FAQ - General Services

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• What hours is the library open?

  All our libraries are open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday and in the weekend (Oxford Saturday only, Kaiapoi open from 8.30am). Kaiapoi has a late night on Thursday and Rangiora on Friday. For the exact hours of each library please see - locations and hours. All our libraries are closed on public holidays.

   

   

• Do you really have free WiFi?

  Yes. Our WiFi services are provided through the national Aotearoa Peoples Network Kaharoa project. Use is free. You will have to join the APNK network operating within the library and the same terms and conditions (and limitations) apply as if you were using the PCs.

• Do you have a fax service?

  Yes. We will fax documents for you nationally or internationally. This service costs $2.00 for the first page and $0.50 per subsequent page. Please note that Waimakariri District Libraries accepts no liability whatsoever for misdelivered faxes.

• Can I make a reservation for a computer before I come in?

  No. The library provides free access to PCs and a WiFi network on a "first-come-first-served basis". You can choose to use the PCs in either 30 minute or 15 minute slots and queues are managed by staff via a white-board in each library. Our web facilities are provided through the national Aotearoa Peoples Network Kaharoa project.

• How do I purchase a painting I saw in the Chamber Gallery?

  Depending on the exhibition, some or all of the works may be for sale. Ask at the Library Desk for the curator's contact details. Follow this link for more information on the Chamber Gallery.

• Where do I find Visitor Information about North Canterbury?

  Our libraries stock free pamphlets and guides provided by Visit Waimakariri .  The Visitor Information Centre is located in Kaiapoi town. Follow this link for more information.

• Is there a Visitor Information Centre in Rangiora?

  No. The Visitor Information Centre is located in Kaiapoi town. However our libraries stock free pamphlets and guides provided by Visit Waimakariri .  For more information follow this link.

• Can I get books from other libraries?

  Yes. Your membership allows you to borrow from Kaiapoi, Oxford and Rangiora libraries and our catalogue shows you our holdings at all three locations. In addition, you can also place an Interloan where we borrow items on your behalf from other libraries in New Zealand or overseas. There is a minimum $5.00 charge for an interloan. You can request using our contact form.

• Can I volunteer at the library?

  Yes. All three libraries (Oxford, Rangiora and Kaiapoi) have volunteers who support the libraries' activities usually by shelving returned items. See more information here.

• Can I join a book group?

  Yes. Both Rangiora and Kaiapoi libraries support books groups. Just ask at either library or contact us using our online form.

FAQ - Membership & Borrowing

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• How do I reserve an item online?

  First find your title in the catalogue. Click on the “Request item” button. Fill in details for:

  • your library card number
  • your pin number
  • which library you want to collect the item from.

  When the item is available you will be notified by automatic telephone message.

  A fee of $1.50 will be payable on collection (except for children’s or teens’ material)

• How do I join the library?

  Joining is as easy as 1-2-3.

  • Fill in an application form
  • Show us some identification (driver licence, birth certificate etc)
  • Provide proof of address

  Note: we will also need an alternative contact and children need to be signed up by a parent or legal guardian. We do not offer corporate membership.

  Membership is free for all ratepayers and residents of the Waimakariri district, for anyone attending an educational facility in the district, and for any child aged under 5. Anyone outside the District pays a subscription.

  You can join at any library.

• What do I need to bring to join the library?

  We need to see some identification (driver licence, birth certificate etc) and recent proof of address showing that you are a resident or ratepayer in the Waimakariri District (e.g. telephone bill, rates invoice, bank statement).

  Note: we will also need an alternative contact and children need to be signed up by a parent or legal guardian. We do not offer corporate membership.

   

• What are the subscription fees for out of district borrowers?

  There are two options for Out of District Borrowers:

  • $60 for a six month subscription (follow link below for more details and how to apply)
  • $4 for a per item card (Note: this option incurs a $4 charge per item plus any relevant item charges)

  Follow this link for more details on membership and subscriptions.

• How many items can I borrow?

  You can borrow up to 20 items for up to three weeks each, with the option to renew for a further three weeks in most cases.

• When are my items due?

  The date each item is due back can be found on the issue slip print out. You can also check how many items you have borrowed and the date your items are due online. Just follow the link to My Record from any library web page and log into your account using your library barcode and PIN number.

• I had a phone call last night saying I had an overdue book but I don't know which one….

  You can check how many items you have borrowed and the date your items are due online. Just follow the link to Your Record from any library web page and log into your account using your library barcode and PIN number. 
   

• Can you tell me when my books are due, because I've lost my slip…

  You can check how many items you have borrowed and the date your items are due online. Just follow the link to My Record from any library web page and log into your account using your library barcode and PIN number

• Can I request / place a hold for...

  If someone has already taken out an item you want, you can reserve it, either online or in person. There is a reserve charge of $1.50 per item, paid on collection. There are no reserve charges on children's or teen books.
  

• Can I renew my books over the phone?

  Not currently. However you can renew items online. Click on “Renew” from any library web page or “Your Record” in the library catalogue. Put in your library card and PIN. Tick on the items you wish to renew then select “Renew”. New return dates will be shown automatically.
  Tip: You can renew items online before the due date, otherwise you will need to visit your nearest library.
  

• Can I take this book back to Rangiora?

  You can return items to Rangiora, Oxford or Kaiapoi libraries. There are after hours return slots at each library as well as a book return box at Woodend (next to Scotty's Diner on the corner of Eders Road and Main North Road, Woodend).
  

• Can I borrow items without my library card?

  You may borrow up to three items without your card so long as you can show us another piece of I.D (e.g. a driver’s licence, community health card, firearms licence etc).

