H. E. Holland Memorial Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids H. E. Holland Memorial Library |
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![]() H.E. Holland Memorial Library in 2019
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General information | |
Type | Library |
Location | Seddonville |
Address | Queen Street, Seddonville |
Coordinates | 41°33′01″S 171°59′11″E / 41.5503583°S 171.9863583°E |
Opened | 1929 (this building) |
Technical details | |
Floor count | Single storey |
The H. E. Holland Memorial Library, also known as the Seddonville Community Library, is a special place in Seddonville. This small town is located in the Buller District on the South Island of New Zealand. It's a community library, which means it's a place where people can borrow books and learn. These types of libraries are often run by local volunteers for everyone in the area.
Contents
The Library's Story
Early Days and a Big Flood
A library first opened its doors in Seddonville way back in the early 1900s. Sadly, this first library and all its books were completely destroyed. This happened during a big flood that followed the 1929 Murchison earthquake. It was a tough time for the community.
A Helping Hand from Harry Holland
After the flood, a very important person stepped in to help. His name was Harry Holland. He was the leader of the Labour Party, which is a major political group in New Zealand. He was also a MP for the Buller area. An MP is someone elected by people to represent them in the country's government.
Harry Holland asked people all over New Zealand to help replace the lost books. Libraries, bookshops, and even individuals sent in donations. The Post Office helped by carrying these donations for free. Even the government helped, with 180 books coming from the main library in Parliament. In total, about 2,000 to 3,000 books were collected!
Building a New Home for Books
While the books were being gathered, the people of Seddonville were busy too. They raised enough money in their community to build a new library. The Mines Department also gave a generous donation of £50. This meant they had enough money to pay for the new building completely.
The new library officially opened on 9 December 1929. Harry Holland himself was there to open it. To thank him for all his hard work, the library was named the H. E. Holland Public Library. He was also given a special walking stick as a gift.
A Memorial and Another Flood
A few years later, in 1933, Harry Holland passed away. To remember him and his efforts, the library was renamed the H. E. Holland Memorial Library.
The library building and its collection faced another challenge much later. On Boxing Day in 2010, a flood again caused a lot of damage to the building and the books inside.
What's Inside the Library?
The H. E. Holland Memorial Library is run by dedicated volunteers from the community. They help keep the library open and welcome visitors. The books you find there are part of a special system. The library gets a changing collection of books from the main Buller District Library. This means the books are regularly swapped out, so there's always something new to discover!