One hundred and fifty years of Te Awamatu Library history, of stories told and minds expanded, were celebrated at the facility last week.
Te Awamutu Library
The Te Awamutu Library Sesquicentennial kicked off last Friday night with a wine and cheese evening for staff and invited guests; Saturday opened up to the public with a feast of children’s games, some of which dated back several generations, and a celebratory cake cutting.
Before slicing into the 150th birthday cake, Waipā deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk told those present the library had been through a number of changes through the years before settling in its present position and becoming a much-used ‘gateway for our community’.
Waipā deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk cutting Te Awamutu Library’s 150th birthday cake, watched by library supervisor Donna Wilson, centre, and Waipā District Council’s customer and community services group manager, Sally Sheedy. Photo: Viv Posselt
Records show the library has had a chequered past – details of which can be seen on a time-line board with photographs up in the library. In a nutshell, it chronicles the story from the time it was established in 1874 with 17 subscribers out of a village of just 43 people. It went through theft, periods of popularity and decline, numerous shifts into different buildings around town, floods, leaks and serious overcrowding of books when it almost burst at the seams. The years were filled with promises to secure a new library for the town.
The library moved into its present architect-designed building on the Mahoe St/Selwyn Lane corner in 2016. As of August 1 this year, it had 17,753 registered card holders and the collection (excluding eResources) contains 79,444 items.
Sheree Gross was library supervisor until 2023 – Donna Wilson is the current library supervisor. Gross played a part in the 150th celebrations by baking the birthday cake.
Te Awamutu mums enjoying playtime at the library – Kylie Doole with her son Te Haika, 2, and Rachel Tucker with Marnie, 3. Photo: Viv Posselt
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan reading to children at the celebration, supported by enthusiastic two-year-old, Te Awamutu’s Te Haika Doole. Photo: Viv Posselt
Waipā deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk speaking to those at Saturday’s celebrations. Photo: Viv Posselt
Mum Mel Sullivan with 16-month-old Arlo enjoying the colouring in table. Photo: Viv Posselt
Rukuhia dad Luke McConnell and his son Flynn, 5, enjoying a game of Power Clix. Photo: Viv Posselt
Father and son from Kihikihi, Nick Murphy and two-year-old Ted, having fun with the building blocks. Photo: Viv Posselt
