Mt Albert Library turns 50!

The Mt Albert Library was first opened on the 22nd of November 1975, with an opening ceremony held outside of the library doors. Several important people from the Mt Albert community and beyond were in attendance, including Councillor Alice Wylie and Dr Lindo Ferguson, both of whom would have storied careers in local body politics in the area. 

Image: Official opening of the Mount Albert Library, 1975. 1975-11-22. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 580-CV293-07.

Image: Official opening of the Mount Albert Library, 1975. 1975-11-22. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 580-CV294-07.

Image: A view of the front desk as it appeared on opening day, 1975. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 580-26551.

The library very quickly became a cornerstone of the community, and a regular point of discussion in local community newspapers. Back when library memberships were registered to individual libraries, articles on membership numbers at the library show the steady increase in Mt Albert Library users in the first few years. (middle clipping.)

Image: Newspaper clippings from local community newspapers referencing the Mt Albert Library. 1978-1981. Mt Albert Library archives. 

From the beginning, Mt Albert Library has offered extensive school holiday programmes for local tamariki. Unlike today, this wasn’t offered at every library – many supplied entertainment such as board games, but Mt Albert had an entire calendar with a range of different activities and workshops. With no easy photo-editing software on computers like today, many of the flyers and posters for these programmes were crafted through cut-and-pasting, or writing and drawing by hand.

Images: Posters and flyers advertising Mt Albert Library school holiday programmes. 1978-1981. Mt Albert Library archives. 

Over the next two decades, the library continued to thrive and grow. Library services would see quite the change, with the introduction of new scanning equipment and a computerised library system. 

Image: Newspaper clipping reporting on the introduction of scanning technology at Auckland and Hamilton libraries. 1981-1988. Mt Albert Library archives.

Image: Newspaper clipping reporting on the computerisation of the library system. 1989-08-22. Mt Albert Library archives. 

Image: Library exterior 1981-1988. Mt Albert Library archives.

The image of libraries as being ‘just books’ also began to shift. Auckland City Council libraries began to offer computerised access to global networks of information, as well as librarians in general losing the ‘stern’ reputation they had once had in the eyes of the public.

Image: Newspaper clipping reporting on Auckland City Library introducing access to global computer information networks. 1980-03-12. Mt Albert Library archives. 

Image: Newspaper clipping reporting on how the image of librarians is changing. 1982-02-10. Mt Albert Library archives. 

By the time the new millennium rolled around, Mt Albert Library had become a hub for celebrating our community. Particularly renowned were displays put together by talented librarians – some even winning competitions!

Images: The Mt Albert Library Music Month 2004 display, winner of the ‘Live at the Library’ competition. 2004. Mt Albert Library archives. 

Image: Altered books display 2004-2014. Mt Albert Library archives.

Events, particularly for children, continued to be a highlight of Mt Albert Library’s day-to-day. In 2004, the library threw a party for Hairy Maclary, celebrating his 21st birthday – and in return received a thank-you letter signed by the pup himself! (…and his author, Lynley Dodd.)

Image: Thank-you letter from Hairy Maclary addressed to the Mt Albert Community Library. 2004-11-16. Mt Albert Library archives. 

The building itself would also see further changes, which came after the addition of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau next door in 1990 and the extension of the library itself to cover where the back courtyard had been. The private home at the back of the library was demolished, and a new carpark extension put where it once stood. Parking had always been in high demand at Mt Albert Library – and still is to this day!

Image: Images showing the exterior of the library and excavation works being done for the carpark extension. May 2004. Mt Albert Library archives. 

Last but not least – the books! Mt Albert Library continued to see high numbers of check-outs and returns, regardless of whether the library itself was open or closed.

Image: The after-hours book drop at Mt Albert Library following a public holiday. Steve Harley. 2009. Mt Albert Library archives. 

With half a century come and gone, Mt Albert Library has seen many changes and met them all with a smile and the library’s trademark sense of humour. Today, the library continues to have exciting school holiday programmes, unique displays, and events and programmes for everyone. Since 1975, the doors have been open to all, and the library can’t wait to still be welcoming in the community another fifty years from now!

Image: Dare to Explore School Holiday Programme marketing collateral. 2014-2015. Mt Albert Library archives. 

Image: After hours book drop 2023. Mt Albert Library Facebook.

Image: Promotion for the summer school holiday programme 2024-2025. Mt Albert Library Facebook.

Image: Exterior of Mt Albert Library 2023. 

Author: Chloe Pope, Senior Librarian, Mt Albert Library