Joining The Library 

• Please bring your library card on each visit.
• Items are issued for four weeks and may be renewed (up to twice) provided there are no holds on them. There is no limit to the number of items you can borrow with the exception of some limitations in the Children's Library.
• You can check items on loan, renew items or place holds via the Library Catalogue online or on the Timaru District Libraries App (you will need your password for these options), or you can call in/phone your Library, or contact us via email.
• Email or text reminders can be set up to alert you when items are due to be returned/ renewed.

Conditions of Use

• Borrowers/guarantors are responsible for all materials borrowed on a library card - please do not lend your library card to other people. They are also responsible for any charges incurred through the damage or loss of an item, or any debt collection fees.
• Items can no longer be borrowed if charges on an account total $10 or more.
• You can see a complete list of all library charges and fees on our website.
• Library users need to maintain a reasonable standard of behaviour and language on the premises and must abide by our library policies including our Timaru District Libraries Terms and Conditions and our Internet Usage Policy. If such conditions are not met, library staff can ask patrons to leave.
• Guarantors/caregivers are responsible for the supervision of children in our libraries.
• All borrowed items are to be returned in good condition to any of our three libraries (if an accident occurs please talk to us, do not attempt to mend it).
• Digital membership details need to be updated every 12 months to keep your library card / digital access working.
• All memberships will be cancelled if a card has not been used in more than two years.
• Please notify the Library immediately of any change of address, email address, or telephone number, or if your card has been lost or stolen.

 Privacy Statement

• You can find our full Privacy Statement on the toolbar at the bottom of our website homepage.
• The information about you is being collected by Timaru District Libraries, a unit of the Timaru District Council. By applying for membership, you agree to supplying your personal information which will be used by the library to manage your library account details, as well as for statistical purposes.
• If you are under 18 years of age, your personal information can be used to contact your guarantor, parent or guardian to discuss any matters which may arise from your library membership.
• We would not release your personal information to a third party except where required to, or permitted to, by law, or for the purpose of recording/maintaining your transactional history through our Library Management System and Self Check/Returns Kiosks, or where you have authorised us to do so or where disclosure is connected to the purpose for which the information was collected. Our website contains links to other websites operated by third parties. We take no responsibility for the privacy practices of these third parties. You should consult the privacy policies of each linked website to determine the policy each third party adheres to.
• By submitting a membership application, you are agreeing to library staff being able to contact you by post, email and telephone, including leaving automated telephone messages. Please note, Timaru District Council will not be liable for any other person being able to access any of these messages, and also takes no responsibility for email or postal notices sent but not received or read.

Charges & Fees

Faxing: $1.00 for each sheet, to a maximum cost of $10.00.

Interloans: $6.00 minimum

Lost / Damaged Item Administration Fee - per invoice: $10.00 

Photocopying - per side of paper

A4 - $0.10
A4 Colour - $1.00
A3- $0.20
A3 Colour $1.50

Other
Temuka Meeting Room $18.50 per hour (Community Groups / Non-profit organisations no charge)
Geraldine Meeting Room $18.50 per hour (Community Groups / Non-profit organisations no charge)
Timaru Community Room $18.50 per hour (Community Groups / Non-profit organisations no charge)

APNK

Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa (APNK) User Policy / Terms of Use
Timaru District Libraries aim to provide a secure environment for the public to explore the resources of the Internet.

In using the Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa you agree to be legally bound by relevant New Zealand law, including copyright, privacy and censorship laws, and also agree to the Timaru District Libraries' Terms of Use. 

Usage of the APNK network is monitored and may be used for legal purposes.

Internet

Timaru District Libraries provide free computing and Internet access via the Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa (APNK).

APNK touch screen ChromeStations and ChromeBooks are available and run the Google ChromeOS operating system. You can use Google Chrome to access the internet and there are a number of popular Apps available for use.

To edit or create a word document you will need to access  either Google Docs or Word Online. Google Docs is extremely convenient if you already have a Gmail or Google account, and you can launch it directly from your Gmail (9 dots in the top-right corner).

If you prefer to use Word, Microsoft has an online version available. Microsoft email (Outlook, Hotmail) users can launch Word Online directly from their email (9 dots in the top-left corner). Alternatively, you can go to www.office.com and sign in with your Microsoft account details, to access the Office Online suite, including Word. See here for instructions on how to create a Microsoft account.

Each APNK device has a USB port and some devices offer a webcam. Please bring your own headset/headphones if required. Each APNK session lasts for up to half an hour, but can be extended if no-one else is waiting.

