Join the Library

Membership of the Library is free for anyone who resides within the Bay of Plenty Regional Council boundaries. You can use your One Library Card at our Library or you can enrol at the Kawerau District Library by filling out a borrower application. Three items per family may be borrowed at that time and your borrower's card will then be posted out to you (proof of address). When joining, you must show personal identification. Each person must fill out an individual application form, and it is important that you print clearly.

Acceptable Identification (With Photo)

  • Current New Zealand Driver's Licence
  • Current Passport
  • Current Government ID
  • Current Student ID

Conditions Of Membership

In signing your borrower application, you agree to:

  • Produce your Library card when using Library services and accept responsibility for its use.
  • Return all items borrowed by the due date.
  • Pay for overdue, damaged or lost item/s and any debt collection fees.
  • Advise the Library of any change of address.
  • Immediately contact the Library if your card is lost or stolen. You are responsible for item/s borrowed before the loss was reported.
  • Acknowledge the same responsibility for any child you have registered.

Borrower Categories

  • Adult - Membership is free for adults aged 18 and over, residing within the Bay of Plenty Regional Council boundaries.
  • Youth - Membership is free for youth aged 0-17 residing within the the Bay of Plenty Regional Council boundaries. A parent or legal guardian must sign the borrower application form accepting responsibility for the Library card.
  • Non-Resident -People who reside outside the Bay of Plenty Regional Council boundaries and are not ratepayers of the Kawerau District Council must pay an annual fee of $25.00 for membership.
  • Educational Institution Borrowing - Membership is free for educational institutions resident within the Bay of Plenty Regional Council boundaries. A letter of authorisation from the Principal of the educational institution accepting responsibility for use and debts must accompany borrower applications. The membership is for school use only and must be renewed annually.

One Library Card

One Library Card is available in the Eastern Bay and some wider Bay Of Plenty Public Libraries. The concept behind One Library Card is you can be a member of your local library and use that card to borrow from other Council public libraries without having to join up again. Council Libraries that are offering One Library Card are Kawerau, Opotiki, Whakatāne, Rotorua, Taupo and Western Bay. At this stage, you will need to follow the rules of the Library that you are using and return material to the Library that you borrow material from, but your wallet will be lighter with just one card to access the resources of the wider Bay of Plenty Public Libraries.