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Greendale Library
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TitleGreendale Library
DescriptionIn October 1873 the Board of Education granted permission for the Greendale Library Committee to build a library onto the school. A 'lean-to' was then built, which by 1875 was well used by the community, which was noted with approval by the Lyttleton Times: 'When one sees the money wasted in various parts of the country in erecting little boxes of carpenter's Gothic, called libraries, one can appreciate the sense shown by the Greendale people'.
The lean-to remained in use until 1917 when it was removed and converted into a shelter shed for the use of the children. For a time the district did not have the services of a library but during the 1930's the Country Library van began calling in the district. At first, members picked their books direct from the van, which made fairly frequent calls. Later the service took the form whereby the subscribers chose from 170 books which remained in the local library for four months until the library van returned with a new selection of books. The Country Library supplied the books at a low charge (50c per annum), and subscribers could request any books which were supplied at no cost. From the 1980s the library was part of the Greendale School library building which was built after the 1972 centennial, as a suitable project to make the occasion, subsidised by the Education Board.SourceGreendale Centennial Story by Mrs. Myrtle E. Adams and Malvern Libraries 1875-1986 by Mrs. J. H. Richards
DescriptionIn October 1873 the Board of Education granted permission for the Greendale Library Committee to build a library onto the school. A 'lean-to' was then built, which by 1875 was well used by the community, which was noted with approval by the Lyttleton Times: 'When one sees the money wasted in various parts of the country in erecting little boxes of carpenter's Gothic, called libraries, one can appreciate the sense shown by the Greendale people'. The lean-to remained in use until 1917 when it was removed and converted into a shelter shed for the use of the children. For a time the district did not have the services of a library but during the 1930's the Country Library van began calling in the district. At first, members picked their books direct from the van, which made fairly frequent calls. Later the service took the form whereby the subscribers chose from 170 books which remained in the local library for four months until the library van returned with a new selection of books. The Country Library supplied the books at a low charge (50c per annum), and subscribers could request any books which were supplied at no cost. From the 1980s the library was part of the Greendale School library building which was built after the 1972 centennial, as a suitable project to make the occasion, subsidised by the Education Board.
SourceGreendale Centennial Story by Mrs. Myrtle E. Adams and Malvern Libraries 1875-1986 by Mrs. J. H. RichardsImage
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Researched ByMyrtle T. Adams and Mrs. J. H. RichardsWritten BySarah Davy
Written BySarah DavyClick on the image to add
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Greendale Library. Selwyn Stories, accessed 21/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6117
