Tuesday, 13 February 2018
Most Upper Hutt library services restored during building closure
Upper Hutt City Libraries staff have been busy creating alternative means to deliver services to customers while the
Central Library building remains closed.
UPPER HUTT, Wellington NZ, 13 FEB 2018—Since the closure of Upper Hutt Central Library building on 7 February, the
libraries management team have been putting into place immediate access to vital services as well as exploring solutions
for the longer term.
To ensure that customers don’t have to worry about their Library returns and fees, all borrowed items have been
extended, currently to 10 March.
Pinehaven Library
Pinehaven Library hours have been extended. We’re issuing books and accepting returns there.
• Monday – Friday: 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
• Saturday – Sunday: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Mobile Library
The Mobile Library Bus has been rescheduled to be available behind the Central Library building for issues and returns
on weekday afternoons.
• Monday – Friday: 12.30 – 5.00 pm
The Mobile Library continues to visit schools on weekday mornings, from 9.00 – 11.00 am. As well as providing invaluable
services to schoolchildren, these stops are also open to parents and the public. The temporary Mobile Library map is
available at: www.upperhuttlibrary.co.nz/mobile
Holds
After it was confirmed that we could access the inside of the building at least once a week (with the necessary safety
precautions) we waived the usual $1 hold charge and have been encouraging people to use the online catalogue to place
holds on books and other materials at upperhuttlibrary.co.nz. Holds will be collected on a weekly basis and made available to users through the Mobile and Pinehaven Libraries.
Outside business hours
To provide access to everyone, regardless of time commitments, we have ordered a 24-hour returns bin to be placed
outside the Central Library Building. We are expecting it to arrive before 10 March, but if it doesn’t we’ll extend
borrowed items accordingly. For those active library users outside of Upper Hutt, Hutt City Libraries have kindly agreed
to allow Upper Hutt City Libraries members to use their services. We are currently talking with Wellington City
Libraries about making similar arrangements.
Services, programmes, and venues
We’ve rescheduled our programmes and Hot Seats to take place in alternative venues such as the HAPAI building, and nearly all of our regular programmes will be
available again next week. We will be able to confirm times and locations later this week. The Hot Seats, Justice of the Peace, and Community Law services, have been confirmed for next week. Please refer to our website, upperhuttlibrary.co.nz for details.
Staff
As well as reinstating services and informing the public, we have also been able to redeploy and inform all permanent
staff. This week every Library staff member has been rostered back to work in some capacity, ensuring that our Library
team remains as strong and informed as ever, and ready to continue increasing our service delivery capacity.
Longer-term preparation
We’re still unsure of the extent of remedial work that may need to take place at the Central Library. In preparation for
this, we’ve been looking at alternative buildings in the city centre that might be suitable as a temporary library (also
known as a pop-up library).
ends