The council operates three staffed libraries in Whanganui. Photo /NZME
Whanganui Library will get a bigger budget to buy books for its collection after funding was slashed two years ago.
The budget was cut from $310,000 to $210,000 in 2024 as part of a $1.5 million cut in council spending to keep rates low.
Catherine Dutton, the Whanganui District Council chief experiences officer, says the budget is now planned at $350,000 for the 2026-27 financial year.
The reduction was always intended as a short-term measure to manage costs at the time, she said.
“We know libraries are really valued by our community as welcoming spaces that offer access to books, information and programmes, and we’re committed to maintaining a strong library service.”
Interim Whanganui libraries manager Nicholas Keene told the council’s operations and performance committee last month that the budget cut meant the library had bought 12,000 fewer books over the past two years.
He said customers “have noticed”.
“They’ve also noticed that we haven’t been able to buy as many copies of popular titles, and that has extended the wait time for them.
“We’ve done what we can, and we respond where we can.”
Keene said it was important to have a high-quality and attractive collection on offer to all customers.
“We do have customers who are in the library four or five times a week, who are huge readers.”
There are three staffed council libraries (Davis, Alexander, Gonville), and three volunteer-run libraries (Rangiora St, Mitchell St, Hakake St).
In total, the library collection has more than 100,000 books, magazines and DVDs.
To cut further costs in 2024, the council chose to reduce operating hours at Whanganui’s main library, the Davis, closing at 5pm on weekdays (one hour earlier) and 3pm on Saturdays (two hours earlier).
Keene said opening hours would not be changing in 2026-27.
There had been “some grumbling and some unhappiness” when the hours were changed, he said.
“Some customers valued the 6pm closing because they visited the library after the end of their working day to pick up their reading, which was often waiting for them.
“Customers have adjusted, but it was very hard at first to get them out of the building at 3pm on a Saturday.
“Habits are quite strongly formed and hard to break.”
He said it was not unusual for library hours to be reduced when budgets needed to be tightened.
“I’ve seen that in a number of councils across the country over the last few years.”
Visitor numbers at the Davis were tracking up, but remained considerably lower than two years ago, Keene said.
“I wouldn’t expect them to return to that level in the near future.”
His report to the committee said annual visits to the Davis were 10% higher than in 2024-25, at 287,383.
“Limited parking and the number of people visiting the [Sarjeant] Gallery continues to have a negative impact on Davis Library visitation, but numbers are recovering and options are being developed for council’s consideration,” it said.
Earlier this year, the council laid shellrock for 11 additional car parks between the Davis and the Sarjeant.
The facilities are neighbours at Pukenamu Queen’s Park.
Before the gallery’s redevelopment, the Davis had a 19-space carpark, but that was replaced by one with 10 spaces for both facilities when the Sarjeant reopened.
A $2.7m extension to the Davis, originally scheduled to start in 2026/27, has been deferred, but the library will be fitted with a new roof in the next financial year.
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.