Kaipara Libraries go fees free

Kaipara District Council have removed all fees on items borrowed through its libraries.

From 1 July 2023, approximately 200 popular and new fiction books can be borrowed rent free. Previously, borrowers were charged a rental fee of between one to three dollars per item.

Removing the fees was an ambition for Library Manager Lisa Salter.

“Our libraries are a space for everyone” says Lisa. “Removing fees takes away a barrier for some of our community and makes our newest and most popular books accessible to anyone” says Lisa.

In 2022, Kaipara District Council removed fines on late returns and fees on DVD rentals. Lisa and her team are proud to be one of a few councils nationwide leading the charge on fine and fee-free borrowing. “Literacy is so important in Aotearoa. As public libraries, we are doing what we can to promote literacy in homes and communities in our district. Being fine and fee free supports our library staff to do this”.

There are five libraries in the Kaipara District: Dargaville Library, which is run by paid staff, and four community libraries run by volunteers at Paparoa, Kaiwaka, Maungaturoto, and Mangawhai.