What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5:30pm Tuesday 9am - 8pm Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm Thursday 9am - 5:30pm Friday 9am - 5:30pm Saturday 9:30am - 1pm

HB Williams Memorial Library Gisborne

Home
New Zealand
Gisborne
HB Williams Memorial Library Gisborne

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from HB Williams Memorial Library Gisborne, Library, 34 Bright Street, Gisborne.

🪪 Free Library Membership for all residents within the Gisborne and Wairoa Districts
📚 loan books, DVDs, magazines and art works
🤝 regular community events
🖥️ Wi-Fi and public computers
📄 pay-per-sheet printing
📲 Library Apps and eLibrary resources

16/06/2026

Whānau looking for Matariki celebrations can look forward to a star studded Matariki at HB Williams Memorial Library with workshops, performances and more featuring local legends highlighted below 🌌✨

✨ Ngā mahi o te pō | What to expect ✨
📅 Tuesday July 7 2026
🕘 5pm - 7pm
🏫 HB Williams Memorial Library, Gisborne.
⚠️ Children must be accompanied by an adult.
ℹ️ www.gpl.govt.nz/events/matariki2026
🎫 free, no booking required*

👨🏽‍🏫 Taonga Puoro Workshop | Te Ruma Mahutonga
Toi Whakairo Christopher Douglas-Huriwai is bringing his skills and knowledge to guide you as you make your own taonga puoro (traditional māori instrument) piece to keep and take home.
⚠️ For children aged 8+ and adults.
🎫 free, limited workshop spaces register below*
ℹ️ www.gpl.govt.nz/taonga-puoro-workshop

👩🏼‍🎤 Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau Waiora
Lead by Ally Tamihere and Coby Te Pairi Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau Waiora is a group made of up of kaimahi and whānau from different services and organisations around Te Tairāwhiti bringing kapa haka magic to your evening at the Library.

👩🏼‍🎨 Face Painting
Julia from Face Painting by Julia will be in the Library glamming tamariki up with some Matariki magic.

🕯 Remembrance tribute | Library Screens
A community collaboration video message in memory of loved ones who have passed since last Matariki, if you would like to include the name of a loved one, along with a message of remembrance, please complete the form on our website
ℹ️ www.gpl.govt.nz/matarikimemorial

For more about these Matariki Herenga Waka Whānau Night highlights, registration links and a full list of what to expect on the night head to our website or come in and see us.

This year’s Matariki theme "Matariki Herenga Waka" is all about inclusion and encouraging all people to celebrate together so join us for an evening at the Library 🌌✨

“Matariki herenga waka, Matariki herenga tāngata!”

27/05/2026

🥳🎉 hip-hip hooray and a happy birthday heads-up that we are closed this Monday 1 June for the King's Birthday 2026 public holiday.

We will be open business as usual this Friday 29 and Saturday 30 May, and will re-open from Tuesday 2 June.

12/05/2026

👀✍ calling local writers!

If you are writing about or are a writer from GISBORNE – EAST COAST – TAIRĀWHITI working in literary, historical, scientific or children’s
writing in Māori or English you may apply for a grant of up to $5,000 with the generous Margaret King Spencer Writers Encouragement Trust.

For more information and to apply:
📧 email: [email protected]
📱phone: 068686244
🏫 visit: HB Williams Memorial Library

22/04/2026

Kia ora e te whānau, here are the rest of our photos taken over the course of our Kids School Holiday Programme at Gisborne Library 📸👨‍👧‍👦

Firstly we want to extend a big thank you to Katarina and Liam, our amazing Children's Team, for doing yet another amazing job treating tamariki and their whānau with these free and fun school holiday activities.

Our thanks also go to those of you who made the time to come in with your whānau and share your school holiday time here together with us at the Library - every Library visit supports what we do 🏫📚

19/04/2026

🌺 this Saturday 25th of April marks Anzac Day, observed Monday 27th. The Library will be closed both days and reopens Tuesday 28th - here are the details:

Friday 24th April, 9am-5.30pm
Saturday 25th April, Closed
Sunday 26th April, Closed
Monday 27th April, Closed
Tuesday 28th April, 9am-8pm

16/04/2026

👀🤫 looking for some peace and quiet after the school holidays?
Together with the clever team at IDEA Services we have carefully curated a Low Sensory Nohongū Quiet Time at Gisborne Library for Library lovers who need a little bit of quiet.

📅 Mondays from Monday 20 April during the school term
🕘 9.30am - 11.30am
🏫 HB Williams Memorial Library, Gisborne.
📍 Papatipu | Launch Pad, Rangatahi Youth Zone (Bright Street end of the library).
⚠️ Children must be accompanied by an adult.
ℹ️ www.gpl.govt.nz/events/coming-soon
🎫 free, no booking required

Nohongū Quiet Time is a free session open to the public, this low sensory friendly zone will have reduced noise and light as well as different quiet activities to enjoy your intentional quiet time in.

