Ashburton Courier: February 13, 2020

Page 2, Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday 13 February 2020
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Readingrules in Rakaia, ok?
By Linda Clarke
Rakaia’s community library is an
unrealised gem in the town ­it
stocks great books that are free
or ridiculously cheap to borrow
and is also acommunal social
space that welcomes readers of
all ages.
Volunteer librarian Liz
Depree said while books were
the obvious focus, teenagers
often dropped in to use the free
Wi­Fi and others simply for a
chat.
The library has been apart of
the town since 1882 and the
committee still has the original
minute book dating back to that
time. Records show that in 1876,
the library had 273 books,
including titles such as The Book
of Snobs, Turkish Harems and
the Rise and Fall of the Emperor
Maximilian (he was Mexican, in
case you’re wondering).
Today, the library stocks well
over 2000 books for both adults
and children. Many are new
releases. Those on shelves
around the outside walls are free
to borrow, as are large print
books on loan from the
Ashburton Library.
The latest releases have aloan
charge of 50 cents for three
weeks and include books like
Life as aCasketeer, the Other
Bennet Sister, Margaret
Atwood’s The Testaments (for
the Handmaid’s Tale fans) and
the popular Seven Sisters series.
Waiting lists are very short.
Liz said they spent an
Ashburton District Council
grant of $3000 last year entirely
on books and they would buy
more if they had the money.
The library opens to the public
at least three times aweek and
Your LocalVoice
I’m available to meet with
constituents onMondays and
Fridays, and anyday that Parliament
isn’t sitting. Contact my office in
Timaru or Ashburton tomake an
appointment to meet orspeak with
me. Ialso hold constituency clinics in
other towns across the region.
Andrew Falloon
MP forRangitata
Timaru Office AshburtonOffice
139Stafford Street, 81 Harrison Street,
Timaru
Ashburton
03 6831386
03 3087510
andrewfalloonforrangitata
rangitatamp@parliament. .govt.nz
Authorised by Andrew Falloon MP,
139 Stafford St, Timaru.
Volunteer Rakaia librarian Liz Depree in the town’s transformed and popular reading space.
Liz said the space had been
modernised and transformed in
recent years, with the support of
the Rakaia Community
Association and other local
groups.
It operates out of apurposebuilt
building as part of the
Rakaia Community Hall and has
been fortunate to receive grants
for new carpet (the Lion
Foundation), new blinds (Rakaia
Community Association), and
new heat pump (Ashburton
District Council).
The Rakaia Lions paid for
material and labour to make new
shelves, Ultimate Broadband
provides free Wi­Fi during
opening hours via amodem paid
for by the Rakaia Four Square,
across the road. The food store is
also adropoff for returns after
hours.
‘‘All of this community
support means the library has
ben able to offer aquality service
to the readers in the district.’’
Liz said ateam of volunteer
librarians ran the front desk,
where asimple but oldfashioned
issuing system
operated. Books were stamped
with the date they were due back
and recorded similarly on a
borrower’s card, held at the
library. Low­tech, but highly
efficient and easy for everyone to
use.
Down to 25 members afew
years ago, the library’s core users
were worried about its future, so
they stepped up and offered
their support.
‘‘It had along­standing
committee who knew and loved
the printed word ­they
appreciated others joining to
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support and take the library into
the future.’’
The result has been an
explosion in membership (94
adults and 52 children), as well
as anew children’s reading
corner with the latest books and
old favourites.
Liz said the children’s corner
was popular and agreat way to
sow the seeds for alifetime of
reading.
The library runs on aroster of
volunteers and shoestring
budget, though aused book fair
at the end of this month should
raise afew dollars ­which will be
spent immediately on more
books.
The Rakaia library is one of
three supported by the
Ashburton District Council,
through their annual rural
libraries grant scheme.
Schools urged to lobby for speed changes
Mid Canterbury schools worried
about the speed of traffic outside
their school gate shouldbe
quickly writing to the Ashburton
District Council, whichis
reviewing speedlimits around
the district.
Longbeach Schoolprincipal
Neil Simons had already asked
his school community to make
submissions on the speed limit
review, while other rural schools
like Lagmhor and Mt Somers
Springburn also have aonce­ina­six­year
opportunity to change
traffic behaviour.
The council has already
proposed reducing the speed
outside Mt Somers Springburn
and Methven, but Cr Liz
McMillan saidthe review was a
golden opportunity for other
schoolstoair their concerns and
lobby for reduced speed limits.
Council is currently consulting
on local speed limits and
submissions can be made until
March 8.
Cr McMillan said schools
should tick the box that said they
wanted to speak to their
submission, so they could further
impress their concerns on
councillors making the decision.
While council staff have
suggested some speed limit
changes, council is open to
feedback on all roads. National
policy must also be considered.
Mr Simons has been
advocating for areduced speed
zone outside Longbeach School
for 10 years.
He said he hopedhis
submission, andthose of his
school community, would not
meet the same roadblocks and
inaction.
He wants the roads
surrounding Longbeach School
to be reduced to 60kmh or
70kmh. He said the stretch of
Longbeach Road near the school
was high speed and low visibility,
constituting ahigh risk.
Ashburton Christian School
principal Tim Kuipers is one of
24 people to have made
submissions already on the speed
limit review.
He asked for the 50kmh zone
on Albert Streettobeextended
to Wakanui Road, improving
road safety for his students.
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2252106