1925: Waiuku Public Library

July 29, 2024

By AHNZ

Today in history, 29 July 1946, The Waiuku Town Board took over the administration of the Waiuku library.

Like so many New Zealand libraries (if not all) this started out as a private, community affair. Waiuku’s was paid for and run by by a committee of subscribers. Ref. Manukaus Journey timeline, Auckland Libraries.

The earlier library had been opened on 3 November, 1925. “Interest in library affairs at Waiuku of late resulted in a carnival being held by which £150 was raised for the purchase of books, and this, together with donations of cash and books, has resulted in the establishment of a library with more than 600 volumes of the latest works,..hoped sufficient support will be forthcoming to permit of the addition of a reading and writing room later.” Ref. NZ Herald (1925,) Papers Past

This library, created voluntarily by free people, opened just in time for New Zealand writer and Waiuku resident Elsie Locke who started high school that same year. No doubt she would have been one of the more prominent beneficiaries of the new library.

Just a reminder that free people can see to their own needs without The State coming along and taking over, forcing people to pay through taxes, and taking all the credit for something they never created. But it’s also a reminder that, after WW2, New Zealanders were willing to let Big Brother run their lives when they had not been before.

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Image ref. Waiuku Library in 1952. Brian Muir collection by courtesy of Mrs Valerie Muir. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections

Note: This building still stands but is currently an Information Center. Waiuku’s local government is long gone and the library and its collection assimilated into the Auckland Super City

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