During Alert Level 2, your library visit may be different from what you are used to.
Level 2 libraries and opening hours
All Auckland Libraries locations are now open their normal hours.
We are grateful for your support and patience during this time.
Visit our locations and hours section to check the opening hours for our community libraries, mobile libraries and research centres.
Contact tracing
We strongly encourage you to keep track of all your movements at this time, using whatever methods are available to you.
NZ COVID Tracer app
Posters displaying the government’s NZ COVID Tracer app QR code are outside every library, so you can keep an accurate personal record of your movements.
You can download the NZ COVID Tracer app from the
Google Play store for Android phones, or the
App store for Apple devices.
Read more about the NZ COVID Tracer app.
Contact tracing sign-in sheets at our libraries
Like all Auckland Council community facilities, we have a paper-based sign-in sheet inside the library to ensure we have processes in place for tracing visitors to our facilities.
If you aren’t using the COVID Tracer App, please complete the sheet.
Please note: The details on the sign-in sheet will only be used for COVID-19 contact tracing by the Ministry of Health. Information will be securely stored for 60 days, then destroyed.
Hygiene measures and physical distancing
- If you are feeling unwell, please do not come to our libraries to ensure the health and safety of our staff and other members of the community is not compromised. If you are unwell, want to collect or return an item, please ask a friend or family member to do this for you.
- As outlined in the Government’s guidelines, there are limits to the number of people allowed in our libraries at any one time during Alert Level 2. This will depend on the size of each library. This means that, like supermarkets, we are operating a one in, one out policy when we've reached capacity. We ask that you limit your library visit to 30 minutes or less.
- Furniture and public computers have been re-arranged to indicate safe spacing for customers; we ask all customers to observe the Ministry of Health’s
physical distancing guidelines : a minimum of 1 metre distance inside public places.
- In accordance with the Government and the library sector guidelines, there is no need for us to quarantine items. Staff and customers aren’t required to disinfect items before returning them to the library.
- Staff are taking extra care handling returned items; using gloves and following proper handwashing procedures.
- Hand sanitiser is available for customers on entry, as well as next to our self-check machines, public computing areas and EFTPOS terminals. We encourage you to use hand sanitiser when visiting a library.
- Our libraries are thoroughly cleaned each night and additional cleaning will be done throughout the day, including wiping down surfaces, handrails and computers with anti-viral spray.
- Our staff in community libraries may be wearing face masks as an additional precaution.
Services
- Free WiFi is available at all libraries.
- Public computers and printing access are available, with physical distancing and hygiene measures in place. We are limiting customers to two 30-minute sessions a day.
- Staff assistance at computers will be minimal during Alert Level 2 and a minimum of 1 metre physical distance will be maintained.
- We are not providing face-to-face book-a-librarian sessions, however staff are available for help and advice. To receive virtual book a librarian help, phone our Te Māpuna / Library Connect team on (09) 377 0209 or
fill out our contact us form.
- Our mobile library service has resumed, however, in line with the Government’s guidelines, we have restrictions in place around entry into our vehicles. We are also expanding our homebound delivery service to support vulnerable Aucklanders. Requests can be picked up from the buses. Our pop-up visits to aged-care facilities have been replaced by delivery of library items.
- All physical events in libraries are on hold, including Storytime, Wriggle and Rhyme, book clubs and language classes. Many of our libraries are running events and programming online via social media and video conferencing platforms.
Contact your local library to find out what virtual events and online programmes they’re running.
- The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and Justice of the Peace services operate separately from Auckland Libraries. Please contact them directly to check on locations and days/times.
- Ready-to-Go Reads – pre-packaged selections of 5 books (genre and age-based) are now available!
Fill out our Ready-to-Go Reads form to request a book pack. We'll let you know when they're ready to pick up from your chosen library.
Loans
- Loans due in August have been extended to 3 September, or beyond. They may have been extended further by our automated renewals process. Please log in to your account to check the due dates on your library items.
- Most items (except interlibrary loans) can be renewed twice unless other customers have requested them.
- Borrowing limits have been increased from 35 to 50 physical items for adults
Returns
- All return slots are now available. You can renew items online if you need to.
- Where there is no external returns slot, you are able to leave items with staff inside the library.
Holds/requested items
- The $2 charge for not picking up a request has been removed.
- Requested items which were waiting on the hold shelf before our closures have been kept in place. We’ve extended holds pick up dates to allow time to pick them up from your usual library location. Please check your library account online or enquire with our staff for updated hold expiry dates.
- If you would like help collecting your holds quickly when you arrive at a library, have your library card handy and speak to one of our staff.
Unavailable items and spaces
- Jigsaw puzzles, toys, games and heat kits have been temporarily removed from our libraries and the catalogue.
- Some of the public computers are unavailable to ensure safe physical distancing. Shared items, such as headphones, will not be provided during Alert Level 2.
- Some spaces in libraries may not be available, including study spaces and meeting rooms. Study spaces are limited due to physical distancing requirements. There are restrictions around occupancy and length of stays. We suggest a 30-minute visit per person.
Contact us
If you have any further questions or concerns about your library account, contact us via Library Connect on (09) 377 0209,
fill out our online contact form or chat to staff on your next visit.
Please be patient as there may be increased waiting times when contacting our Te Māpuna Library Connect team.
Managing your account online
You can manage your library account online by logging in with the barcode number on your library card and your PIN/password.
You can then
browse the libraries catalogue to check out our eCollections and online resources.
To login, set up or reset your PIN/password,
visit our login page.
Please note: You may experience some slowness when accessing our online services during this time due to increased activity.
eCollections and online resources
There are many libraries collections and services you can access online.
Login with your library barcode number and your PIN/password. You can then
browse the libraries catalogue to check out our eCollections and online resources.
To login, set up or reset your PIN/password,
visit our login page.
Tip
When checking out eBooks and eAudiobooks, choose 7-day, 14-day, 21-day or 28-day loans. You can also return early to pass your copy to the next person in the queue.
Don't have a library membership?
Sign up for an Auckland Libraries eMembership to enjoy free access to thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, streaming movies and more. It only takes a couple of easy steps and can be done entirely from home!
Contact us
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us via Te Māpuna Library Connect on