In 2002 the Mervyn Kemp Library (on the corner of Main Road and Cambridge Street) underwent a complete overhaul. It is now almost twice the size with twice the capacity - at a cost of $1.6 million.

Library manager Rose Barker says it is lighter and brighter with new heating and ventilation systems. A new activity room to be used for holiday programmes, meetings and quiet reading has been built. Six new computers with Internet access are also available, three free (primarily for childen and other students) and three which operate on a user-pays basis.

The Mayor, Kerry Prendergast (a former Tawa Borough Councillor), officially opened the refurbished library on Saturday, November 23rd. A few photos of the new-look library (as at October 2002) are shown here. [Click on the pics to enlarge].