More than 300,000 books have been shipped to underprivileged Pacific Island countries, thanks to the huge efforts of Tauranga's city librarian Jill Best.
The latest beneficiaries of her nine-year labour of love have been Vanuatu's cyclone battered schools and Samoa's under-resourced libraries.
"We should all make use of our talents to make a difference and this is something that I can do," Ms Best told the Bay of Plenty Times.
It was the first time the aid had targeted Vanuatu and Samoa, with schools from around New Zealand rallying to help Vanuatu's shattered education system. Used books and school journals boosted the Vanuatu shipment to 14 pallets, totalling 35,000 books.
She saved thousands of dollars on shipping the 20,000-book Samoa consignment by Tauranga-based Earthcube Homes, volunteering to put the books inside one of its homes created from old containers.
The company is part of a global movement among architectural and building professionals to create sustainable and affordable homes that will survive earthquakes and hurricanes and last for generations.