Manukau Mobile Library

2010-02-11T17:11:00.000+13:00

We had an estimated 35000 people at the Waitangi Day celebration this year.

2010-02-11T17:06:00.000+13:00

Waitangi Day 2010 held at the new Sir Barry Curtis Park in Manukau.

2008-03-29T20:19:00.000+13:00

Afew pics from the 274 youth day held at theEast Tamaki rugby grounds in Otara.

2008-03-15T17:32:00.000+13:00

More from "polyfest" 2008. Probably the largest event we attend.

2008-03-15T17:26:00.000+13:00

The polynesian Festival 2008. We arrived very early, in the dark for what is a very large event. Four days long it can take its toll on the young people competing in the various shows.

2008-02-20T05:59:00.000+13:00

A visit to Footsteps preschool on their opening day.

2008-02-20T05:54:00.000+13:00

Waitangi day 2008, always a very busy day, door count for the bus was just on 3000.

2007-10-14T18:01:00.000+13:00

Snakes and ladders was popular with the librarians... and the children. The weather forecast was for heavy rain, hail, thunder, so we went anyway and had a pretty perfect day...

2007-10-14T17:43:00.000+13:00

Photos from the Ambury Farm park day held at Mangere Bridge every year, quite a good sized event, some 20000 visitors, door count bang on 3000. Kids were kept happy playing with the fairy and the pirate, and scared witless by the witch complete with cauldron full of lollies, eye balls and rats.

2007-07-17T18:53:00.000+12:00

This is where the bus lives now... stagecoach co, here in Manukau. lots of buses, one mobile library.

2007-07-17T18:47:00.001+12:00

Proof you are able to get a mobility scooter onto a mobile library.

2007-07-17T17:56:00.000+12:00

Kids at ABC Kindy , Botany Downs

2007-07-07T08:04:00.000+12:00

Mangere Bidge food festival.. yum.

2007-07-07T07:48:00.000+12:00

Visit to Superstart Kindy in Botany. We have been on the road now for a couple of months, usage is still building up.. we are issuing approx twice the amount than with the old bus... very good, more than a number of our static branches I might add.

2007-04-14T08:46:00.000+12:00

First time parked against a kerb with the ramp down. I have had two wheel chair bound borrowers so far this week.

2007-04-14T08:44:00.000+12:00

One of my Home school families came along for the opening.

2007-04-14T08:40:00.000+12:00

Part of the crowd.

2007-04-14T08:38:00.000+12:00

2007-04-14T08:35:00.000+12:00

2007-04-14T08:33:00.000+12:00

Mirla Edmundsons first official job as the new Manager of Manukau Libraies... cutting the cake.

2007-04-14T08:31:00.000+12:00

Maori TV gave a really good spot on their news that night.

2007-04-14T08:29:00.000+12:00

The local kids helping Sir Barry with his reading.

2007-04-14T08:28:00.000+12:00

The Mayor, Sir Barry Curtis cutting the ribon.

2007-04-14T08:25:00.000+12:00

The Model "Monique" we used for the official photo shoot.

2007-04-14T08:24:00.000+12:00

Daughter Camille thinks its pretty cool.

2007-04-14T08:23:00.000+12:00

2007-04-14T08:22:00.000+12:00

Official launching day, Tuesday 12th April 2007.

2007-04-02T17:30:00.000+12:00

2007-04-02T17:28:00.000+12:00

2007-04-02T17:27:00.000+12:00

Graphics applied... time for the big stocking job.

2007-03-30T06:03:00.000+12:00

2007-03-30T06:02:00.000+12:00

The graphics finally being stuck on at stagecoach in Wiri, the buses new permanent home... five minute walk from our central branch. Stagecoach will look after all the maintenance, there is refueling and cleaning on site too.

2007-03-22T20:37:00.000+12:00

Hopefully this is the last photo of a plain white surface...better be, running out of time before the big launch.

2007-03-21T21:26:00.000+12:00

Possibly the only VDL mobile library... in the world! You get alot of stuff with the VDL, the whole chassis can be lowered of course, but also raised for when I next need to get on a car ferry (its called ferry lift in the manual).. also the bus has 13 computers running various stuff..... 13... we shall see how well "computers" and the number "13" function in the coming months. (cross your fingers).

The seats we have are pretty cool, you sit on them, they sense your weight and adjust automatically, you can feel them moving around to cushion you, that must be what, two..three computers worth.

2007-03-21T21:09:00.000+12:00

Closer look at the entrance rails with the walking stick / umberalla stand encorperated.

