Epsom Library

Epsom Library - Chief Librarian John Barr and Family occupied House next to Library (Pre 1930)

Group Portrait of the staff of the Auckland Public Library with John Barr in the centre C1930

The original form of Epsom Public Library was established on 8 September 1882 by Epsom locals under the Public Libraries Powers Act 1875. It was in the Alba Road area but did not last too long due to the cease of funding by Education Department in 1887.[1] A brief introduction on the library wall gives another version - the earliest form was established in 1880 by the Epsom Mutual Improvement Society.

In January 1917, The Epsom Road Board became a part of Auckland City. The building formerly used by Epsom Road Board and Manukau Water Supply Board on Manukau Road was repurposed to be the new library. The new Epsom Library was opened on 27 August 1918 by Mayor James Gunson. The City Librarian, John Barr and his family home was next door to the library until his retirement in 1952. Mabel Oliver started working in Epsom Library in 1923. She was deeply loved by children and other library patrons. Mabel died on the job in 1935. A remembrance plaque was installed within the current library building. In 1924, the library building got an extension and in 1930 the library further took over part of the hall.[1] Becoming the 3rd busiest library among the suburban libraries of Auckland in 1970s, the building was further extended by another 93 square metres in 1974-75. This provided a small workroom for staff and an area for public seating.[1]

There was a plan to build a larger library based in Newmarket, New Zealand in the early 1990s, but it was ultimately scrapped. It was finally replaced by a new plan to rebuild a new Epsom Library on the same site. Eighty years since the opening of Epsom Library on Manukau Road, the old Epsom Library building alongside the house next door once occupied by John Barr was knocked down for the current building.[1]

On 29 August 1997, Mayor Les Mills officially opened the new building. Three days later, on 1 September 1997, it opens its doors to the public. The new (current) building has twice the floor area to the old building. It was designed by Patterson Co-Partners Architects and was built by Hawkins Construction.[1] The building is a pentagon, a very distinctive shape in Auckland region, even in New Zealand.

Apart from lending and information services, Epsom Library has scheduled children's programmes in each week as well as additional programmes over school holidays. Considering significant presence of Asian populations in Epsom/Mt Eden area, Epsom Library runs programmes specific to ethnic groups, such as Conversation in English.