Nau mai haere mai ki Nohongū.

10/04/2026

🥳🎨 we've had a fantastic first week with our free and fun Kids School Holiday Programme at Gisborne Library and look forward to another great week ahead.

Here are some of our favourite highlights from week one plus a very special Chopper and Frank - The Rescue Dogs storytime 📖🐕

Take care over the weekend and we'll see you back here next week for our daily school holiday activities.

08/04/2026

🙋‍♀️📖 join this very special children's Storytime with Local Author Sarah Charteris at Gisborne Library who will be reading to your tamariki from her children's books (written, designed and produced here in Gisborne) from book series Chopper and Frank – The Rescue Dogs.

📆Friday 10 April
⌚️10am
📍HB Williams Memorial Library in Papatipu | Launch Pad

These rhyming children’s books are based on a real life father and son duo. The first book “An East Coast Mission” introduces us to the main characters Chopper and Frank while book two “A Mahia Mission” the latest to hit the shelves takes us on another one of Chopper and Franks missions 🐕‍🦺📖

This series was written, designed and produced here in Tairāwhiti by local company Charteris Choppers with the support of Draggnett Design and is a fundraiser raising funds for the Eastland Helicopter Trust, with $5 from each sale going to the trust. Books can be purchased from Balance Street Books or online at www.charterischoppers.co.nz

🔖Win! Win! Win!🔖

Purchase “A Mahia Mission” book these school holidays and send a photo of yourself reading it to a furry friend in your life to go in the draw to win an Easter Hamper and a $50 prezzy card, kindly sponsored by Architects 44.

📬Photos to be sent to [email protected]
📤Entries close April 17, 2026 at 5pm.
🥳 to win a copy of the book “A Mahia Mission”
1. pick up a colouring form from HB Williams Memorial Library, Balance Street Bookshop or Books on Parade in Wairoa
2. colour it in
3. drop it back by Friday April 17, 2026, 5pm.
There are three age categories:
🏆4 and under
🏆5-7 years
🏆8-10 years.
The winners will be contacted directly with one book prize per age group - good luck! 🗣️📖

31/03/2026

Join us this School Holidays for our free daily Kids School Holiday Programme at Gisborne Library 🐰✨
------------------------
Nga mahi kei te haere | What’s on at HB Williams Memorial Library
📅 April 7 - April 17
🕘 9.30am - 11.30am daily
🏫 HB Williams Memorial Library Gisborne
📍 Papatipu | Launch Pad, Rangatahi Youth Zone.
⚠️ Children must be accompanied by an adult.
ℹ️ www.gpl.govt.nz/events/school-holiday-programme
------------------------
Tuesday 07 April – Saturday 18 April
🔍📖 Library hunt
Search the library for clues to solve the hidden sentence. Once you have solved the hidden sentence, fill in your details to go in the draw to win a prize. Winners will be drawn at the end of the school holidays.
------------------------
Wiki Tuatahi | Week One:
> Tuesday 07 April | 9.30am – 11.30am
🤡🖌 Face painting
We’ve got the paint, you bring the faces. Self-managed face painting.
> Wednesday 08 April | 9.30am – 11.30am
📦✨Diorama
Turn a shoe box into your very own miniature creation, let your imagination run wild.
> Thursday 09 April | 9.30am – 11.30am
🤠🎩 Whacky hat day
We’ve got a bunch of hats that need decorating. Get whacky with your creations and have fun.
> Friday 10 April | 9.30am – 11.30am
Lego | Boardgames | Beamafilm
We’re setting up lego, boardgames and a movie corner for those who just want to chill while the rest of the whanau play games.
------------------------
Wiki Tuarua | Week Two
> Monday 13 April | 9.30am – 11.30am
Secret garden
Create your own little secret garden just like the book.
> Tuesday 14 April | 9.30am – 11.30am
Bird feeder
Build your very own bird feeder to hang in the backyard. Watch the birds flit around the garden
> Wednesday 15 April | 9.30am – 11.30am
Key chains
We’re turning our bits and bobs into key chains. Come and see what you can create.
> Thursday 16 April | 9.30am – 11.30am
Bottle cap mania
Turn the humble bottle cap into something fun. We’ve got a tonne of bottle caps ready to be upcycled.
> Friday 17 April | 9.30am – 11.30am
DIY games | Board games
This was a hit last year so we’re bringing it back. Create your own boardgame, you make the rules.
------------------------

Address

34 Bright Street
Gisborne
4010

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 8pm
Wednesday	9am - 5:30pm
Thursday	9am - 5:30pm
Friday	9am - 5:30pm
Saturday	9:30am - 1pm

Website

http://www.gpl.govt.nz/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when HB Williams Memorial Library Gisborne posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Gisborne?