  You may borrow without your card three times. After that we will request that you purchase a replacement card before continuing to borrow.

FAQ - Catalogue Searching

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• Do you have this book I heard about?

  You can search our catalogue yourself online. (see following search tips).        

  The catalogue record tells you:         

                                      - details of the item

                                      - which library the item is held at

                                      - whether the item is on loan and when it is due back

                                      - whether anyone else is in the waiting list

                                      - reviews for many items

                                      - suggestions for other similar books

              You can request items yourself online.

• How do I find something using the catalogue?

  • Title browse - use title browse if you know the exact title of the item. Title browse gives you your title in an alphabetical list of titles. Tip: omit “the” from the start of your title.
  • Author browse - use author browse if you know the exact name of the author. Tip: always put the surname first, e.g. King, Stephen
  • General keyword  - use general keyword if you aren’t certain of a title. Enter the keywords you are sure about, in any order.You can use any combination of author, title, subject or series keywords.Tip: if you can only remember the main character from a fiction series, you can often find the author this way e.g. “Stephanie Plum”. Tip:  using General keyword with only very common words can give you too many results.
  • Subject keyword  - use subject keyword for quite specific subjects. E.g. calligraphy, Buddhism. Tip:  if you get no results, switch to a general keyword search.
  • Series keyword - use series keyword to find all books in a particular series.Especially useful for children’s series books. Tip for kids:  spelling matters!

• How do I find a list of the talking books the library has?

  The library has a lot of talking books.

  You can look through the long list by using general keyword search for “talking book”

  If you want to find only children’s talking books use general keyword search for “talking book children”

  If you want all talking books except children’s, use general keyword search for “talking book NOT children”

• How do I find the latest titles by my favourite author?

  • Step 1: use author browse to search for your author (surname first, e.g. Picoult, Jodi) Select the author.
  • Step 2: At the top right of the results you will see a box with drop-down options to Sort by.  Select publication date and click the arrow beside the box.

  This sorts results, putting newest first.

• What is the next book in the series?

  In the catalogue search menu select Series keyword to find all books in a particular series. Especially useful for children’s series

FAQ - My Library Account

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• How do I get a pin number on my card?

  Bring your card and ask at any of our libraries. Or: telephone or email us with details (card number, address) and we will put a default pin on your card. You can change this yourself if you wish.

• How do I change the pin number on my card?

  Go to “Your record” on the website. Enter details of your library card and your existing pin number. Once in your record, go to “Profile”. At the bottom of the profile page, enter your old PIN and the new PIN.

• Has my hold arrived yet?

  Go to “Your record” on the website. Enter details of your library card and your existing pin number. Once in your record, look at “hold requests”.You will see what items are waiting to be collected

• Where am I in the waiting list for my book?

  Go to “Your record” on the website. Enter details of your library card and pin number. Once in your record, go to “hold requests”. You will see a record of your current requests and your queue position.

• How do I cancel a hold I no longer want?

  Go to “Your record” on the website. Enter details of your library card and your existing pin number. Once in your record, go to “hold requests”. Tick the box beside the title you don’t want. Click the “cancel request” button

• I’m going to be on holiday. How can I stop my hold coming while I am away?

  Go to “Your record” on the website.  Enter details of your library card and pin number. Once in your record, go to “hold requests”. Tick the box beside the hold you want to stop. Above the list of holds, enter the date you want your hold to resume. Click  the “change status” button. The status of your hold will change from “Active” to “Suspended”, and automatically become active again on the date specified.

• Can I renew my books over the phone?

  No, however you can renew your items online.

• How do I reserve an item online?

  First find your title in the catalogue. Click on the “Request item” button. Fill in details for:

  • your library card number
  • your pin number
  • which library you want to collect the item from.

  When the item is available you will be notified by automatic telephone message.

  A fee of $1.50 will be payable on collection (except for children’s or teens’ material)

• How do I access my record online?

  Click on “Your Record” from any library web page.  Put in your library card number and PIN. You can check how many items you have borrowed, renew or reserve an item. You can also see if anything is overdue or has been lost by clicking on the appropriate headings.
  No pin? Just ask at the counter

• How do I renew an item online?

  Click on “Renew” from any library web page or “Your Record” in the library catalogue. Put in your library card and PIN. Tick on the items you wish to renew then select “Renew”. New return dates will be shown automatically.

  No pin? Ask at the counter

FAQ - Research and Information

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• Do you have phonebooks in the library?

  The libraries all have full sets of the latest New Zealand phonebooks. We do not hold phonebooks from other countries, but we can help you search internet-accessed phone directories for most countries

• Do you have electoral rolls in the library?

  Rangiora and Kaiapoi libraries hold full sets of electoral rolls for New Zealand. Oxford library has rolls relating to the local area.

• How can I find contact details for a club in the district?

  There are print copies of the Waimakariri Community Directory which you can browse in the libraries or online from the Council website

  A more up-to-date and convenient way of searching for a particular club is to use the CINCH database.

   

  Tip: to limit your results in CINCH to organisations in Waimakariri, add “and Waimakariri” to your search

• How can I find historical cemetery records for Waimakariri District?

  In the libraries you can access a CD-ROM compiled in 2006 by the local branch of the Society of Genealogists from public and private cemeteries, including headstone transcriptions. Available for searching in the libraries only, or email your query to us.

• When I try to access some resources I am asked for a barcode and pin. What is this?

  The barcode number is the numbers written underneath the barcode on your library card, and the pin is chosen by you as a personal check.

  These are subscription databases and we are required to limit access to our own borrowers.

• Can I access Ancestry.com from the library website?

  No, our agreement with Ancestry only allows us to make free access to this genealogy resource within the libraries.