to be the oldest community rural library still operating in New Zealand and has been continuously run by volunteers for all of that time. Today the library is home to around 4,000 books and has over 700 members. 

Celebrations will begin at the library on Saturday the 22nd of March at 11.00 a.m. After a welcome, there will be short speeches followed by the unveiling of a historic board. All attendees will then proceed to the Leigh Hall where there will be a display of the rich history of both the library and the founding fathers of settlers.

On May 27th, 1871, settler Charles Septimus Clarke held a meeting about beginning a library and one was started at his house. Moved to Little Omaha School, it shifted to Leigh Hall before finding its current home at 15 Cumberland Street, Leigh.

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Charles Clarke was intimately connected with the social and public life of the district. His diary provides an in depth look into life in Leigh 150 years ago. You can read it here