Hastings District Libraries

The information below is adapted from the brochure: "An outline of the history of the Public Library of Havelock North : a century of service".

1873
Inauguration of the library by shareholders of the Mechanics Institute. Housed in the Foresters Lodge.  A correspondent in the [HB] Herald of the time commented "it was hoped the efforts of the committee would be requited by a lower attendance at the hotels and a consequent improved attendance at the institute, which was well lighted and where there was always a good fire burning".

1884
It is interesting to note that in 1884 the library accounts for the year were:

• Income          £10
• Subscriptions  £4.15s
• Donations       £3

1938
The library was still housed in the Foresters Lodge in Te Mata Road [now Paper Plus bookshop].  Property rights passed to the Town Board in trust, to be administered and conducted at the discretion of the Town Board.

1955 - 1961
Hastings City Council provided the library service for which the Havelock North Borough Council paid  £175 per annum.

1958
First investigations into providing free and rental service to the borough.

1961
The new library was opened on  5 April 1961 in the Borough Council's Municipal Building at the corner of Middle Road and Porter Drive (now demolished).  The Librarian (and sole staff) was Miss B Nott. In the first month she joined up 790 members.  The library was open only 29 hours per week  and the tiny 640 square feet area held 1,400 items. The issue figures for 1961 were a whopping 50,800, an average of 36 issues per item. Havelock North folk were avid and fast readers!

Photo: Havelock North Town Hall in the 1960s (now carpark). The library was located in part of the building.

1963
A library building loan of £33,770  was proposed.  Sketch plans were prepared for a building of 3,580 square feet.  The Director of the National Library Service was to speak at a public meeting.  The proposed new library was to be sited on the carpark next to the Municipal Building.

1964
New Library Building poll results:

• For the proposal           447
• Against the proposal     482
• Informal                             6
• Total votes cast            935

The proposal was defeated by 35 votes.  There were 1830 ratepayers on the roll.

1964/68
Various alternative proposals including one to lease an area of 3000 square feet in a projected building were considered but did not proceed.

1968
Proposal to lease the Air Force Hall in Napier Road.  Area 4000 square feet.

1969
On 23 July 1969 the Council entered into a lease agreement with the Air Force Association and the library was moved from the Council offices to the Air Force Hall.  The lease was to expire in 1979.

1973/74
Proposal to alter and extend the building lapsed as the building did not conform with the requirements of the Council's Code of Ordinances.

1974
A proposal to purchase the old Havelock North school site in Te Mata Road and erect a library building.  The stone wall along the street boundary of the present library is all that remains of the old school.

1975
Site assessment and sketch plans prepared.

1980
After a huge fundraising exercise, the present building in Te Mata Road was purpose built and all the stock moved from the Air Force Hall. The new library was opened by Sir Richard Harrison MP on 6/9/1980.

Photo: new library September 1980

 

1989
Amalgamation of Hastings City Council, Havelock North Borough Council and Hawke’s Bay County Council proposed to form the Hastings District Council.

1991
Restructuring as a result of the Council amalgamations was completed and the Havelock North Library joined the Hastings Library and Flaxmere Library to form the Hastings District Libraries.

Havelock North Library became computerised!   Without closing the library the enormous task of adding the 36,000 items to the automated library catalogue was achieved over several months.  For the first time, patrons in Havelock North Library were registered with computerised library cards and could see Havelock North, Hastings & Flaxmere Library stock on catalogue terminals within the library.

1993
Hastings Library was extended and Havelock North Library happily inherited and "recycled" the Hastings issue desk.

1998/9
The new Community Centre was build onto the library building and opened on 11/09/98. The library floor area increased by approximately 200sq metres to 809 sq m. and gained a new purpose built Archives Room.  The Children's Section was relocated and extended, with large windows overlooking the Dell.   The reading room, newspapers and magazines were shifted into the former Children's Section.  The staff workroom was extended, with more storage and a new staff room being added.