An interim library service for Leys Institute Library customers will open at 14 Jervois Road, Ponsonby from 9am on Tuesday 31 March, about 150m from the Leys Institute.
At the 'Leys Institute Little Library', visitors will be able to borrow from a constantly refreshed collection, pick up holds, use public computers and printing, access free Wi-Fi, sit and enjoy a read and a whole lot more.
In the last three months, Auckland Council staff have been working hard to find the best possible temporary site and to go through the various and many steps to transform it to a community library space. This has been done in a way that acknowledges the important history of the Leys Institute Library, maximises a smaller footprint and provides a quality experience for library users. While this space will be temporary, staff have worked to ensure it won’t ‘feel’ temporary by introducing touches of the ‘real’ Leys Institute Library and re-using quality equipment and fittings where appropriate.
The opening date of 31 March is slightly delayed from the anticipated mid-March opening due to the lead times on some important equipment and to allow time for a recent decision to raise the lower level of the split level floor in order to improve accessibility.
The ‘Leys Institute Little Library’ will operate during the same hours as the Leys Institute Library did previously (Monday to Friday 9am–6pm, Saturday 10am–4pm). Parking remains available at the rear of the Leys Institute Library (outside of the fenced-off zone) while mobility and paid parking is available in surrounding streets.
For background information on the Leys Buildings Closure, see here for the December 2019 story.
A range of people and departments at Auckland Council are currently working to present possible future options regarding the Leys Institute Library and Gymnasium for Waitematā Local Board to consider, as planned, on 9 June.
See aucklandlibrariesblog.blogspot.com for further updates and information on the opening of 'Leys Institute Little Library’.
