Jump to content

Grey District Library

Coordinates: 42°26′55″S 171°12′37″E / 42.448701°S 171.210196°E / -42.448701; 171.210196
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grey District Library
Grey District Library in 2011
Map
42°26′55″S 171°12′37″E / 42.448701°S 171.210196°E / -42.448701; 171.210196
LocationGreymouth
Other information
Websitehttps://www.greydc.govt.nz/facilities/libraries

The Grey District Library, also known as the Greymouth Public Library, is a public library located in Greymouth in the West Coast region of the South Island of New Zealand.

History

[edit]

The Greymouth Library began as the Greymouth Literary Association in 1868. With an annual fee of £2 5s and membership by ballot, the club was not accessible to most citizens. Three years later the association was changed to the Greymouth Literary Society, with a public membership and a public library.[1]

Greymouth Town Hall. The entrance to the Carnegie Library wing can be seen on the left.

By 1887 the society had a public library and reading-rooms in the Masonic Hall on Mackay Street. However, in September 1887 fire destroyed the Hall. The reading-rooms, books and furniture had been insured for £200.[2]

In the early 1900s the council had approved the building of a new town hall and council offices, however the cost was prohibitive. After applying to Andrew Carnegie for funds to add a library wing to the building, a grant of £2250 was received in 1906.[3] The building, designed by architect Edward Iveagh Lord, was the largest brick building on the West Coast, and had a 21.5 metres (71 ft) clock tower.[1]

By 1936 the library included a children's library on the ground floor.[4]

The entire town hall and library were destroyed by arson on 19 July 1947. Most of the books and some of the furniture were able to be saved.[5][1]

Collection

[edit]

The current library building on Albert Street contains the collection of books, magazines, DVDs and so on that would be expected of a district library. The library provides classes on digital literacy, and an active children's programme.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Rodgers, Kerry (November–December 2005). "Carnegie libraries". New Zealand Geographic. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Fire at Greymouth". Evening Star. No. 7305. 1 September 1887. p. 2. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2020 – via PapersPast.
  3. ^ "A Carnegie Library". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Public library: Favourable comment on alterations". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Greymouth Blaze: Spectacular fire". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Libraries – Grey District Council". www.greydc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.