HB Williams Memorial Library

What HB Williams Memorial Library does

HB Williams Memorial Library is a public library operated by the Gisborne District Council, serving the residents of Gisborne and Wairoa Districts in the Tairāwhiti region of New Zealand. The institution traces its origins to 1869 as the Turanga Library and was re-established in its current form in 1967 when the Williams family gifted the land and buildings in memory of Heathcote Beetham Williams; a 2018 extension doubled the floorspace to over 2,000m2 and added modern community, youth, and research facilities. Services are free to district residents and delivered through a single physical site at 34 Bright Street, Gisborne, plus an integrated stack of third-party digital platforms: Softlink Liberty (catalog/management), Libby/OverDrive (eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines), Beamafilm (streaming), Comics Plus, LOTE4Kids (70+ languages including Te Reo Māori and NZSL), Ancestry Library Edition, Britannica, Newsbank, and Papers Past for historical research. Heritage assets include the Balneavis Collection (~500 volumes on early Māori and European settlement) and microfilm newspaper archives from 1872.

The library's business model is publicly funded and non-commercial. Operating revenue is effectively a transfer from Gisborne District Council rates and central government grants; user fees are limited to small transactional charges — printing ($0.20-$2/page), inter-library loans ($12), meeting room hire ($31-$126), artwork loans ($5), and research support beyond a 30-minute free threshold ($52/hour). Distribution combines walk-in physical access with regional outreach (monthly resthome delivery to four named facilities, bi-annual delivery to rural school libraries at Matawai, Motu, and Tokomaru Bay, and homebound delivery) and a digital self-serve channel accessible anywhere with library card credentials. The library is supported by an independent charitable trust (HB Williams Memorial Library Book Trust, est. 1983) for book acquisitions and operates with a staff headcount of 8.

Name

HB Williams Memorial Library

Legal name

HB Williams Memorial Library

Website

https://gpl.govt.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1869

Operating status

Operating

Short description

HB Williams Memorial Library is a public library operated by Gisborne District Council, providing free physical and digital library services — including books, eBooks, streaming, genealogy, and community programs — to all residents of Gisborne and Wairoa Districts in New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending library
• Digital library resources
• Genealogy research services
• Community outreach programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Gisborne

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: The library is funded by Gisborne District Council as a public service. Membership is free for all residents within Gisborne and Wairoa Districts.
2. Printing and Photocopying Services: Revenue generated from printing services (20c per page B&W, $1 per page color) and photocopying services (20c-$2 per page depending on size/color).
3. Inter-Library Loans: Standard rate of $12 per interlibrary loan for most NZ Public Libraries with additional costs for overseas or special libraries.
4. Meeting Room Rental: Mahutonga/Southern Cross presentation room available for hire at $31 per hour, $82 half-day, or $126 full day. Includes kitchenette, toilet, data projector, and retractable screen.
5. Loan Charges: Minimal charges for specific items: Artworks $5 for 6-week loan, Magazines $1 for 3-week loan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HB Williams Memorial Library is a public library operated by Gisborne District Council that provides free membership and lending services to residents of the Gisborne and Wairoa Districts in New Zealand. It offers physical and digital collections (books, eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, DVDs, streaming films, comics), research and genealogy services, community programmes, meeting room hire, printing/photocopying, Justice of the Peace services, digital inclusion support (Skinny Jump), and outreach deliveries to rural schools and rest homes.

