Lending of Wanaka Library’s digital range has increased by 56 per cent and hard copy lending has also jumped; add to that a busy calendar of events, new staff and virtual reality offerings, and there is a lot going on at the library this winter.

Wanaka Library assistant librarian Eve Marshall-Lea said last year’s lockdown could have played a role in the huge jump in lending of the library’s digital catalogue, which includes e-books, audio, movies, magazines and newspapers.

People who couldn’t access the library during lockdown tried out digital lending for the first time and since then “there has been quite a bit more interest and people wanting to download,” Eve said.

Hard copy lending is up by almost ten per cent - with 140,000 hard copy items checked out at Upper Clutha libraries between last July and this March - and “events have been much better attended recently too,” Eve said. 

Plant-based cooking gurus Two Raw Sisters held an event at the library last week; next week there’s a Harry Potter quiz night (which is already sold out); and in June there’s a virtual reality experience coming, a body language expert, the annual library pyjama party and an adults’ reading challenge (where participants complete 15 challenges and go in the draw for a $50 voucher).

There are plenty of events coming up in June to appeal to a range of ages.

“We’ve got lots going on,” Eve said, adding that the virtual reality event - called Explore Hillary’s Hut would be visiting libraries in Frankton and Queenstown as well as Wanaka.

Explore Hillary’s Hut will allow visitors to ‘explore’ Sir Edmund Hillary’s Antarctic hut to celebrate New Zealand’s first presence in Antarctica. Participants will be able to have a 15 minute experience inside the hut.

There may be more virtual reality coming to the library soon, too: Queenstown Lakes District Council said the 2020-2030 library strategy “outlines a move towards providing access to virtual reality in libraries. This year, we are purchasing a number of headsets to be distributed across the main branches.”  

These will provide various virtual realities in educational and recreational activities in the library, council said in a statement.

There have also been some staff changes - a new librarian, Paula Mitchell, has been appointed in a new, fixed‐term position which will focus on digital services and inclusion, library workforce development, supporting wellbeing and supporting local iwi - and at Hāwea library there are two new community librarians, Jess Clark and Alex Walton.    

There are also a couple of customer service changes - borrowers can now renew items online twice (previously once) and hold fees ($1) are now free for senior borrowers.     

Find all the details about what is going on at the library here.

PHOTOS: Wanaka App