Frequently Asked Questions

Acceptable identification includes: driver license, firearms license, passport, Kiwi Access card, 18+ card, valid community services card, gold card or Justice of the Peace statutory declaration form.

NOT accepted: birth certificates, club memberships, student IDs.

No identification?  You can choose to be a digital only member OR have a Justice of the Peace sign a statutory declaration form which will serve as ID.

Digital only memberships require no ID unless you choose to upgrade to full membership.

Proof of address, to show you live in Tararua District, can be a recent physical or email copy of:

  • telephone or electricity bill, bank statement, tenancy agreement, any bill OR
  • if you pay rates or dog registration, we can check the council database to confirm address OR
  • if you've recently moved and have no proof, we can post you a letter and on receipt, you can bring that back to us.

If you are visiting the area for less than 12 weeks, you can apply for temporary membership (providing your home address & your temporary address & ID).

If you want to join the library but you don't live in Tararua District, you can definitely do that.  As the library is funded by rates,  we charge a small fee of $26 per six months for non-residents.

The number of items you can borrow depends on the type of membership you have:

Full membership – no limit to number of items checked out.

- Adult - aged 18+

- Teen - aged 13 to 17

- Junior - aged 0 to 12

New members - proof of address not yet provided, limited to 2 items checked out at a time, no DVDs. You have six weeks to provide proof of address & be upgraded to full membership.

Limited members – children or teens with no adult guarantor, limited to 2 items checked out at a time, no DVDs.

Digital – access to e-books only. No ID requirements. Valid for 1 year. No membership card is provided unless you choose to upgrade to a physical membership by visiting your local library with ID and proof of address.

Housebound - if you meet the criteria, we will deliver books or audio books to you every six weeks (or a nominated person can collect for you).  There is a form to complete which can be done over the phone if preferred.

Temporary members – visiting the area for less than 3 months, limited to 5 items checked out at a time. Your home address and temporary address are required.

Non-resident members – paid membership for adults that don't live in, or pay rates for, property in Tararua District.  No limit on borrowing.

Schools/Resthomes - someone with official financial responsibility may join on behalf of the organisation (use the Junior option with the organisation as the "child" and the official as the "adult"). No limit on borrowing except DVDs may not be borrowed.  The loan period for schools & resthomes is five week loan, one renewal, no DVDs or audio (copyright issues).

Children love having their own library card, and they can get one from age 0!

Age 0 to 12 - junior members

Age 13 to 17 - teen members

Those aged under 18 must have an adult who can stand guarantor for them.

What is a guarantor?

  • The guarantor is financially responsible for any debts incurred on the child’s card, such as lost or damaged items.
  • If the guarantor needs to be changed, a new membership form must be completed (with ID/proof address)
  • The guarantor needs to visit the library in person with their ID and proof of address to collect the child’s card.
  • Children who have no guarantor - please let your local librarian know as we may be able to offer limited membership.

Junior or teen members may borrow anything in our collections except for R rated DVDs.

Please check the library page on the council site. Fees & Charges | Tararua District Council

Urban - if you are unable to visit the library in person (due to disability, health issues, non-driving) we can deliver books to you at no charge.  Deliveries are made six-weekly to exchange items. Items from any rental collection cannot be borrowed unless in person sorry.  Please complete our housebound registration form, which we can send you, or contact us by phone.

We do not deliver to rural addresses sorry, or post or courier deliveries.

When you join the library, you will be required to set a password.  At this stage, a symbol cannot be used but you can change your password later.

Recommended password format is 8+ characters plus at least one capital letter, one number and one symbol.

Change it?  Log into our online catalogue,  then My Account and change pin. Enter your previous password/pin and then enter a new one, and update.

Forgotten? go to our catalogue, click on Log in at the top right, then click on forgotten your password.  An email with a reset link will be sent to you  (remember to check your spam folder).