E-books changing libraries

E-resource librarian Sam Manderson, at Whangarei Public Library, where e-books have become very popular. Photo / Michael Cunningham

The growth of the internet and rising interest in e-books are changing the face of Northland libraries, their operators say.

Far North District systems librarian Sabine Weber-Beard said Far North libraries had noticed a huge increase in people taking out e-books.

"It started slowly in 2011 and then skyrocketed in 2012," she said. "In 2012, we made the decision to have more New Zealand material, which we've had really good feedback on. It really changed the way people read books in the Far North."

Some patrons visited libraries far less as a result, she said. Far North District Council libraries operate in Kaikohe, Kawakawa, Paihia, Kerikeri, Kaeo and Kaitaia.

"There's some people who now only come in once a year to renew their card because they only read e-books. Other people do both and some people still only get physical books."

A huge number of people also used free Wi-Fi and computers, while others used the libraries for community activities, she said.

"People want to do community activities, meet for study groups, reading clubs, knitting groups and so on.

"Kerikeri Procter Library was purposefully designed to have separate spaces for activities. The other libraries are in older buildings but we've done the best we can with what we have."

Whangarei District Council libraries manager Paula Urlich said less people were using reference books or borrowing non-fiction.

"People now use the internet for that sort of thing," she said. "Our computers are always busy and people make use of the 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi."

E-books were popular but were only a very small portion of total borrowing, she said. "People like them for travelling but, talking to people, it seems most who read e-books also read physical books."

Whangarei District Council operates the Whangarei Central, Kamo, Onerahi and Tikipunga libraries.

Visitor counts had stayed the same, though the number of books issued had decreased slightly.

"People are coming in for a variety of other things," Mrs Urlich said. "We have all sorts of different types of events and community activities. There's a big emphasis on taking things out to the community and bringing the community into the library."

The Whangarei Library cafe was popular as well. "The cafe draws people in ... I'd be surprised if a new library was built these days without one."

Nationwide, more than 300 public libraries and 110 community libraries are in operation.

In the last financial year, more than 2 million members made 48 million issues across the country. The number of members and issues were down slightly on the previous financial year.

The number of new members - 206,734 - was also slightly less than the previous year.