Flat Bush Pop Up Library coming soon!

📚 Flat Bush Pop-up Library is coming soon!

In our Howick Local Board open workshop today, staff presented an update on the temporary library space for Flat Bush. The community has waited a long time for the library they were promised and while this isn't the permanent facility, I'm thrilled to see that we're closer than we've ever been before. There is still a lot of work to be done, but it's fantastic to see real progress!

I've attached some of the designs that we were shown today, giving you a sense of how the space will work. The design makes use of adaptive seating and shelving layouts to allow the library to evolve with community needs, supporting a wide range of activities with minimal waste.

It's important to note that the space is smaller than a normal library but will still provide core services you'll find across the city:
✅Book a librarian and customer service support
✅Physical space to connect, use and enjoy
✅Physical library collection browsing and check outs, including self-check out, customer requested items (Hold or Pick-ups) and return of library items
✅Wifi, Public computers, photocopying / printing / scanning
✅Library programming

This project represents a significant investment from the Howick Local Board which required us to make some tough decisions last term to free up the funding. This is important to our community so we prioritised it to make it happen.

Massive thanks to the staff who have been working tirelessly since the decision in June to secure the lease and get the library underway.

Thank you to mana whenua for their involvement and support - your contributions to this project have helped design a unique and community-centred environment.

And of course thank you to the Ormiston Town Centre who will be hosting us. Located just outside the foodcourt, the pop up library will be open 55 hours per week (Mon – Sat 10am to 6pm; Sun 10am – 5pm to align with the town centre opening.

At this stage staff have indicated that the opening should be on (or around) the end of March 2026, but this is subject to change. There's a lot of work to get this space ready for the community and we'll confirm the final details for the opening early in 2026.

This is just a temporary space and we haven't stopped working on the full, permanent facility that has been promised. We've got land allocated (visible from the entrance to the pop up library) and funding approved over the next few years to build it. Running in parallel to this pop up, staff have been working on the options for the full facilities (including pool and recreation centre) and we're expecting more information in early 2026.

Here is the link to the presentation and designs that we were presented today: https://aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/Meeting/10192/65185?type=1&docId=18952