1914: St Kilda Community Library

May 24, 2025

By AHNZ

In St Kilda, Dunedin, a perfectly good Anarchist library is about to be replaced by a government one. The 1914 St Kilda Community Library didn’t tax anyone. It was run by voluntary effort for 110 years.

“The library has been run and kept open by volunteers since its inception.”
“The library originally opened in April 6, 1914.”
““We stand on the shoulders of giants, because the past volunteers kept this place going through everything. . really take my hat off to them,” Mr Sutherland said. The library will start to wind down operations until their complete closure on July 31.” Ref. ODT (24/5/2025)

The government is replacing them with ‘Kaituna’ (“South Dunedin Library and Community complex.”) It is heavy on neo-Maori designs and cost upwards of $21,000,000. It should be ready to opened by the Dunedin mayor shortly before local body elections this year. Ref. $21m library for South Dunedin, ODT (2023)

“The complex will feature a modern and accessible library, a DCC service centre, a range of bookable meeting rooms, a maker space, a recording studio, and an outdoor garden and seating area. It has been designed using Universal Design Principles to be fully accessible and meet a wide range of needs. It will also have bike stands and charging stations for mobility scooters.” Ref. Dunedin.govt.nz (2024)

Question to AHNZ:  Why does the community library have to close?

Anarchist History of New Zealand: In economics we call it the Crowding Out Effect. Government enters a market with massive publicity, brand new computers and furniture and gear and books and carpets…..a bottomless pit of money (the taxpayer)… A Community Library of volunteer elders cannot compete with that. Is intimidated. Sent back to watch Coronation Street in their slippers at home rather than carry on generations of localism. Besides, an Operator from the government would have made damn sure the Community Library folded up and disseminated its book collection; It would be embarrassing to the government if it had kept on going.

There is no way to know if South Dunedin wanted their new Maori recording studio/meeting rooms/maker space/outdoor garden/service centre etc. because it is not market-facing. It’s massive budget and paid staff will be supplied at gun point.

And then they’ll say: If it wasn’t for government nobody would run a library.

—
Image ref. Google Street View (2024)

Like    Comment     Share