Hundreds of thousands of books have been shipped to Pacific Island communities thanks to the ongoing “labour of love” from former Tauranga Libraries’ manager Jill Best. 

This year the books will be going to Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands, with the support of the Rotary Book sale this weekend. 

The Pacific Libraries Project story started back in 1969 when two young volunteers, one from NZ and one from Britain, were sent to Fiji to help in local education projects.

Tauranga resident Jill Best helped to set up a library at the new University of the South Pacific.

Philip Calvert taught in a local primary school. Both went on to careers in libraries in NZ.

In 2006, the Fiji Local Government Association asked Local Government NZ to send advisors to write a plan to improve their public libraries.

Jill and Philip were sent to review the five existing libraries, talk to locals, write a plan to improve them, and open more.

Practical help

Seeing the basic, rundown state of these libraries, Jill decided to organise practical help as well.

She appealed to NZ public libraries and booksellers for second-hand books to send to the islands.

Since then, more than 300,000 books and 75 computers have been sent to Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Solomon Islands.

The books have travelled by RNZAF aircraft, truck, freight ship, cruise ship, yacht and canoe, and even packed into a container house.

Pacific Libraries Project also provides training for librarians, and writes reports for councils on improving library services with very little money.

Jill’s daughter Stella provides IT training.      

The books come from NZ public libraries, school libraries, Rotary book fairs, and individuals.

Tauranga Rotary Club became involved about six years ago, and this year the Rotary Book sale is providing around 70 per cent of the shipment.

Pacific Libraries Project is part of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum Pacific Project.

In the beginning, freight of $2000-4000 per year was paid by the forum, but now they cannot extend to funding the libraries project, so it is paid by the Best family.

Donate or buy books! 

Jill is asking for more books from the community to send to the Pacific.

Books need to be in good condition to stand at least three years of hard use.

Non-fiction should be recent enough to be current information, preferably not more than five years old unless it is historical.

“Particularly there is a huge need for children’s books, to help children learn to read, and learn English,” says Jill.

Jill says the public can make financial donations towards freight costs – and/or donate books to Pacific island libraries – by phoning her on 0212603743.

For those who want to support the cause by purchasing books from the Tauranga Rotary Club’s Book Sale – the event is on today, March 1, from 12 noon-6.30pm, and from 9am- 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3 at Seeka Coolstore, Harvard Way, opposite Classic Flyers, Mount Maunganui.