Joint Media Release

15 March 2013

Northern Waikato Residents Can Continue to Use Auckland Libraries

Residents of the Onewhero-Tuakau area of the Waikato district will be able to keep using Auckland’s libraries for the next five years, thanks to an agreement between the Waikato District Council and Auckland Libraries.

The two organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which allows residents in the former Franklin District Council area free membership of Auckland Libraries until October 2018.

“This is positive news for our readers in the former Franklin area and we are pleased that Auckland Libraries will continue to offer this service,” Awaroa ki Tuakau Ward Councillor Lionel Petersen said. “Our residents were keen to maintain the ability to access Auckland Libraries and the additional range of books and other resources this provides,” Cr Petersen said.

"This is a great outcome for those who were affected by the change to local authority boundaries in 2010 and enables our residents to enjoy libraries within their natural communities of interest, said Franklin Local Board Chair Andrew Baker.

In 2010 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed which entitled residents in the Franklin district to free membership of Auckland Libraries following the implementation of the local government reforms which led to the disestablishment of the Franklin District Council.

This MOU was due to be reviewed no later than 31 October 2013, which led to the new MOU being agreed.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue to work with the Waikato district in this way," said Allison Dobbie, Manager of Libraries and Information for Auckland Council. "We are aware that former residents value the services of Auckland's libraries, and it is good to be able to respond to this as part of the partnership with the Waikato District Council."

Onewhero-Tuakau residents need to hold a valid membership for the Waikato District Libraries in order to qualify for an Auckland Libraries membership.

The MOU notes that the agreement is designed to complement and support, rather than detract from, the ongoing development and investment into the growth of the library service in the Waikato district.

Both the 2010 and 2013 MOUs were agreed in recognition of the historical contribution made by ratepayers of the Franklin District Council towards library services.

In June 2012 the Waikato District Council and the Auckland Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Alliance to establish a long-term working relationship across a number of areas including planning, development, transport and economic growth.

ENDS

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