Wairarapa Library Service – WLS – ends 24 years of joint community service to South Wairarapa and Carterton
districts on July 1 – but bureaucrats insist there will be no change for users, at least initially.
In a statement the officials said the WLS is now “outdated in today’s environment,” so the three South Wairarapa libraries will move to cut ties with Carterton and will be managed separately.
The result will be an end to shared services and “transition to Independent Models” from July.
Given the popularity of South Wairarapa’s libraries among users (80+ percent approval, versus seven (7) percent for council), the formal release hastens to reassure there will be:
- no changes to opening hours;
- no disruption to users;
- no disruption to signage, websites, communications;
- no change to library cards, which will continue to work in each district;
- digital services will continue, with minor updates over time.
The best of the news: Martinborough, Featherston, Greytown and Carterton libraries “all … remain open” after the July 1 separation date.
The split-up follows reviews in 2019 and 2023. The latest, by SWDC, confirmed the need for change, because of “incompatible IT systems” (how did that happen? – Ed), differing budgets and service needs and limits in the shared governance model.
“Each district can now make decisions that reflect local demand while still being part of a wider library ecosystem,” said Stefan Corbett, SWDC group manager Infrastructure and Community Operations.
“We acknowledge that the libraries hold a special place in our communities, and we want to reassure them that this decision will not impact on how each council will deliver on service.”
(It’s unclear whether the words “reassure them” were addressed to the libraries or their users).
The statement promised customers “further information” ahead of the July 1 separation date.
