From the lastest best-selling fiction novels, through special New Zealand non-fiction works, movies and TV shows, to children's board books—you'll find something for everyone at your local library, And if you can't find exactly what you need, maybe our librarians can: our reserves and interloan services expand your horizons even further.
Our collections include:
- Reference materials
- Newspapers (such as the NZ Herald, Waikato Times, Hauraki Herald. Waihi Leader/Coastal News, Valley Profile, and the Mercury Bay Informer)
- Magazines
- Local history
- Adult fiction & non-fiction
- Large print fiction & non-fiction
- E-books and e-audio
- Biographies
- Audio Books
- DVDs
- Parenting materials
- Specialised children's and teens' fiction and non-fiction.
Fiction
Our fresh fiction collection holds novels across all genres and hosts a wide range of New Zealand authors.
Loan period:
Three weeks
Renewal:
Yes, if the item is not on request
Rental Fee:
$2.50 applies to new fiction only
Non-Fiction
Our vibrant non-fiction collection covers a wide range of topics including hobbies, educational resources, Maori and more.
Loan Period:
Three weeks
Renewal:
Yes, if the item is not on request
Rental Fee:
No rental change
Biography
From royalty to reality TV stars and everything in between, our biography collection has something for everyone. Discover these fascinating real life stories.
Loan Period:
Three weeks
Renewal:
Yes, if the item is not on request
Rental Fee:
No rental change
Large Print
Our large print collection holds fiction, biography and non-fiction. We have a variety of new Large Print stock arriving each month.
Loan Period:
Three weeks
Renewal:
Yes, if the item is not on request
Rental Fee:
No rental change
Audio Books
We own an array of talking books including both fiction and non-fiction titles. This collection is on CDs and new items are being added monthly.
Loan Period:
Three weeks
Renewal:
Yes, if the item is not on request
Rental Fee:
$2.50 applies to general borrowers BUT no charge to those who are print disabled
National Library Audio Book Collection
The National Library of New Zealand supplements our own audiobook CD collection, by supplying us with a variety of talking books every three months. These audio books are supplied only for patrons who are print disabled. If this is you, please let us know. We're happy to ask National Library for particular genres or topics.
Loan Period:
Three weeks
Renewal:
Yes, if available and not on request or due back at the National Library.
Rental Fee:
Free rental only for those who are print disabled only
DVDs
Blockbusters, TV shows, documentaries and more! Check out our exhilarating DVD collection.
Loan Period:
One week
Renewal:
Yes, if available and not on request
Rental Fee:
$2.50 per week
Magazines
Up to the minute magazines! From art and history, to cooking and craft, to lifestyle and fashion.
Loan Period:
One week
Renewal:
Yes, if available and not on request
Rental Fee:
$1.00 per week
E-books and e-audiobooks
Free and available 24/7! We have over 19,000 e-books and e-audiobooks in our collection. Our collection is growing every month and includes adult fiction and non-fiction, children's and teens' titles, graphic novels, new releases, full-cast audio dramas and much more!!
Browse our e-collection here and log in using your library card number and password to start reading.
You can also download the Wheelers ePlatform app for Android, Apple or Windows to keep reading on the go. Wheelers ePlatform are currently working with Amazon to get the ePlatform app available on the Amazon Store. In the meantime, you can manually install the apk on your Kindle using the instructions on the app page of the Wheelers ePlaform website.
Loan Period:
Three weeks
Renewal:
Yes, if available and not on request
Rental Fee:
No rental change
Reference
- Encyclopedias
- Language, biographical and other dictionaries
- New Zealand electoral rolls
- Atlases and directories
- Council, Government and Environment Waikato publications
- Coin and stamp catalogues
- Medical information
Reference items cannot be borrowed. They are shelved with the general non-fiction and can be freely browsed within the library.
Closed Reference (Thames Library only)
- Frequently-requested reference books, including the New Zealand Road Code
- Thames history books
- Hauraki history books
- New Zealand history books
- Burial records
- Local photographs
Closed reference items cannot be borrowed. Please ask at the desk, and a staff member will retrive the item you're looking for.
Archives (Thames Library only)
- Old Thames maps, photographs, anniversary booklets and ephemera
- Scrapbooks and memories from some major Thames events and celebrations, including the 1993 Suffrage centennial and the centennial celebrations for the Thames gold rush and the Thames Borough Council in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Cyclopedia of New Zealand 1902
- School rolls, including some years for Parawai School and Thames South School
- Books on Thames and New Zealand history
Archive items cannot be borrowed. Please ask at the desk, and a staff member will retrive the item you're looking for.
Interloans
Still can't find what you're looking for? If the item you want is not in our collection, you can request it from us as an inter-library loan, and we'll source it from another New Zealand library for you. Interloans start from $6.00 per item, and you'll need to fill in an interloan form at one of our libraries. You can search the Te Puna catalogue to see which books are held at libraries around New Zealand.
Remember, if you're looking for something that's brand new or hasn't been released yet, you can always suggest it for us to purchase.