Restoration work at historic library

Kimbolton's historic Public Library is set to regain its stature as one of the most appealing library buildings in New Zealand.

A dual restoration programme by pupils from Kimbolton School and members of the Kimbolton Community Committee has been given the green light by the Manawatu District Council and preparatory work is now underway.

A working bee is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, with volunteers looking to mend and paint the picket fence, clear the entrance path, fix paving on the verandah, clean the windows, water blast the roof and walls and remove a wasps’ nest.

Further plans to revive the building’s interior and lift the library’s profile are also being finalised.

Principal Linda Campbell said the school’s involvement was part of its Community Problem Solving programme and the result of pupils identifying a particular need in the community.

“The programme aims to extend children in the way they think and gives them an opportunity to develop their citizenship and take pride in their community,” she said. “We want to make the library more inviting and see it used more.”

Located in Edwards Street, the library operates from one of the oldest remaining buildings in Kimbolton, with the cottage gifted to the Kiwitea County Council Library Committee by Rev J F Mayo about 70 years ago. Its main opening hours are on Tuesday morning.

Kimbolton Community Committee Secretary, Sarah Burge, said the school’s decision to target the building as a community project coincided with the committee’s own feelings that the library’s appearance should be improved and greater use of the facility encouraged.

“There’s a lot of new people in the village who don’t even know the library exists, tucked as it is, around the corner,” she said. “Committee members toured the community recently to see what needed doing, and this stood out. We are grateful to the school for also taking it on board.”

Kimbolton School is noted for its community projects, having won the national Youth Hostels Association’s Young Conservationist Junior Award last year for its work in the Kimbolton Scenic Bush Reserve.

Enrichment Teacher, Anwyl Minnaar, said a lot of time had been spent working in the forest, and though this was ongoing, the school decided to take a different focus with this project and tackle something of historical interest.

“The library looks a bit tatty and needs a bit of work. It’s also not used a lot, so we decided to work on these issues.”

She said the Community Problem Solving group would spruce-up the library’s interior next term, look at ways of encouraging local use and promote it as a tourist attraction. An open day is also planned.

“It’s a beautiful building and the children just love it. They are all keen to get going and make the building look nice and raise its profile.”

Library Manager, Simon Johnson, said the dual project showed the building was still close to the hearts of Kimbolton residents who wanted to make sure it stayed in good condition for the foreseeable future.

“The other thing that excites me is they are obviously keen to promote the use of the library in the building and we’re keen to make sure the library stocks the books people want.”

Mr Johnson believed the building was originally a curator’s cottage owned by the Anglican Church and it was important the community ensured that Rev Mayo’s gift was honoured, used and protected.