Source: Auckland Council
Auckland Council Libraries are delighted to welcome Leys Institute Library customers to their new interim library service at 14 Jervois Road, Ponsonby.
The interim library was due to open in March, but due to COVID-19 lockdown will open today for the first time. It joins 31 other libraries across Auckland that re-open today.
At the ‘Leys Institute Little Library’ under Alert Level 2, visitors will be able to borrow from a constantly refreshed collection, return items, pick up holds, use public computers and printing and access free Wi-Fi.
All visitors will need to comply with Auckland Council Libraries COVID-19 visitor processes. Once Alert Level 2 is over, you are welcome to sit, relax and read in the library’s sunny nooks and crannies. When programmes and events re-commence, they will be conducted by staff at a range of community places close by, including parks when warmer weather returns.
The new space has a clever design that maximises a smaller footprint, reflects the heritage of the Leys Institute (which is 150m from the new temporary site) and provides a quality experience for library users. While this space will be temporary, staff have worked to ensure it won’t ‘feel’ temporary by introducing touches of the ‘real’ Leys Institute Library and re-using quality equipment and fittings where appropriate.
Chair of Waitematā Local Board, Richard Northey, says, “it’s great to see interim library services open at ‘Leys Institute Little Library’ to service the Ponsonby and Herne Bay community. Come along and check out this fantastic new space and pick up some new reading material for the whole family.”
Libraries lockdown at a glance
With libraries opening in stages from this week, it’s interesting to take a look at how Aucklanders have been using Auckland Council Libraries services in lockdown over the last 8 weeks.
Many Aucklanders turned to eCollections and online resources to read, watch and learn while staying safe at home. A whopping 498,287 eBooks and eAudiobooks were issued, and 3772 new members joined the Auckland Council Libraries whānau.
Aucklanders have also kept on top of international news over lockdown, with The Washington Post, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian in our top 5 eNewspapers and The Economist – UK edition and The Economist – Asia edition our most popular eMagazine. A story about a young wizard has flown off the virtual shelves during lockdown, with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone the most popular eBook and eAudiobook. See more insights from Libraries’ lockdown in this Auckland Council Libraries blog post.
Head along to ‘Leys Institute Little Library’ to see this new space and pick up some great reads. See aucklandlibraries.govt.nz for information on which Auckland Council Libraries are open, hygiene and social distancing, loans and returns, holds and requested items, services on offer and much more.
