The library was started in 1943 by Mary Robb who had a vision of books being locally available for borrowing.
Sanctioned by the National Library, a regular loan of fifty books from the mobile library service enabled the opening of the "Māpua Library" in the porch of a private house in Toru Street every Saturday for an hour.
In 1980 when a larger space was needed, the Māpua Hall made space available for the library. In 1987 when the mobile library service ceased operating, an arrangement was made with the Richmond Library to supplement Māpua library stock. Around 2000, the Moutere Hills RSA very generously offered to share the site on the corner of Toru Street and Aranui Road. Significant fund raising ensued and with financial help from the New Zealand Lottery Board and Canterbury Charitable Trust, the construction of a permanent, purpose-built shared facility was launched. In 2002, with much excitement and ceremony the doors were opened by "National Treasure" Margaret Mahy.
In 1980 when a larger space was needed, the Māpua Hall made space available for the library. In 1987 when the mobile library service ceased operating, an arrangement was made with the Richmond Library to supplement Māpua library stock. Around 2000, the Moutere Hills RSA very generously offered to share the site on the corner of Toru Street and Aranui Road. Significant fund raising ensued and with financial help from the New Zealand Lottery Board and Canterbury Charitable Trust, the construction of a permanent, purpose-built shared facility was launched. In 2002, with much excitement and ceremony the doors were opened by "National Treasure" Margaret Mahy.
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VolunteersAll staff are volunteers – as are the members of the committee. We are very lucky to have the calibre of volunteers we do, and we suspect we are one of the very few organisations that has a volunteer waiting list.
Volunteers generally sign up for a specific role but all contribute to the fundraising and running of the library. For more information, pop into the library and request a form and chat to a volunteer on duty. |
Our Patron
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Emma Stevens was born in Christchurch and raised in Whanganui. A graduate of Christchurch Teachers’ College, Emma holds a MEd from Victoria University.
Much of her teaching career has been spent working with indigenous students in NZ, Australia and Alaska. She was voted Sydney’s Child Teacher of the Year in 1994 while teaching at an alternative school in Sydney, Australia. Her way of life changed completely when, divorced and in her late forties, she met online the principal of an Inupiaq school in the Arctic Circle, Alaska. The couple married, and Emma spent the next six years working beside her new husband in the icy wilderness of bush Alaska. Emma has written a trilogy of romantic memoirs on her experiences in Alaska: 'Walking on Ice', ‘Nesting in the Nushagak' and 'Dancing in the Tundra.’ Emma and her husband now live among orchards and vineyards just outside Nelson, in the South Island of New Zealand, where the winters are mild and the summers are long. At the Mapua Community Library’s Literary Festival this September Emma will talk about her amazing life and adventures in remote Alaska. |
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Where to find Emma online
Our Supporters
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Moutere Hills RSA previously solely occupied this site. The current wonderful purpose-built building is a shared facility due to their generosity in offering to share it.
The library is very appreciative of all of its supporters – big and small. We are the lucky recipients of recent major grants from Rata Foundation, Network Tasman Trust, The Lion Foundation and Tasman District Council. The Māpua/Ruby Bay and District Community Trust and Motueka Community Store have helped with recent purchases. Book donations are another wonderful means of support. If we are unable to use donated books on our shelves, they are sold at one of our Book Sales. |
