Books on the Bus

Hastings District Council and Napier City Council are working together to enhance library services to their communities.

A free reciprocal returns service has been launched for Hastings and Napier Library customers.

Customers will be able to return Napier Library books to any Hastings District Library (Hastings, Havelock North or Flaxmere) or Hastings District library books to either Napier or Taradale Library and the books will automatically be sent to the place from where they were issued.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Chairman, Alan Dick says the simple solution has been to provide the transport for the trial of this new initiative, in the form of the Route 12 Go-Bay bus service.

Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott says everyone is more conscious of reducing their carbon footprint and this initiative helps do that.

“Both Hastings and Napier libraries have bus stops directly outside and using the existing infrastructure reduces the need to put another vehicle on the road,” Mayor Arnott says.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says this is a great example of the three councils working together for a regional solution.

“It’s just common sense, as Hawke’s Bay people easily operate between the two cities of Napier and Hastings and this service just makes using their local libraries that much easier,” Mayor Yule says.

This service will run every weekday, providing a convenient regular service.

However, customers need to keep in mind that books remain checked out on their card until scanned at the library at which they were issued.