Community Library revitalisation in rural Marlborough Sounds

The Boatshed Library is a community asset for the residents along Moetapu Bay Road (140 properties) in the Marlborough Sounds. It is celebrating its 20th year in May of this year and a core group of residents have decided to tackle the challenge of revitalizing this asset into an even more multipurpose space and giving it a facelift at the same time. Currently used as a library with a gym area, a venue for meetings and a men's group, we are also setting it up for movie nights, guest speakers, adding an outdoor games selection and further developing the children's section.

The team have been working hard and have analysed the books issued/non issued and culled old books, which were offered to residents for a gold coin, then selling some to a secondhand dealer and thirdly given to a local charity group for their book sale. The remaining books were resorted into categories before packaging for storage. The shelves have been removed ready for cleaning and preparation for painting.