16 January 2023
Media: Radio New Zealand
Topic: Mayor's first 100 days
Enquiry
I'm writing about the first 100 days of mayoralty over New Zealand and interviewing mayors from the country's main areas.
I was wondering what the possibility of a pre-recorded phone interview with mayor Tapsell would be today, questions as follows:
- How do you rate the first 100 days as mayor?
- Did you have any specific plans you wanted to get done in the first 100 days and what were they?
- Have you achieved any short-term plans you had for these first 100 days?
- What would you be expecting for the next 100 days to come?
And anything else the mayor finds relevant.
Response
Mayor Tapsell was interviewed by RNZ about the first 100 days and this is expected to air on RNZ’s Morning Report tomorrow (Tuesday).
See the story for which the Mayor was interviewed at THIS LINK
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times)
Topic: Rotorua Library's 2022 year
Enquiry
How many books were loaned in 2021? What was split between hard copy books, ebooks, and audiobooks?
How many books were loaned in 2022? What was split between hard copy books, ebooks, and audiobooks?
What was the most popular book in 2021 and how many times was it borrowed?
What was the most popular book in 2022 and how many times was it borrowed?
How many books were not returned in 2021?
How many books were not returned in 2022?
How many unreturned books were there in 2021?
How many unreturned books were there in 2022? Has this rate dropped since introducing fines-free?
How has the fines-free been going since its been implemented? There was a 42% jump in memberships in October - how do these numbers compare now?
How many members were registered with the library in 2021 and 2022?
What are the demographics of the membership in regards to say younger or older people?
Why is it a good idea to join the library and what feedback have you received from library members about what they enjoy about it?Plus what other initiatives are popular like holiday programmes etc and why?
Response
Please find below the answers to your questions below: Please attribute to Acting Director – Rotorua Library, Tori Williams:
How many books were loaned in 2021? What was split between hard copy books, ebooks, and audiobooks?
Please note- we have included Digital Resources. These include items that are borrowed through library subscriptions including magazine articles, newspapers, etc. These are free of charge with a Library Card.
Physical book issues | e-book issues | e-audio issues | Sub-Total | Digital resource access | TOTAL | |
2021 | 327601 | 30592 | 17674 | 375867 | 37922 | 413789 |
How many books were loaned in 2022? What was split between hard copy books, ebooks, and audiobooks?
Physical book issues | e-book issues | e-audio issues | Sub-Total | Digital resource access | TOTAL | |
2022 | 314471 | 33061 | 20984 | 368516 | 48248 | 416764 |
Percentage change between 2021/2022 | -4.18% | 7.47% | 15.77% | -1.99% | 21.40% | 0.71% |
What was the most popular book in 2021 and how many times was it borrowed?
The Sentinel by Lee Child, issued 30 times
What was the most popular book in 2022 and how many times was it borrowed?
Better off Dead by Lee Child, issued 30 times
How many books were not returned in 2021?
We don’t keep old data for total items not returned or late. This is because the numbers are not static and the number is likely to fluctuate on any given day. We do record the number of check ins and those could include overdue and lost items.
As an example, as at 13/01/23 out of our current items checked out, we have approx. 1% of items made lost and 4% of items overdue however these lost or overdue items may already have been returned since collating the data.
How many books were not returned in 2022?
As above
How many unreturned bookers were there in 2021?
As above
How many unreturned books were there in 2022? Has this rate dropped since introducing fines-free?
As above
How has the fines-free been going since it’s been implemented? There was a 42% jump in membership in October – how do these numbers compare now?
The fines-free initiative has been great. We have seen an increase in memberships by an average 28% per month since fines-free has been implemented and have had many members of our community start or return to using the library because they now are not worried about collecting overdue fines.
How many members were registered with the library in 2021 and 2022?
2021- 25925
2022- 25088
What are the demographics of the membership in regards to, say, younger or older people?
Our memberships are broken down to-
Child- 7%
Teen- 10%
Adult- 57%
Senior- 18%
Remainder in categories such as Class Cards, Housebound/ Library to you (delivered books), Bulk loan, Visitor and Digital.
Why is it a good idea to join the library and what feedback have you received from library members about what they enjoy about it?
It is a good idea to join Rotorua Library as there are a wide range of items and resources. We have a variety of books about Local History, Fiction, Non-Fiction, a selection of Adult New Readers, a Dementia friendly collection, a Nurturing Childrens collection and many more collections including Toys for the children. If you find it difficult to come into Te Aka Mauri, Rotorua Library, we have a large number digital resources available all free with your library cards such as ebooks, eaudiobooks, newspapers and magazines from around the country and world.
A number of Library Members have said they enjoy the range of books and services we provide. We constantly get feedback that they love the building with many members using it as a space to study, research, meet or simply ‘hang out’ for the day.
Plus, what other initiatives are popular like holiday programmes etc and why?
Outside of our book and other item lending, we have a range of services that are extremely popular. Programmes such as our preschool programmes, holiday programmes, drop in tech help, book deliveries, research help and reference resources, education programmes and hosting events such as talks and workshops. Our latest highlight was hosting an astronaut from Nasa where over 100 people joined the crowd to hear about her experience and stories. I believe our customers like our programmes and services offered in Te Aka Mauri as there is a diverse range, there really is something for everyone.