Central City Library — Attraction in Waitematā

Do we look like we are terrorists?

We're new to Auckland Central having just moved in last week from our humble abode in Mangere. We now live in Liverpool St, as we bought an appartment. We don't normally use the library because we have access to internet 24/7 and we have a copier machine at home. So, for that matter, I don't possess a library card. But today, after going shopping with a Japanese, who lives with us, I've decided to show our guest the Auckland Library. The ambience was nice. It was big, clean, and spacious. So, I expect that the staff will be the mirror of how the library looks like. Incidentally, it wasn't what I've expected. As I've approached the library staff for a visitor's pass, the man said that the library does not issue or give a visitor's pass. With this, we were supposed to leave the library. But then, I have an urgent documents to print and I can't wait for my husband to bring these documents for me, plus the Japanese has tickled the copier machine where it says "visitor's pass no" that I was forced to go back to the library staff for the second time. And when I approached the man for the second time, he advised further that if we live in Auckland, we should have a library card. If we don't have, we won't be able to use the library for that matter. I proceeded to ask the man politely, if the library is exclusive only to Aucklander? And with my question, the man got irked that he stated that for purposes of security that a library card is required, that he said something to this effect that if we are only on a short period in Auckland, and he went to say that it's not being ridiculous and other lame excuse that showed the man's arrogance. I was supposed to reason out that the public nature of the library is defeated by his security purpose requirement and his non issuance of a visitor's pass. However, I was not able to say these, because the man was bent on insisting and enforcing his domination over us. First time to actually encounter such rudeness from a library staff. and failed to jot down his name, plus, video record his behaviour.

The thing is, I've been to a lot of libraries in Auckland, Mangere, Manukau, Manurewa, West, and when I would ask for a visitor's pass, the staff at those libraries have never denied me a visitor's pass. Only in Auckland City public library that I was denied a library pass for the irrational/unsound reasoning of the library staff. Not a good amiable customer...

Umpteen time that I had to take rude from Librarians at central. I now record my movements in this place to keep me safe.

Was in the library this afternoon and got a right short sharp shift from the librarian at 5.30pm 18 /12/2023. I was out this afternoon filming and dropped into the library to get printing and was politely and definitely scolded for getting my card topped up for printing at the front desk when they do that upstairs. Maybe the librarian was exhausted? She did serve an elderly Chinese kuia before me. I was invited to the desk with. "Right whose next?" Then the librarian asked me. "Why didn't you get that done upstairs?" I asked. "Did I have to do it upstairs.?" As I had many times before. Because the desk upstairs does help with queries from all over the 2nd level-library and those are more in-depth and can take longer to resolve. I've been caught several times with up 15 min wait to get my card topped up. Not that I said that to her. I was stung a little by the line she led, with followed by falsely caring about my details and stumbling her way through providing the service but was killing me softly with her Rude. So yes I did record her as I had my phone available. Now look I just think there isn't any need to be churlish and patronizing to life long library members. I'm not part of that demographic which we all know who and what I refer to by that. And I've topped up my card at the front counter often. Horrible and rude she was. Not like she works at GI Library where I've frequented heaps over the years of my library membership. And they deal with Gangs and still hold the Mana of those who visit, like me. You need Māori Librarians working front of house, but you don't have many, at all. So I can hear the train crashing from here.

Maybe you could have signage up that directs all of us to top up our cards on level 2. I might not be happy with the wait time to do a $1.00. But at least you have it in writing. I have a video but it has to uploaded separately.

Kia ora for your reply, but no thanks re: The management. Please just get more Māori Library staff...

By far the most well resourced branch of Auckland Libraries. A lot of items hidden away in the 2 basement levels. The areas available for access to public (ground, 1st and 2nd floor) are relatively sparsely populated with resources in an effort to cram in "study" areas and meeting rooms. Unfortunately these areas are less used by genuine students (not that I particularly endorse the library space being used by studying purpose) but by loud an discourteous homeless people and people on Skype. Security and library staff are powerless to stop them. Most staff are professional, knowledgeable and friendly but some could use a refresher on customer services. This was once a wonderful place to browse and borrow books, not so much any more. EDIT: I will have to edit my take on the staff, now more and more staff are disinterested in providing quality customer service, sometimes downright rude, which is quite the contrary to the community libraries. I now consider only a handful of staff to be professional. Majority of the staff has the customer facing role, so aside from the necessary knowledge, being courteous to a customer is a part of the job. I understand that the large homeless population in the central doesn't make the job easy but it is a part of the job, especially at the central and I'm certain there are many staff from the community libraries want the opportunities available at the central. Speaking of "the necessary knowledge", if you don't know, you say so and go and ask the supervisor etc to find out what the answer is. On more than one occasion, I was told to wait for a supposedly "missing" book to turn up, then a few weeks later, it was listed as "lost" on the catalogue - after going through many hoops, I finally managed to find someone who located the book within a...