It’s open.
Last Friday, I squeezed in a quick stroll between grocery shopping and other chores to see inside one part of the Te Manawataki o Te Papa Civic Precinct building, which I had been anticipating since its conception in 2021.
That section is our new library and community hub, which opened with a well attended dawn blessing and official welcome.
Our beautifully designed library will be a strong community gathering place, the beating heart, and that is what Te Manawataki o Te Papa means: the heart of Te Papa (the CBD and its surroundings).
As I strolled around, capturing a few areas that caught my attention, my first visit felt like attending an open home, and in a way it was, though this home will be available to the rest of our community and me for much longer. As I moved through each nook and cranny and took in the artistic and Māori design features, I was struck by how airy the place was and how lovely it felt to be here amongst books and other people who love libraries.
A slice of history
The desire and many proposals to establish a community library in Tauranga began with the first known newspaper reference in 1867 to a library initiative.
Over the decades, the Tauranga City Council library was housed in numerous understated buildings; today, it sits proudly in an architecturally stunning, modern multipurpose library/community centre as part of the Te Manawataki o Te Papa civic precinct.
In a Digital World
On opening day here in Tauranga, I was assured the “anti-library” cynics were quieted when a line formed outside the library entrance for everyone who wanted to join the community day and library activities. There is still demand for a world-class library to have and enjoy.
They are also important social meeting points, accessible and affordable to all, where everyone can meet on equal footing. They are hugely democratic and an enormously valuable anchor in our society for all sorts of reasons unrelated to books; the books might even be a bonus. What matters is that we connect.
Studies show that many library users also buy books regularly. Libraries are for everyone, not just those whose budget doesn’t stretch to buying books.
Why do people who can afford to buy books still use libraries too?
Library books aren’t second-best to buying books. Library books are always high quality, mostly in new or nearly new condition, and they’re a joy to touch and hold, even if I admit to using a Kindle for late-night and early-morning reads.
These days, with modern books’ high production values, they are an aesthetic treat as well as a literary one. You can get as much of a buzz from walking home with an armload of library books as from buying them in shops, and you don’t have to worry about running out of shelf space at home, either. Then there is the low-risk strategy of expanding your reading choices without wasting too much time or money. It’s an adventure of sorts, slowly wandering from one aisle to the next.
Not to mention the numerous families with children sitting in the vibrant areas of our new library, books scattered around, one being read aloud. In clusters, adults happily discussed the area and the artwork.
Amid it all, no “Shhhhh” carried through the spaces, just the continued squeals of stories’ delight.
The cover image was taken after the community day and showed remnants of chalk drawings outside the library and community area. Made me smile.
It looks like a great building, Suze. I’m sure it’ll be enjoyed for many years to come xx
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