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National Library of the Cook Islands
National Library in Avarua, Cook Islands From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The National Library of the Cook Islands – Runanga Puka, located at Te Puna Korero - Sir Geoffrey Henry Culture Centre is the national library of the Cook Islands.[1][2] The building, which opened in 1993, also houses a museum, auditiorium, and several government ministries.[3]
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History
Planning for the library began in 1961, with a committee backed by the Resident Commissioner Oliver Dare.[4] A site on Taputapuatea was donated by the Makea Nui Ariki and the Parliament of the Cook Islands agreed to match donations with public money.[4] Plans for the library were drawn up by New Zealand Ministry of Works architect Kenneth Mills.[5] The construction of the building was eventually funded by a loan from the Government of Nauru. Renovations were carried out in 2021.[6]
The library was however not established until 1992, becoming operational in 1993. The library holds a collection of around 10,000 books, including both children's and adult's fiction, reference books, Cook Islands and Pacific reports, and Pacific rare books.[7]
The library has two employees, neither of whom are qualified librarians due to a lack of training opportunities on the island.[2]
A bid was started to make the library a legal deposit library in 2012, however this was put on hold due to the 50th anniversary of the island's independence.[2]
In 2019, the Cook Islands Parliament donated volumes detailing the laws of the islands between 1965 and 1994.[8]
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References
External links
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