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Hibiscus Matters had a preview of the $6.3 million Ōrewa Library upgrade ahead of its opening on Monday, May 19, which revealed that the revamp has created a modern, multi-use community space.
While the Ōrewa Library team maintained services from the nearby Ōrewa community centre, the old library building at 12 Moana Avenue was transformed into a light and airy community hub.
In keeping with the concept of building knowledge, local iwi artist Hokimai Rosieur designed an entry panel called Te Kete Mātauranga, which flows along the front entrance of the building and represents Māori concepts of learning.
Librarian Sandra Sinclair compiled images which have been incorporated into a local history wall. Revamped spaces include a magazine area and an expanded children’s area, with murals and doors opening out onto the original courtyard.
One of the key new features is a mezzanine floor, which Ōrewa Library manager Carolyn Hickey says will provide a lot more options for community use with a soundproof dividable meeting room and additional study space.
“The rooms are perfect for book groups, language classes and all sorts of other community needs that we weren’t able to offer space to before,” Carolyn says. “In addition, the mezzanine floor will provide the perfect zone where students can study.”
“It has a lovely calm feel, the architects have done a wonderful job,” she says.
Downstairs, movable shelving increases options for event use, with new seating designed to cater for reading, relaxing and working on a device. Staff will be available to help with library support and council services, such as rates payments, dog registrations and environmental enquiries.
Caroline says she has to give a huge shout out to her wonderful team who have performed over and above the call of duty.
“They have been absolutely outstanding, and worked so well as a united team – everyone helping each other, it has been such a big job.”
For the past few weeks, the team of 14, including part-timers and shelvers, has had to pack, unpack and shelve 200 boxes of books from the community centre, as well as unpack and shelve the 10,500 books that were in storage.
“And there is still furniture, magazines and other equipment on top of that! Think of moving a house, but 10-fold,” Carolyn says.
However, the team has also been feeling the anticipation in the community, she says.
“People are telling us they can’t wait to come back to the larger space and especially to resume the community connections and plan events that use the new meeting spaces.”
Once open, the regular programmes will resume on June 1, and Caroline says the team is looking forward to seeing how the new spaces work.
“It’s a learning curve for us too, it’s exciting.”
