We are re-inventing the Nelson library for generations to come. Yes, it will have books and all the things you love and rely on but, it’s far beyond what we think of as a library today.

We want to understand what it is that you really value and how that could look in a transformed library space.

Do you want to create, learn new things, imagine, incubate ideas and inventions, experiment, do business or just make noise and have fun?

It is important our reinvented library is a place everyone feels they belong and are welcomed. A place for you to connect with others and feel a part of things. For there to be something for everyone in our reinvented library we need your help in shaping what this looks like.

Here are the values we have developed after our initial conversations with the community.


  • Whakahoahoa | partnership

    We work collaboratively to build the trust needed for respectful, genuine relationships with our community, with particular recognition of Ngāi Tūāhuriri as mana whenua.

  • Kotahitanga | unity and teamwork

    We work together and share our knowledge openly, recognising that we can achieve more together than we can on our own. We consider the impact of our actions on each other and on the team and the Library as a whole.

  • Manaakitanga | caring for people

    Our relationships are based on respect and caring for every person.

    We act with honesty and integrity and communicate openly. We are clear about our intentions and act in good faith. We take responsibility for our decisions and actions.


  • Ako me te Mātauranga | learning and knowledge

    We support the pursuit of education, life-long learning and scholarship. We recognise that cultural frameworks shape knowledge and we respect knowledge as a taonga passed from generation to generation in accordance with tikanga.

  • Kaitiakitanga | guardianship

    We treasure and protect our collections as resources for learning, teaching and research now and in the future. We apply tikanga Māori to our Māori collections.

  • Creativity and Innovation