Library History
1953-1963
The first Library was established in the cafeteria during the construction days of the Mill, with a major fire destroying the collection at one stage. In August 1954, a group of residents approached the Town Commissioner, Mr F. Prideaux, requesting the establishment of a Public Library service in Kawerau. After assistance from the Country Library Service and a group of willing volunteers, the Kawerau Public Library opened for business in the Commissioner's Offices Monday 13th September 1954. It began with 1,411 books and was open 8 hours a week, including 4 hours at night. The first paid Librarian, Mr A. McKay, began in February 1955 and was paid one pound a week.
By 1962, the Library collection had grown to 20,000 volumes and books were stacked everywhere. The donation of the town-site cafeteria by Tasman meant a new Library, along with restrooms and Plunket facilities could be developed. This Library, which is the current Library building, opened 10th April 1963 with 3006 members.
1963-1993
In 1963, Council appointed a professional librarian, Flora Dow, to manage the new facility. Over this time the number of customers remained similar but the size of the book collections grew to approximately 33,000 items. New collections were introduced such as Large Print, Videos and a Maori collection, and the Library was now open 38 hours a week.
1993-Today
In 1993, a new District Librarian, Susan Harris, was appointed to introduce computer technology to the Library. After lots of work, the new Library system, Catalist, was launched to the public in May 1996. At the same time, the library workroom was altered along with new carpet and metal shelving.  Developments with technology continued with an upgrade to the Horizon software in 2000 and public access to a pc (1998) and internet (2001). In 2006, Council made a considerable investment in the future of the Public Library by expanding the building by a third, extending the upstairs mezzanine floor, and linking the facility with the Sir James Fletcher Kawerau Museum which now inhabits the former Plunket room space. New collections, such as DVDs, Junior Readers, Magazines and Graffix, and programmes like Summer Reading (StoryTime) and Toddler Time have also being developed. Over the years, a number of staff have worked at the Library. Staff with over 20 years service include Rose Cartman, Flora Dow, Ramona Wood and Rowena Dowie, with the latter two still employed by Council.
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