Records of Tauranga Mechanics' Institute and Tauranga Public Library

Date1871-1989Reference NumberAms 11Collection SummaryRecords created by libraries in Tauranga between 1871 and 1989.DescriptionThe collection comprises of eight series:

Ams 11/1: Minutes of Tauranga Library and Tauranga Mechanics’ Institute, 1871-1897.

Ams 11/2: Minutes of Tauranga Public Library, 1920-1965.

Ams 11/3: Annual reports of Tauranga Public Library, 1922-1980.

Ams 11/4: Librarian's reports, 1961-1965, and undated issue statistics.

Ams 11/5: Financial records, 1946-1955.

Ams 11/6: Papers relating to Tauranga Public Library joining Country Library Service, and New Zealand Library and Book Week Council, 1935-1979.

Ams 11/7: Correspondence, 1923-1964.

Ams 11/8: Issue statistics, interlibrary loans, staff information and newspaper clippings, 1939-1989.

Tauranga Library had its origins in a decision in 1871 to form the Tauranga Library and Mechanics Institute. The earliest document in this collection, a minute book, was created by Tauranga Library subscribers when they met for the first time at the Masonic Hotel, in April 1871 and formed a committee. Starting with twenty members who paid an annual subscription, they amalgamated with the Tauranga Mechanics’ Institute on 12 June 1871, "for the purpose of forming a mechanics institute and securing the advantages offered by the government".

The first building (which was razed by fire in 1881 and rebuilt) was in Harington Street. In January 1906 the Library was transferred to the Borough Council and named the Tauranga Public Library. A new building was erected on the west side of Willow Street near its intersection with Wharf Street in 1930. The Tauranga Borough Electricity Department occupied the ground floor, and the Library the upper floor. Later the Library moved to the ground floor and the Council Chambers were on the upper level. This building was later demolished to make way for the new Council building, and the Library moved to a building on the corner of Willow and Wharf Streets in 1989. In 2022 the Library moved to He Puna Manawa, between Devonport Road and Grey Street.

The first Librarian was William Walmsley. This collection was deposited by Miss Sheila Morgan, Head Librarian in the 1980s.

For archives relating to Tauranga City Libraries see also: Ams 85, Ams 88, Ams 147 , Ams 166 , Ams 218 , Ams 279, Ams 288, Ams 326, Ams 426 , Ams 455.

For archives relating to Friends of the Library see also: Ams 287 and Ams 340 CreatorTauranga Mechanics InstituteTauranga City LibrariesLevelCollectionSystem of ArrangementThe original order of the documents has largely been preserved. In a preliminary arrangement, the minutes of Tauranga Mechanics' Institute formed the second series, and the later minutes of Tauranga Public Library the first. As the rest of the records in the collection were organised in date order, from oldest to most recent, it was decided that access would be improved if these two series swap position: the earlier minutes of Tauranga Mechanics' Institute are now the first series, and the later minutes of Tauranga Library the second. Previous reference numbers have been logged in the "Previously Known As" field. Within files, the papers are also arranged in date order from oldest to most recent with four exceptions: -Ams 11/7/9 and Ams 11/7/10 are organised by the sender's surname, in alphabetical order. -Ams 11/7/11 and Ams 11/7/12 have been sorted by subject. Again, this ordering reflects the original arrangement of the papers. LanguageEnglish

Archive Series

Minutes of Tauranga Library and Tauranga Mechanics' Institute, 1871-1897

Minutes of Tauranga Public Library, 1920-1965

Annual reports of Tauranga Public Library, 1922-1980

Librarian's reports, 1961-1965, and undated issue statistics

Financial records, 1946-1955

Papers relating to New Zealand Library and Book Week Council and Tauranga Public Library joining Country Library Service, 1935-1979

Correspondence, 1923-1964

Issue statistics, interlibrary loans, newspaper clippings and staff papers, 1939-1989

Audio Visuals

Seeds of the Library: 150 years of libraries in Tauranga: The Past and the Curious

Tauranga City Libraries Image 99-1205: Tauranga Municipal Electricity Department, Council Offices and Public Library on Willow Street, 1963.

Asset Location

RoomClimate controlled room - offsite

Usage

Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within.CopyrightSome of the earlier records in this collection have no known copyright. For later records, the copyright is held by Tauranga City Libraries. Please see file or item-level descriptions for more information.Access ConditionsTemporary restrictions apply to some records in this collection: more-recent documents are closed because they contain sensitive information about living individuals. Please see file or item-level descriptions for more information.

Relates To

OrganisationsTauranga City LibrariesEvents150 years of public libraries in Tauranga (2021)

Admin

Source of ContributionLibrary collection

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Records of Tauranga Mechanics' Institute and Tauranga Public Library