Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, 1871- (Organisation)

SummaryTe Ao Mārama – Tauranga City Libraries is a city-wide library network with multiple branches, including the central library, community libraries at Greerton, Pāpāmoa, Mount Maunganui, and a mobile library service based out of the Mount Maunganui branch. In 1998, the libraries adopted the dual Māori name "Te Ao Mārama," meaning "the world of light" or "place of learning." From 2011 to 2020 the libraries ran the website "Tauranga Memories" and from 2021, Pae Korokī - Tauranga Archives Online.

June 12, 1871, first library begins with 20 members and immediately amalgamates with the Tauranga Mechanics’ Institute

1906, initial library transferred to the Borough Council and renamed Tauranga Public Library

1963, neighbouring borough Mount Maunganui opens temporary library in borrowed Beazley Homes Ltd building

1964, Greerton Branch established

1967, the neighbouring borough, Mount Maunganui, builds its own library facility

1989, Mount Maunganui Library, Tauranga Public Library and Greerton Library amalgamate to become the Tauranga District Libraries

1998, A dual name, Te Ao Mārama, is gifted by mana whenua, to Tauranga District Libraries

2003, Tauranga District Libraries become Tauranga City Libraries

2006, Pāpāmoa Library built and added to Tauranga City Libraries

2022, Central library demolished and He Puna Manawa opened at 21 Devonport Road. Library archive moved off-site

2023, both names for the network are integrated together to become Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries

Read a more detailed history of the library network in Tauranga here.

Photographs

Display of Japanese children's paintings at Tauranga Public Library

Series of afternoon readings for young children - Tauranga Library

Ōtūmoetai College pupils in Library: Douglas Rendell, Barbara McVeigh, Margaret Hall, Annemieke Vandervorn

Tauranga Library 1963 99-12

PUBLIC LIBRARY 1988

DEMOLITION OF LIBRARY 1988

Pāpāmoa Library staff 2006

Pāpāmoa Library furniture 2006

Pāpāmoa Library interior 2006

Tauranga Library 1987

Grant Bridger 1ZD shows Dianne Smyth the station library

Mr J T Moffat, Gordon and Christine leave with library books

Miss Green in her travelling library

Archive Collections

Records of Tauranga Mechanics' Institute and Tauranga Public Library, 1871-1989

Records of Tauranga Public Library, 1954-1973

Records of Tauranga Public Library, 1976-1985

Records of Tauranga District Libraries, 1969-1992

Records of Tauranga Public Library, 1968-1997

Records of Tauranga Public Library library fit-out, 1989

Books damaged in Tauranga Library occupation, 1988

Records relating to the history of Tauranga Library, 1972-1994

Original pencil sketch by Fred Graham for the Mount Maunganui Library mural

Records of Friends of the Tauranga District Libraries, 1992-1998

Stories - Organisations

Te Ao Mārama ki Tutarawānanga - Greerton Library, 1964- (Organisation)

Te Ao Mārama - Pāpāmoa Library, 2006- (Organisation)

Te Ao Mārama - Mount Maunganui Library, 1963- (Organisation)

The library network in Tauranga

Stories - Places

The library at Mount Maunganui

The library at Pāpāmoa

The library at Greerton

First 100 year: A timeline of Tauranga City Libraries

Photograph Series

Te Ao Mārama ki Tutarawānanga - Greerton library opening and blessing, 2016

Tauranga's library over the years

Audio Visuals

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

Stories - Events

150th Celebrations of Libraries in Tauranga, 2021 (Event)

Stories - Articles

Early preserves: the first archivists in Tauranga

Audio Visual Files

Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga Public Library (1989)

Audio Visual Collections

Tauranga District Library VHS Collection

Photograph Collections

Celebrating 150 years of Libraries in Tauranga, 2021 (Penelope Coleman)

Logo adopted in 2023. It features the revered pōhutukawa tree (flower) and its significance to Māori as a respected ancestor. The design evokes the sun rising over the horizon, representing new beginnings, fresh opportunities, and growth. An open book reflects the power of imagination and the endless pursuit of knowledge, discovery and possibility.

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.CopyrightTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesLicenseCC BY 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Tauranga City Libraries, 1871- (Organisation)

Known Date(s)

Date EstablishedJune 12, 1871

Relates To

PlacesThe library at GreertonThe library at PāpāmoaThe library at Mount MaunganuiOrganisationsThe library network in TaurangaTe Ao Mārama ki Tutarawānanga - Greerton Library, 1964- (Organisation)Te Ao Mārama - Pāpāmoa Library, 2006- (Organisation)Te Ao Mārama - Mount Maunganui Library, 1963- (Organisation)

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Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, 1871- (Organisation)