Public flocks to new Rototuna library Te Kete Aronui

Friday, 11 August 2023

The new face of libraries, Te Kete Aronui - Rototuna Library.

Rototuna’s new Te Kete Aronui library and community hub has been proving a big hit, with nearly 30,000 visitors since it opened last month, city councillors have been told.

The $9.5 million facility offers usual library services but also access to various council services, such as making rate payments and registering dogs.

Community services unit director Rebecca Whitehead says the council has seen a lift across the entire libraries network.

The council’s community and natural environment committee heard on Thursday that Te Kete Aronui has had a big impact on overall library visitor numbers in Hamilton.

“We’ve had just over 29,000 visitors through Te Kete Aronui - that’s in 17 days of opening, so that was the number till Monday of this week,” libraries director Paula Murdoch said.

Daniel Appleton with son Carter Appleton Barclay, 3, enjoying the facility shortly after it opened.

Community services unit director Rebecca Whitehead said: “The city library visitations have doubled over the last month with the opening of Te Kete Aronui.”

There had been some concern the new facility could cause a drop in visitor numbers at other sites, particularly Chartwell, but this hadn’t happened.

“We’ve actually seen a lift across the entire network,” Whitehead said.

The numbers came during discussion on a new 2023-2033 libraries strategy for the city.

Committee chairperson Kesh Naidoo-Rauf says te Kete Aronui’s visitor numbers are “mind-blowing”.

Committee chairperson Kesh Naidoo-Rauf described the Te Kete Aronui numbers as “mind-blowing”.

“You hear narratives about libraries being out of date. Well, we’ve totally squashed that.”

The space was setting a high bar for the rest of the city, she said. Hillcrest is the next library due to be considered for redevelopment under long term plan discussions.

Hubs like Te Kete Aronui helped break down barriers for accessing services, Naidoo-Rauf said.

Deputy mayor Angela O’Leary said that 5-6 years ago a former councillor suggested getting rid of libraries so as not to waste money as they were outdated.

“Boy, how wrong that member was.“

O’Leary hoped Te Kete Aronui could be the first of many newly developed and renovated facilities incorporating libraries, community hubs and meeting places.

The council currently has Te Kete Aronui, the Central Library and five neighbourhood libraries.

The strategy approved by the committee included promotion of free and open access to information, and partnerships with community providers and the education sector.