Procter Library

Te Kete Matauranga O Kerikeri (knowledge basket of Kerikeri)

• Background
• The Concept
• Acknowledgements

The Procter Library now operates seven days a week offering library, council and passive visitor information to both locals and tourists alike.

Background

In the late 1990's it was recognised that with the rapid growth of the Kerikeri urban area and surrounding horticultural and lifestyle blocks, the library facilities were becoming more and more inadequate. It was becoming increasing apparent that urgency had to be given to enlarging the library and modernising the facilities. So preliminary planning started for both a new library and the provision of a permanent home for the Kerikeri Service Centre, which occupied leased accommodation.

It was through the unexpected generosity of the late Jeffray and Kenneth Procter, that the project moved rapidly forward. Their most generous donation of $650,000 was given for the specific use of building a new library.

Retired Kerikeri orchardists and agricultural contracting partners, Ken and Jeffray Procter, made this donation to express their appreciation of the good times they had enjoyed living and working in the Kerikeri community. At the time the couple said "we love the community here and people have been very good to us. You only get back what you put in. This (the donation) is a way of reaching out to the people, and a way to give back what has been a wonderful experience for us here in Kerikeri".

As a result of this gift, the Council was in a position to redesign the initial concept and to look to a substantially enlarged building which would include the latest library technology and user facilities. To accommodate the enlarged structure the adjoining Community House occupied principally by the Citizens Advice Bureau, also needed to be moved.

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The Concept

A new design brief was prepared incorporating all three facilities - the enlarged library, Service Centre and CAB. Local architects and designers were then invited to submit design concepts for the project.

In December 2001 Kerikeri architect Dianna Sandifer, with her unique design, won best concept and took out the $750 cash prize, which she immediately donated back to the library support trust fund.

Dianna's brief was to create a building that would reflect both the bi-cultural and multicultural character and heritage of the district.

Dianna used the story of Tane and his journey to obtain the three baskets of knowledge to design a facility that represented the journeys of many people.
"A visit to the library will always involved a journey whether it is into a fictional world, or into the past, the present of the future, into strange lands, outer space or indeed cyber space," she says.

The building overall has been designed in the shape of a ships/waka prow oriented from north to south. The main support posts for the ridge beam within the body of the building are stylised steel Kauri trees. Structural support of the mezzanine and roof perimeter is provided by a series of external steel masts or outriggers. These refer to sailing ships or sea going waka that brought people from many cultures to the Far North to settle.

The interior of the building sees Northland colours been utilised. The blue hue on the mezzanine floor represents the concept of the sky father (Rangi) and the light green on the ground floor represents Papa. The carpet pattern represents the symbolic footprint of Tane ascending the heavens by the reflection of stars over water.

Click here to read about the Design Concept in more detail.

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Acknowledgements

The following businesses and individuals are acknowledged for their contribution to the successful completion of the Procter Library.

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• Procter Library - Project History

• Inside the Procter Library - Photos

• Design Concept

• General library information for users

• Library addresses and hours

• New books available

• New children's books

• Community Boards