Palmerston North City Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palmerston North City Library |
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| Palmerston North City Library (2014) | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Type | National library |
| Location | 4 The Square, Palmerston North |
| Branches | 6 & mobile library |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | books, newspapers, magazines, CD, DVD, games |
| Access and use | |
| Access requirements | Open to anyone |
| Website | citylibrary.pncc.govt.nz |
The Palmerston North City Library is the main public library for people living in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is run by the Palmerston North City Council. This library is a great place to find books, movies, music, and more!
What the Library Does
The Palmerston North City Library calls itself "The Living Room of the City." Its goal is "To inspire people to explore the pathways of the world – Te Ara Whanui o Te Ao." This means they want to help everyone learn new things and discover exciting ideas.
The library offers many different things. You can find:
- Books for all ages
- Magazines and newspapers
- CDs and DVDs
- Electronic resources, like e-books and online databases
It's a place for both fun and learning. The main library building is special because it has won awards for its design. It is located right in the middle of the city, on The Square. There are also four other smaller libraries around the city.
Library Buildings and Locations
The main Palmerston North City Library is in a building called the C M Ross building. This building was carefully restored and made bigger. A famous New Zealand architect named Ian Athfield designed the new parts. The library opened in this building in 1996.
Besides the main library, there are other places where you can borrow books:
- Branches in the suburbs of Highbury, Roslyn, Awapuni, and Ashhurst.
- A Mobile Library Bus that travels to different areas.
A Look at Library History
The idea of a library in Palmerston North started a long time ago, in June 1876. Back then, it was just a reading room. Only people who paid a fee could use it.
The early library had some tough times:
- In 1885, a fire destroyed all the books.
- Later, the remaining books were given to the local Fire Brigade. They had a library for their members that the public could join for a fee.
In 1900, the City Council started a public library again. They opened a public reading room. A big change happened in 1938. The Council decided to make the library service free for everyone living in the city!
The library has moved to different buildings over the years. The main library you see today is the sixth place it has been. It is now in what used to be a big department store called D.I.C.. This old D.I.C. building is important. It was officially recognized as a special heritage building on July 2, 1982.
