Library design panel named

21 September 2015Five people have been appointed to a panel that will recommend a final decorative design for the outside walls of the new Te Awamutu library.

Waipa District Council has launched a search to find a unique design for the aluminium filigree structure on the outside walls of the new library to be built next year. Local architects and designers have suggested a pattern rather than a full image and a process is underway to choose one. Concepts have already started coming in.

Three people, endorsed by the Te Awamutu Community Board, have been appointed to sit on the design panel alongside Waipa district councillors Hazel Barnes and Marcus Gower. They are Margaret Aull, the art collection curator at Te Wananga o Aotearoa; Katherine (Kat) Merewether from Te Awamutu design company Design on Q; and Henriata Nicholas, the exhibitions co-ordinator at the Te Awamutu museum.

The panel, supported by a technical project team, will shortlist up to three designs and recommend one to the Waipa District Council service delivery committee meeting on November 17. Councillors on that committee will make the final decision on what design is chosen.

Design entries must be received by 5pm on September 29. There is no limit to the number of images an artist can submit as long as he or she is the original author of the work entered.

Visuals of the new library building are on display at both Waipa libraries and on the Council's website. Information about the search is available on the New Te Awamutu Library project page.

Meanwhile, Waipa library staff have reported that in their busiest day last year, more than 3,800 items were issued from the libraries with more than 1,300 people through the doors. Nearly 31,500 people are active library members in Waipa with those who use the library most aged in their thirties.

Library services have been provided in Cambridge since 1872 and in Te Awamutu since 1874.

Media enquiries, contact Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of council) 027 507 7599