When the weather’s cold or wet it’s nice to snuggle down with a good book and get lost in another world for an hour or two.

We have several well-stocked libraries across Tasman District and thanks to one of our Community Grants, the Moutere Hills RSA Memorial Library, also known as the Māpua Library, can continue to provide borrowers with some of the very latest titles.

Last year, the community group received a $2,000 grant which has helped keep the shelves stocked with new books.

Library volunteer Belinda Caulfield says the grant application process is very straightforward and applicants are guided through it on the Council website. 

Her advice to others considering making a grant application is to provide plenty of background about your group and clearly lay out what you do.

Belinda says to reinforce an application it’s helpful to show the dollar value of all the hours of volunteer workers.

The Māpua Library building was donated by the Moutere Hills RSA.

Belinda says the library is a community asset and provides more than just books, and everyone, even non-residents, is welcome to join.

She says they provide tutors for English as a second language courses, there are regular visits by school and pre-school students with story readings and they also host regular art exhibitions.

If your group wants to apply for a Community Grant, check out this page(external link) and apply before Wednesday 31 July.