Product overview

HB Williams Memorial Library operates as a public library service offering both physical and digital resources to the Gisborne community. The core product is My Library Online (Liberty), an integrated catalog system accessible via desktop and mobile through the Liberty Link app. Digital services include Nove-L/OverDrive and Libby for eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines; Comics Plus for digital comics and manga; Beamafilm for streaming documentaries and films; and comprehensive eLibrary databases for research. Physical services encompass meeting rooms for hire, printing/copying/scanning facilities, and outreach services to homebound residents and rural communities. Community programs include Justice of the Peace services, genealogy/whakapapa research assistance, children's and young adult dedicated areas, and the Skinny Jump digital inclusion broadband initiative. Heritage collections include the Balneavis Collection of early New Zealand history and extensive newspaper archives on microfilm.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outreach Services Home-based delivery to housebound patrons, monthly delivery to four rest homes, and 6-monthly delivery to rural school libraries in Matawai, Motu, and Tokomaru Bay.
• Skinny Jump Broadband Low-cost prepaid broadband service ($5 for 35GB) in partnership with Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa; includes free modem and first 35GB free with no contracts for eligible households.
• Balneavis Collection Heritage collection of approximately 500 New Zealand books and pamphlets focusing on early Māori and European settlement, gifted to the library in 1958 and curated as a living historical collection.
• Library Membership Free library membership for residents of Gisborne and Wairoa Districts, requiring identification and proof of postal address to register.
• eBooks and eAudiobooks (Libby / OverDrive) Digital media lending service offering eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines for download; accessible via Libby app or web browser with library card credentials.
• Beamafilm Streaming Free streaming service for over 1,000 documentaries, movies, independent features, educational and foreign films; requires library membership number for access.
• Comics Plus Digital comics, graphic novels, and manga service with separate collections for children (ages 0-12), teens (ages 13-17), and adults; no holds or wait lists required.
• LOTE4Kids Multilingual Books Digital children's books platform with 4,500+ titles in 70+ languages including Te Reo Māori and NZ Sign Language with English translations.
• Liberty Link Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android enabling users to search the catalog, view alerts for overdue items or holds, check library opening hours, and manage loaned items.
• My Library Online Online catalog system allowing members to search the library collection, reserve items, renew loans, and manage their library account via the website.
• Meeting Room Hire (Mahutonga) Presentation room available for hire at $31 per hour, $82 half-day, or $126 full day; includes kitchenette, toilet, data projector, and retractable screen with capacity for 40 (presentation) or 24 (workshop).
• Printing, Photocopying and Scanning A4/A3 printing in black-and-white and colour (20c-$2 per page), photocopying services, and free self-service scanning to email from the central library scanner.
• Inter-Library Loans Loan service sourcing items from other NZ Public Libraries at $12 per interloan; additional costs may apply for overseas or special libraries.
• Justice of the Peace Service Free public service for witnessing signatures, certifying copies of documents, taking oaths and declarations; available Tuesdays 5:30pm-7pm and Thursdays 9am-11am.
• Book a Librarian Services One-to-one personalized assistance with research, digital literacy, catalog use, and database access; includes free 30 minutes of research support with additional hours at $52/hour.
• Whakapapa / Genealogy Services Family history research assistance with access to Birth Death and Marriage indexes, microfilmed Gisborne newspapers, Ancestry Library Edition, and monthly Family History Workshop sessions.
• Newspaper Archives Extensive microfilm collection of Gisborne newspapers from 1872 to present, plus digitized historical papers through Papers Past and Māori-language newspaper collection.
• Gisborne Photo News Archive Full-text digital archive of Gisborne Photo News, a monthly pictorial serial published 1954-1975 capturing community events and social history of the Gisborne and East Coast region.
• eLibrary Databases Collection of online research databases including Ancestry Library Edition, Britannica Library, Papers Past, Newsbank Access NZ, Index New Zealand, Māori Land Court Minute Books Index, and BWB NZ History Collection.
• eNewspapers and eMagazines Digital newspaper and magazine access through the Libby app and Newsbank, including The New Zealand Herald, The Post, The Press, Otago Daily Times, and selected Gisborne Herald articles.
• Government Publications Depository Depository library for selected NZ Government Publications including Education Gazette, Census Statistics, Parliamentary Debates, NZ Gazette, and access to Gisborne District Council meeting agendas and minutes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free membership for all Gisborne and Wairoa District residents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa (DIAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe library has teamed up with DIAA to offer Skinny Jump, a low-cost prepaid broadband service for eligible households. The programme provides 35GB of broadband for $5 with a free modem, targeting digitally excluded families and individuals including those in low socioeconomic communities, people with disabilities, migrants, Māori & Pasifika youth, offenders, seniors, and social housing residents.
• Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa (APNK)coreTechnology or IntegrationAPNK provides 14 Chrome stations for customer internet use at the library. The national programme enables public access computing in libraries across New Zealand with secure WiFi network 'APNK Library' (password: apnk2765).
• Gisborne Justices of the Peace AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Gisborne Justices of the Peace Association provides a free public service at the library to witness signatures, certify copies of documents, take oaths and declarations. JP services available Tuesdays 5:30pm-7pm and Thursdays 9am-11am.
• Tairāwhiti Social CraftersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Night Owls Craft Club is an unstaffed social event organized by Tairāwhiti Social Crafters, held monthly at the library in the Papatipu room. The library provides the space while volunteers manage the craft group.
• Whitiora TairāwhitiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization that provides traditional Māori games instruction during school holiday programmes. Nin from Whitiora Tairāwhiti teaches fun traditional Māori games in celebration of Matariki.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Auckland Council Libraries: Largest public library system in New Zealand, operated by Auckland Council. Directly comparable as a municipal public library serving a defined geographic district with physical branches, digital collections, community programming, and free membership funded by local government rates.
• Wellington City Libraries: Wellington City Council-operated public library system offering physical and digital collections, heritage archives, and community programming. Comparable municipal public library model with similar revenue mix of council funding plus transaction-based services.
• Christchurch City Libraries: Christchurch City Council-operated public library network providing lending, digital resources, heritage collections, and community programmes. Comparable in governance structure, free membership model, and integration of digital lending platforms like OverDrive/Libby.
• Hamilton City Libraries: Hamilton City Council-operated public library serving the Waikato region with similar mix of physical collections, digital lending, children's programming, and community spaces. Comparable mid-size New Zealand public library system with overlapping digital platform integrations.
• Tauranga City Libraries: Tauranga City Council-operated public library serving a regional New Zealand population. Comparable in offering physical lending, digital resources, heritage collections, and community programmes with free resident membership.

Broad incumbents

• National Library of New Zealand: National-level library providing heritage collections, Papers Past digital newspaper archive, and nationwide services. Comparable as a library/archives operator serving public research needs but at national rather than municipal scale.
• Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand): New Zealand's national museum operating heritage collections, exhibitions, and educational programming. Comparable as a publicly-funded cultural institution with a curatorial mandate and commitment to bicultural presentation including Māori heritage.

Others

• OverDrive (Libby): Digital content platform powering the library's eBook, eAudiobook, and eMagazine lending via Libby. Comparable as an enabling technology provider rather than a direct competitor; HB Williams Library is a customer relying on OverDrive's infrastructure.
• Softlink Information Centres: Provider of the Liberty library management system and Liberty Link mobile app used by HB Williams Library for catalog, circulation, and account management. Comparable as a technology supplier to public libraries rather than a competing service.
• Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa: National non-profit partnering with libraries to deliver the Skinny Jump low-cost broadband programme to digitally excluded households. Comparable as a partner organization whose mission aligns with HB Williams Library's digital equity work in the Tairāwhiti region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GisborneLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/gisborne_library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HB Williams Memorial Library