Collections

Non-Fiction Collection

As well as heritage material we have general non-fiction collections, which are actively managed to ensure relevance and high usage.  Our non-fiction collections account for 25% of library usage.

We have adult, young adult and children's non-fiction collections.

Reference collections

Within the non-fiction collections are reference works such as dictionaries, encyclopaedias, almanacs, directories and bibliographies. These items are for use in the library and may not be borrowed. 

Maps

We maintain a small collection of maps, atlases and street directories in the reference collection, concentrating on maps of the local district, top of the south and maps showing popular walking routes.

Large Print, Talking Books and Quickreads

Non-fiction in these formats is held in the fiction collection.

Heritage collection

Click for more information on the heritage collection.

Māori resources collection

Click for more information on the Māori resources collection.

Government Documents

We have a collection of local and national government documents.  The Local Government Document collection contains local body material relating to the region; material includes Nelson City Council meeting minutes and agendas, financial planning documents, current by-laws, resource management documents and materials inviting submissions.  Our library is a government depositary library and as such receives all Bills and Statues.  We also receive statistical publications as part of the Statistics New Zealand Library Partnership.

Newspapers

For more information

Music & audio-visual collection

The music audio collection aims to provide a representative range of most types of music catering to the interests of music listeners from teens to adults.  Selection includes rock, jazz, choral, opera, orchestral, chamber and instrumental music, popular, blues, country, easy listening, religious, new age, world, folk and sound effects genres.   CDs and DVDs are $2 per issue and have a shorter issue period of 2 weeks.

Fiction collection

The fiction collection is one of the most popular areas of the library and accounts for approximately 40% of total issues per annum. It is arranged in the following categories:

  • Genres identified by spine labels e.g.: general fiction, mysteries, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, romances, westerns, chicklit, historic fiction, horror, humour, New Zealand fiction & short stories.
  • Fiction in languages other than English
  • Large Print - general fiction, romances, mysteries, historic fiction and westerns; plus non-fiction
  • Quickreads  -  are novels and non-fiction titles  re-written in an abridged and simplified form, principally to assist non-fluent English speakers in learning to read & speak English. Some items include sound recordings.
  • Talking books - fiction and non-fiction sound recordings in cassette format and CD format.
  • Magazines-  a selection of general interest national and international magazines

Young Adults collection

The Young Adult collection is designed to resonate with young adults and meet their needs in terms of reading level, content and presentation.  The collection includes fiction and non-fiction materials. The non-fiction materials provide information on social and personal issues such as relationships, growing up, health, well-being and sexuality. There is also a small section of magazines that aim to interest and entertain young adults.

Children's collections

The Children's collections are comprised of a range of materials that supports and encourages reading for children of all ages using a wide variety of formats.  Fiction for all reading levels; non-fiction based on accuracy, currency, and popularity; databases and CD-ROMS; DVDs (to be added soon); music; magazines; a stack collection of prize winning fiction titles and a small core of classic titles no longer available; audio books; and, a parents collection of materials that are related to raising children.