Whare Pukapuka o Omārōrō).
• Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie) Library (Te Whare Pukapuka o Te Awa-a-Taia). The library was renamed after Wellington City Councillor Ruth Gotlieb in 2000 in recognition of her contribution to library services, including support for a mobile library and delivering library books to housebound people.{{Cite web |last=Iles |first=Julie |date=2019-07-22 |title=Long-serving Wellington politician Ruth Gotlieb dies aged 96 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/114434037/longserving-wellington-politician-ruth-gotlieb-dies-aged-96 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Stuff |language=en}}
• Te Awe Library, Wellington Central
• Wadestown Library (Te Whare Pukapuka o Ōtari)

Membership of Wellington City Libraries is free to residents and to those who work, study or pay rates in Wellington.{{Cite web |title=Joining |url=https://www.wcl.govt.nz/about/joining/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=www.wcl.govt.nz}} The library has offered a variety of services over the years to keep up with changes in technology, public taste and budget. Public-access computers were introduced in 1998 for patrons to access the catalogue digitally,{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Phil |date=29 June 1998 |title=Wellington libraries to get public access computers |work=The Dominion |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/314952863 |url-access=subscription |access-date=13 February 2023 |id={{ProQuest|314952863}} }} and in 2001 the library spent $2.35 million upgrading the system to one that was Windows-based, internet-enabled and easier for patrons to use.{{Cite news |last=Wells |first=Amanda |date=19 March 2001 |title=Wellington City Libraries to spend $2.3m on computer system |work=The Dominion |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/315290083 |url-access=subscription |access-date=13 February 2023 |id={{ProQuest|315290083}} }} As of 2025 Wellington City Libraries offers online remote access to databases, e-books and audiobooks, newspapers, magazines, films, music and language learning apps.{{Cite web |title=Browse our eLibrary |url=http://wcl.govt.nz/downloads/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Wellington City Libraries |language=en}} Events held at the branch libraries include story times for young children, conversation groups for migrants, movie nights, and talks by authors.

From 1947 to 2006 the library operated a mobile service, taking books to communities that had no branch library or limited public transport, but this service was cancelled in 2006 due to low use and high costs.{{Cite web|last=Thomson|first=Rebecca|date=28 Sep 2015|title=Brakes put on mobile library – 150 Years of News|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/72496090/brakes-put-on-mobile-library---150-years-of-news|access-date=3 Oct 2021|website=Stuff|language=en}} The library still has a housebound service, whereby volunteers will deliver books to those who are unable to get to a library.{{Cite web|title=Housebound|url=https://www.wcl.govt.nz/about/joining/housebound.html|access-date=2021-10-02|website=Wellington City Libraries}}

Other examples of services no longer offered include the print collection and bestseller collection. The central library formerly held a collection of art prints which patrons could borrow.{{Cite web |title=Wellington Public Library: processing pictures for loan |url=https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/127121 |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Archives Online}} During the 1980s the library issued 7500–8000 prints annually, but by 1997 the number had halved and the print collection of 1200 items was sold.{{Cite news |date=25 September 1997 |title=Library's collection of prints to be sold |work=Evening Post |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/314535623 |url-access=subscription |access-date=13 February 2023 |id={{ProQuest|314535623}} }} In 1996 the library introduced 'bestsellers': patrons could pay a small fee to jump the reserve queue for a bestselling book and borrow it immediately.{{Cite news |date=3 January 1996 |title=Library now stocks the latest reads |work=Independent Herald |url=https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/562865 |access-date=17 February 2023 |via=Wellington City Archives}} This service ended in October 2022.{{Cite web |title=bestsellers – Library Blog |url=https://www.wcl.govt.nz/blog/index.php/tag/bestsellers/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |language=en-US}}

On 1 July 2022 the library stopped charging overdue fees for books not returned on time,{{Cite web |date=2022-05-31 |title=Wellington City Libraries end overdue fines |url=https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2022/06/library-fines-removed |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Wellington City Council |language=en-NZ}} in line with a world-wide trend in public libraries.{{Cite web |last=MacManus |first=Joel |date=2022-03-09 |title=Wellington to scrap overdue library fines and wipe all outstanding debt |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/wellington/127997111/wellington-to-scrap-overdue-library-fines-and-wipe-all-outstanding-debt |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Stuff |language=en}} The library manager stated that overdue fines "disproportionately affect those who cannot afford to pay" and that some poorer families were too afraid to borrow items in case they became overdue. It was hoped that removing fines would encourage more people to use the library. During the period from 2019 to March 2022, Wellington City Council received more than $800,000 from fines for overdue books, and when the new policy was put into place the council wiped over $500,000 of current fines from patrons' accounts. A survey conducted almost a year after the change found that more people were using the library.{{Cite web |last=McCallum |first=Hanna |date=2023-06-14 |title=Library users up after Wellington libraries ditch overdue fines, survey finds |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/wellington/132316732/library-users-up-after-wellington-libraries-ditch-overdue-fines-survey-finds |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Stuff |language=en}}

In 2006 the New Zealand Music Board honoured the Library with an excellence award for its "Sing along with Stu" story-time programme.

Te Awe Library in Brandon Street won the 2021 New Zealand Institute of Architects Wellington Architecture Award for public architecture for its design and décor.{{Cite web |title=Te Awe Library |url=https://www.librariesaotearoa.org.nz/te-awe-library.html |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Libraries Aotearoa |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Te Awe Library|url=https://www.nzia.co.nz/awards/local/award-detail/9697|access-date=3 Oct 2021|website=New Zealand Institute of Architects}}

File:2019-08-17 - Wellington, New Zealand - Arapaki Manners Library and Service Centre.jpg|Arapaki Manners Library and Service Centre (2019–2024)

File:Brooklyn, Wellington, New Zealand (2).JPG|Brooklyn Library (2014)

File:He Matapihi Molesworth Library.jpg|He Matapihi Molesworth Library (2019–2023)

File:Ruth Gotlieb Library.jpg|Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie) Library (2018)

File:Wadestown Library.JPG|Wadestown Library (2012)

File:Newtown Library Wellington.jpg|Newtown Library (2020)

File:Karori Library.jpg|alt=Photo of Karori Library taken from across the road.|Karori Library (2020)

File:The original Wellington Public Library on the corner of Mercer & Wakefield Streets, 1930 (cropped).jpg|The original Public Library designed in 1891 and opened in 1893 (1930)

File:Postcard. Public Library, Newtown, Wellington, N.Z. New Zealand post card (carte postale), printed in Germany. Fergusson Limited Sydney and London W 64. Industria-series. (ca 1904-1914). (21016845124).jpg|The Newtown Public Library (ca 1904-1914)

File:Wellington Public Library in Mercer Street 1940.jpg|The Wellington Central Library built in 1937 (1940)

File:WellingtonLibraryFront.jpg|Wellington Central Library building (2007)

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Libraries in Wellington}}

• [http://www.wcl.govt.nz/ Wellington Central Libraries website]
• [http://www.wcl.govt.nz/about/branches/history.html History of Wellington City Libraries]

{{Wellington, New Zealand}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Wellington City

Category:Education in the Wellington Region

Category:Libraries in Wellington

Category:Libraries established in 1893