Free Wifi access is also available at all our libraries.

Black and white or colour A4 printing is available from APNK devices at a cost of 10 cents per each side of a page for black and white, or $1.00 for colour.

In using the Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa you agree to be legally bound by relevant New Zealand law, including copyright, privacy and censorship laws, and also agree to the Timaru District Libraries' Terms of Use.

Book Groups

Our libraries at Timaru, Temuka and Geraldine host regular meetings of book groups. Members chat about books, take a look at what's new in the libraries and hear first-hand from library staff about what's happening in the world of books and libraries.

Timaru Library's group meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 2pm.

Temuka Library's Book Discussion Group meets on the last Thursday of the month at 2pm and there is also a Weekend Book Club which meets on teh second Saturday of each month from 10.30am to 11.30am where you can come along and share what you've read.

Geraldine Library's "Books on the Brain" group meets on the last Monday of the month at 2.30pm.

Come along and join us!

Email Newsletters

Find out about the latest releases in eAudio and eBooks (digital), fiction, non-fiction,  large print, talking books, young adults, and
children and place a hold, all in one go.  We have newsletters on thrillers, travel, biographies, picture books, gardening and more.

Keep up to date with the latest titles, best picks and featured selections.  You can subscribe to our newsletters which come out either monthly or bi-monthly.

Homework Help

AnyQuestions.co.nz helps you find useful, accurate, online information for your homework. Come into the site with your homework question and our online librarians will work with you to find out the sort of information you need, then begin searching with you.
Trained librarians from all over New Zealand are available between 1pm and 6pm each weekday during term time to help you search online.

To use AnyQuestions.co.nz you have to be attending a New Zealand primary, intermediate, secondary school or be home-schooled.

ManyAnswers.co.nz is home to hundreds of entries on a huge range of topics from ANZACs to Zebras and everything in between, and is fully searchable.

Housebound Services

If you are confined to your place of residence or cannot come to the Library, we can provide a free, regular delivery service direct to your door.

Library staff will select items to suit your needs and a volunteer will deliver and collect the items.

If you are interested in receiving the Housebound Service, or know someone who would be eligible, please contact your local library (03 6877202 for Timaru Library, 03 687 7591 for Temuka Library or 03 693 9336 for Geraldine Library) or email us on library@timdc.govt.nz and a suitable time will be made for a Library Staff member to visit.

Information and Reference Services

Our specialist library staff can help you search our collections and online databases. We can source material from other libraries using our inter-library loan service.

To use our free Reference Services visit, phone or email our libraries. Our Digital Library provides free access to many databases, thousands of quality articles, academic journals, overseas newspapers, and popular magazines.

Inter-Library Loans

When an item is not held in our Libraries we may be able to borrow it via Inter-Library loan from another New Zealand Library.  Charges apply.

Justice of the Peace

Justices of the Peace are available in both the Timaru and Geraldine libraries on Saturday mornings from 10am -12 noon. These services are free of charge.

Library Displays & Noticeboards

Noticeboards are available in our libraries for community use for posters and notices about community-based events and non-profit organisations.

Display board bookings can be arranged on a case-by-case basis with each of our libraries and should be suitable for the general public.

Library Tours

Have you ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes in the Library?

Here's your chance to find out - Library tours are available to Community Groups, Schools and Pre-Schools by arrangement.

Contact our Libraries for more details.

Recommendation for Purchase

If you can’t find the item you are looking for in the Library and you would like to see it in our collection, you can make a recommendation for purchase. You can do this at the help desk in the library or you can ask us to buy it online.

Skinny Jump

Skinny Jump is for those who don't have a broadband connection at home because cost is a barrier.

Skinny believes every New Zealander deserves to have the opportunities to learn and thrive in the modern digital world.

Skinny Jump is flexible prepaid broadband: Only $5 for 30GB of data, no contracts or credit checks, and the modem comes free of charge. Just top up as you go.

If you want to check if coverage is available at your house, use the Skinny Jump Coverage Checker to find out if your location qualifies.

Timaru District Libraries is proud to be working with Skinny Jump to help close the access gap between those who can afford home broadband and those who can't.

Storytimes

Come along for stories and fun for pre-schoolers and their caregivers.

• Storytime & Music at Timaru Children’s Library every Friday 11.30am – 12 noon.
• Super Story Mondays at Timaru Children's Library every Monday 4pm - 4.30pm (for primary-aged children).
• Storytime & Craft at Temuka Library every Wednesday 10.30am – 11.30am.
• Storytime & Craft at Geraldine Library every Wednesday 10.30-11.30am.