2007-03-20T20:38:00.000+12:00

2007-03-20T20:36:00.000+12:00

2007-03-20T20:34:00.000+12:00

Back in Manukau, I have been looking forward to parking the new one right next to the old one. Only eight more days driving the old MAN ... it will be a bit sad to let it go after 13 years or so, but I think I'll get over it.

2007-03-20T20:28:00.000+12:00

2007-03-20T20:26:00.000+12:00

An arty shot of a mirror... its electric, it has... de-fogging ability... now lets not knock it off...

2007-03-20T20:21:00.000+12:00

All ready to drive away and driving it was soooo nice, really quiet, really lite and easy.
It was fun to watch people on the side of the road as we went past... you could see the thinking, "what?" "there are not many windows, what is it.... a fancy new way of transporting prisoners or something".. yes graphics is the next bit.

2007-03-20T20:15:00.000+12:00

The rear lounge area finished, little fold down tables on the side, would have liked the colour to match the shelving really...but they are functional.

2007-03-20T20:08:00.000+12:00

Shelving, including the display shelf with is own little lights.

2007-03-20T19:58:00.000+12:00

Pic from upstairs showing the handcrafted stainless steel railing...all OSH approved.

2007-03-20T19:55:00.000+12:00

Pictures taken on pick up day.. 20.03.07

2007-03-20T19:45:00.000+12:00

Somewhere in here is a little mobile library....

2007-03-15T12:55:00.000+13:00

Well the new bus has a name.....

"Te Hiku"... meaning The Hook.

2007-03-08T20:31:00.000+13:00

The old and the new

2007-03-08T20:13:00.000+13:00

The seat of power... oh ok... "!!!SEAT of POWER!!!"... and yes there is a cup holder there somewhere. I think they thought I may have been not completely serious when I said "wheres the cup holder?.. CUP HOLDER!!! early during the building process.

2007-03-08T20:05:00.000+13:00

Paul pointing out how the mobile library service could connect with local youth through the use of dance. Click to enlarge..please.

2007-03-07T17:13:00.000+13:00

Wheelchair access, a simple fold over ramp. Normaly we would be next to a curb, also the bus can kneel a further 100mm, you will almost be going downhill to get on apparently.

2007-03-07T17:05:00.000+13:00

Someone a kiwi has a sense of humour....
I think we may go for a personalised plate!

2007-03-07T17:02:00.000+13:00

Childrens dept, we are going to put red backing squabs on to make it more comfy. Though the exposed wood does look nice. ==

2007-03-07T16:58:00.000+13:00

The shelving is in, lots of shelving, now all we have to do is work out how to organise the stock. Kids in the kids dept up the back, adult stock on the low floor.

2007-03-07T16:52:00.000+13:00

2007-03-07T16:50:00.000+13:00

Photos from 7th March, really everything is pretty much complete bar the graphics.

2007-02-20T15:45:00.000+13:00

Looks little in the Kiwi Bus workshop

2007-02-20T10:22:00.000+13:00

Inside 19th Feb. Colour scheme starting to be realised. Blue bits just sitting, they need to place placed and sized properly. The red strip on the main floor is going, replaced with the blue carpet. Few other little changes, no nasty surprises so far.

2007-02-20T10:07:00.000+13:00

Motive power unit. Its very quiet, compared to the current donk..meets all the euro 5 emission stuff, (for those that hold to the anthropogenic global warming theory)

2007-02-20T09:59:00.000+13:00

The awning partially extended, its a nice big one but still easy to use.

2007-02-20T09:45:00.000+13:00

Taken 19th Feb exterior nearly ready for the graphics.

2007-02-13T19:09:00.000+13:00

You saw it here first! possible new look...secretly posted....
Use the coments, tell me what you think.

2007-02-01T14:24:00.000+13:00

2007-02-01T13:32:00.000+13:00

Another four weeks of work, we now have a drivable vehicle..might need a more fancy seat.

2007-02-01T12:19:00.000+13:00

More pictures taken after three weeks of building. The shell is on, wiring starting as is the aircon. No Floor yet. It was at this stage that we paid a visit to step out the placement of the desk, returns area, try to finalise shelving etc.

2007-02-01T12:14:00.000+13:00

First picture of the new bus being built in Tauranga by Kiwi Bus Builders. They have done the last four mobile libraries in New zealand so are getting pretty good at it. This one is unique in Nz being a VDL sb200 chassis.

2007-02-01T12:07:00.000+13:00

The Current Manukau Mobile Library, twenty years old this year, more than 500 000ks... still she made it from Auckland to Taupo and back recently.