Boom in borrowing

About 170 jobs will be protected as part of an extra $58.8 million for New Zealand libraries.

The package – announced by Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin at Christchurch’s Tu¯ ranga yesterday – will result in at least one ‘‘upskilled’’ librarian in every local authority across the country.

The four-year initiative will also fund free internet access in all public libraries and provide specialist library services for schools and young people.

There are more than 600 libraries across New Zealand, employing about 2500 people. The funding boost recognised the important role librarians play, Martin said.

‘‘Half of this funding, $30m, will ensure librarian jobs are directly protected,’’ she said.

‘‘This is targeted funding over two years to keep librarians in jobs and upskill them to provide extra assistance to jobseekers and to people wanting to improve their reading and digital literacy skills.

‘‘Libraries play a vital role as a community hub, and they can be the places where people can get real practical help during the tough economic times.’’

Martin, who relied on her local

Some libraries saw more than a 50 per cent rise in online memberships and the borrowing of ebooks and audiobooks during the coronavirus lockdown.

Thousands signed up to borrow ebooks and audiobooks in the first week of lockdown alone, breaking some library records, and ongoing restrictions saw numbers continue to soar nationwide.

Christchurch City Libraries recorded a 41 per cent and 54 per cent increase in membership and the borrowing of ebooks and audiobooks respectively.

Online membership climbed from 978 between March 24-May 18 in 2019 to 2382 in 2020. There were ‘‘big spikes’’ on April 2, 8 and 9,

library to learn IT when she was made redundant in the 1990s, said Tu¯ ranga was an example of ‘‘what libraries are and can be’’.

‘‘Libraries have been having to argue their position inside communities for a few years. But they are the hub of communities, they are key places that people need.’’

Christchurch has 22 libraries: 19 which head of libraries and information Carolyn Robertson put down to being part of a council-wide promotion on its lockdown services, response to an electronic newsletter and advertising e-resources through social media. A total of 74,686 ebooks and audiobooks were borrowed from the library in April, compared to 40,746 in April 2019.

‘‘The impact of the library closures led to a huge increase in the use of e-resources offered through our website and catalogue,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘We also developed several new programme-related initiatives such as delivering storytimes and activities for children online, librarian in your lounge, campfire stories read aloud for adults, and moving several book clubs online.’’

physical sites, the Finger Tip service, the Outreach programme and the Mobile Library. There are 316 frontline library staff in Christchurch. Many are part-time, so it equates to about 235 full-time positions.

Auckland City Council has 65 libraries, Wellington City Council has 13, and Dunedin has six.

National Librarian Bill Macnaught said the sector appreciated the additional funding.

‘‘I want to work with colleagues to make sure that we spend this money wisely and quickly to get it into the hands of libraries up and down the country at this time when libraries are needed most.’’

Chris Hay, manager of Tu¯ ranga and president-elect of Public Libraries of New Zealand, said it was ‘‘marvellous’’ news for the sector and communities in New Zealand.

‘‘This gives us a spark to really make a difference.’’

The Government cash will also fund:

$13.3m over four years for specialist library services for schools and young people.

$11.5m over two years to help maintain library services by waiving National Library subscription charges to libraries.

$4m over four years to extend the National Library’s Aotearoa Peoples’ Network Kaharoa, which provides free access to the internet and devices in all public libraries. The package also includes a 20 per cent increase to the Public Lending Right fund, the money that is paid to New Zealand authors who have books available through public libraries. The $1.6 million extra over four years is the first increase to the fund since 2008.