New booking system makes room for everyone

Reserving a room or community space at three of Far North District Council’s libraries is now just a few clicks away thanks to a new online booking system.

Bookable launched on Monday 9 November to coincide with the opening of Te Kākahu - the new library and civic hub in the heart of Kaikohe.

“Bookable provides a simple, efficient way for people to see what’s available and make a booking in just a few clicks,” says Ruben Garcia, Group Manager – Community and Engagement. “It’s another positive step towards making our community spaces more accessible, convenient and welcoming for everyone.”

The easy-to-use system allows residents and visitors to reserve a meeting room at Kāeo Library, a community room at Procter Library in Kerikeri, and nine bookable spaces at Te Kākahu.

At Kaikohe’s exciting new hub, meeting rooms, silent pods, and a MakerSpace room are available to book free of charge. The community room in Te Kākahu, along with the spaces at Kāeo and Procter libraries, can be booked for $20 an hour for individuals and commercial groups, or at a reduced rate of $15 an hour for non-profit organisations.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for our communities to access and enjoy the many facilities and resources available through our libraries and community hubs,” says Garcia.

And it’s not just rooms that can be reserved. Additional resources such as extra chairs can also be requested when making an online booking.

The Bookable link displays room availability and the times that each space is available to book. The interface is user-friendly – all you need to do is click on the link on the council’s website, create a profile or log in if you already have one, select your preferred location and type of room you want to book, and follow the prompts.

When you arrive for your booking, simply check in at the service desk where staff will arrange payment if required.

But if you don’t want to do the online thing, no problem. You can pop into Kāeo Library, Procter Library, or the new Kaikohe hub to make your booking in person with one of our friendly staff or give them a call.

Bookable is expected to be rolled out to other council facilities across the district over the coming months, so keep an eye on our website and social media channels for further updates.