Tuakau Village has recently received the installation of five ‘Little Libraries’ that have been placed around the neighbourhood as part of the Waikato District Council’s ‘Place Making’ initiative.
You may have noticed them on your journeys around town. Like little oases they brighten their environment with the wonderful artwork and themes.
These new treasure are the work of prisoners at Spring Hill Corrections Facility, Hampton Downs, who built and ‘decorated 30 ‘little libraries’ that have found homes in communities throughout the wider Waikato District
Holding 20-30 books that can be borrowed and exchanged, and kept stocked by local residents to enhance a local gathering place, to break out books in communities without public libraries, and boost residents’ enjoyment of their towns and villages.
The ‘little libraries’ project is part of a publicly-acclaimed Council ‘Placemaking programme’ designed to help communities to reclaim their public spaces with seating, planting, art installations and other projects and activities that bring people together.
Waikato District Council General Manager Customer Support Sue O’Gorman says, “This has been a wonderful chance for the Council and Spring Hill Corrections Facility to work together for the good of our district. Our little libraries project has won popular support in our outlying rural communities and will bring pleasure into many lives.”
Assistant Prison Director Christine Faull says: “We welcome opportunities that allow prisoners to develop their skills and to contribute back to their community. Interesting local projects such as this help set prisoners on a path to reintegrating with the community after their release.”’
I for one think they are a marvelous idea and as a member as the very active Tuakau & Districts Development Association, I can attest to the concerted efforts of all those people & groups involved to bring this wonderful initiative into our communities.
For all those visitors who eventually find their way to our little corner of the world, it adds to the character of our already fascinating village with it’s long & interesting history – of Maori and Settler alike and all the peoples since who have made it’s soil their home.
Arohanui,
Vern 📚