Looking back at libraries in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton - Part 1

2023 marks the 30^th year that the Central Library has been operating from our current location in Garden Place. We thought it would be interesting to look at the history of our town and city libraries, starting with the Hamilton Institute.

The early libraries were often subscription based.  Books were not plentiful in the early colonial days and shipping really did mean that books arrived from overseas on ships.  The first books printed in New Zealand were either church or Government publications.  The first novel published in New Zealand was Taranaki: a tale of the war, 1861 by Henry Butler Stoney. Reading, poetry, and music were a large part of people’s recreation so the need for libraries was great.

Taranaki: a tale of war, p1 accessed from New Zealand Electronic Text Centre

In 1870 an Institute was formed for those interested in literature, knowledge and reading. It was known as the Mechanics Institute. As well as books it had newspapers, a warm reading room and games.  By July 1873 the library consisted of 224 volumes of standard and other works. There were over 20 magazines and newspapers including several overseas ones. 

The expense and time needed to run the venture were drawbacks and the library struggled.  Only 10% of Hamilton’s population were subscribers (72 of 666 residents!). On 4^th July 1874 the reading room accidentally burnt down.  Surviving books were stored firstly at John Knox’s building – a local businessman and then at the Court House.  It had been discovered that the secretary had defaulted with the Institute’s funds, and they were in debt!

This eight-part series will continue next month with the first Hamilton Public Library.

Thanks to Bruce Ringer for information from his book “Hamilton Public Library: a Brief History” and Papers Past 

Cover Image: Hamilton City Libraries: HCL_02787, Victoria St c.1870