Kia Ora from Taupo Public Library
Te Haerenga
The Taupo Library Team
Want more information on Taupo District Libraries, take a look at our District Library page.
History of Taupo Library
Library services began in Taupo with the arrival of the Armed Constabulary. 
In October 1869 the No. 6 Division of the Armed Constabulary arrived at Tapuaeharuru on the shores of Lake Taupo to establish a military post, and in January 1870 built their permanent camp about 180m from the lake on the east side of the Waikato River.
The camp eventually included in it's buildings a reading room and library which was completed in 1873. The Armed Constabulary made these facilities available to both permanent settlers and visitors. When the Armed Constabulary moved to Tokaanu in 1885 Mr Prinn the chemist kept the library going by moving the books to his house on Tamamutu Street.
In 1900 a Library Association was formed, the 12 founding members of which payed a subscription of one guinea. Government funding was also given, averaging $14.00 per annum over the next seven years.
In 1907 the library was moved from Mr Prinn's house to Mrs Noble's house on Tongariro Street (Heuheu Street/Tongariro Street corner), and Mrs Noble, under the aegis of Rev. Fletcher, took over the day to day running of the library.
By 1929 the library of 200 books was housed in the Tamamutu Street house of Mr Sutherland, secretary of the Road Board, where it stayed until the Road Board built offices in (what is now) Story Place. These offices, (on the site where the previous Taupo Borough Council building was) had one room to display the library books, and the library was run by the office staff for 1 hour 2-3 days a week plus 1 evening.
In 1953 Taupo became a Borough, and The Taupo Library Committee was appointed to administer the Town Board Library. The committee decided on a subscription of one guinea. There were 15 borrowers and it was run by a volunteer, Mrs D.J. Smyrk.
In 1954 Mrs Smyrk was appointed librarian and paid a salary, a position she held until 1968. During those years the Borough Council had added on a special addition to the council offices to house the Municipal Library (1955); had introduced reciprocal borrowing with other libraries (1959) ; a children's library was established (1960) ; the Council bought the old Post Office building to improve library facilities and this was opened to the public from 6 November 1961; subscriptions were replaced with a free and rental service (1961); and by the time Mrs Smyrk retired 31 March, 1968 the library had grown to have 3,456 borrowers and a stock of 13,500 books supplemented by loans from the Country Library Service, part of the National Library of New Zealand (from 1961).
The library currently resides on the corner of Story place just behind the information center or i-Site and across the road from the Super Loo.