150 Years and Going Strong

Dunedin (Tuesday, 29 October 2013) – Celebrations are the order of the day for Waikouaiti Library on 9 November, when we throw open our doors and invite the community to join our 150th birthday party.

The Library was founded by Reverend A Fenton and Miss Emily Orbell and began with 100 books, half of them donated by Mr Fenton. Originally housed in the school room in Beach Street, the Library collection had many ‘homes’ as it grew over the years, before the new Library was built on the corner of Mount and Main Streets in 1995.

Waikouaiti Librarian Julie Gemmell has been busy unearthing photographs and memorabilia detailing the Library’s long history, and these will be on show for the birthday celebrations in a special exhibition. Also, during the last month, visitors to the Library have been invited to choose a postcard and write a message about their memories of Waikouaiti Library and its librarians over the years, to be preserved in a commemorative book.

Waikouaiti Library was founded in 1862, but anniversary celebrations were postponed until this year following the death of a staff member in 2012.

The 9 November anniversary event will feature a storyteller and performances by local schoolchildren recalling Waikouaiti’s rich history, while musical performances by guitarist Richard Wallis, and members of local band Both Sides of the Line, keep everyone entertained.

Join us for coffee, cake and a selection of local Evansdale cheeses from 10am until 1pm.

ENDS

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