Community input on what the future Greerton Library will look like will be tabled as part of a public meeting tonight.
From 6.30pm-8pm the library's project committee will meet with residents to discuss what they want to see before the design and build process begins.
The current Greerton Library.
The meeting, the first of its kind, follows Tauranga City Council giving the green light for the existing Greerton Library to be redeveloped into a new premises with funding through the 2014/15 Annual Plan.
TCC agreed to commit resources and fund the project that will cost up to $3.5million through development contributions, and fund the operational costs of the new 900m2 facility through the existing operational budget for the libraries network.
Held at the Greerton RSA's Hinton Lounge, tonight's meeting will see the committee will ask the question 'What do you want to see in the new library to be built at Greerton?”
Tauranga City Library customer service team leader Joanna Thomas says feedback from the community engagement will be collated and incorporated into the planning document for the design of the new library.
It is anticipated that construction will begin in early 2015, says Joanna.
Representatives from Greerton Village Mainstreet, Tauranga City Council, Tauranga City Libraries, Tauranga Moana Collective and Elected Members form part of the project committee.
Joanna says people using the Greerton Library including library staff, Greerton Village Mainstreet, community groups and iwi representatives have given input also.
The community meeting starts at 6.30pm tonight in the Greerton RSA's Hinton Room.
6 comments
Greerton Library
Posted on 02-09-2014 18:44 | By bogside
Dear fellow readers - as much as we all love books lets be realistic - they are history and will very shortly be replaced by electronic media (viz video rentals - newspapers etc.). Perhaps at this time rather than committing to the expenditure proposed we should set up a trial facility and monitor demand and return on the investment. I predict the Tauranga central library will be a much smaller operation within 5 years!
Shucks, they should have told us
Posted on 02-09-2014 19:22 | By Murray.Guy
Hey, what's the point of a meeting to secure feedback from residents (first of it's kind) when you don't tell them? By the way, it's a mix of development contributions that were supposed to be shared between Bethlehem, Greerton and Welcome Bay PLUS using ratepayers cash through the property sales.
Short notice
Posted on 02-09-2014 20:23 | By Bobby
Why is it that we only hear about these meetings on the same day they are happening? Sharpen up sunlive, a few days notice would be better!
Any reason why
Posted on 02-09-2014 20:35 | By How about this view!
There couldn't be a deal done with the Bay of Plenty Polytech for shared use of their library facilities? They have a full computer suite on site also, which may be a positive attribute, BUT the thing that strikes me as being the most POSITIVE outcome, would be introducing library users to further education opportunities through Polytech or university courses. No doubt it would still cost ratepayers a fortune, but surely the positives would outnumber the negatives? What do you think????
Leave the library as it is
Posted on 03-09-2014 10:55 | By Annalist
That's my suggestion. Save the huge cost and put it to repaying the city's large debt. Don't pander to small vocal self-interest groups. Times are changing and there are better ways to study, read and research these days.
Short Sighted
Posted on 03-09-2014 13:41 | By spencerb
It seems that this project is being driven by a small self interested group who lack the foresight to realise that in this age, many people obtain their reading material as ebooks and do virtually all their research and reference reading on the internet. The number of people doing this is undoubtedly continuing to increase and one wonders how long there will be a need for a $3.5m barn full of books. The proposed library will undoubtedly end up an expensive white elephant.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.