Library Manager Jill Watson has a lot to keep tabs on as her team moves into Te Whare Whakatere and sets up all the services they offered before, and some new ones.

She said her team had been busy moving and setting up in the new space, while still running events in the rural community.

"We're keen to get to know this new space as well so we can help members enjoy it. We'll have staff at all the different parts on opening day so people can ask lots of questions and give activities a go."

She said the library's regular children's programmes, like Wriggle and Read, and the Knitting Group, would resume next week, while others like Craft & Chatter, and the Book Club, would start in February.

So what's new or changing?

Operating hours - The library's new hours will be 8.30am-6pm on Mondays and Fridays, 8.30am-8pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tours - For at least the first two weeks after opening, staff will be available to take small groups on a tour of the new library, on the hour, between 10am-4pm. The last tour on week days will be at 4pm, the last tour on Saturday and Sunday will be at 3pm.

Scavenger Hunt - Discover the new library by taking part in a scavenger hunt.

From There to Here photo exhibition - Come and enjoy an exhibition of photos of the Ashburton Library through the years.

Meeting spaces - A range of meeting rooms will be available for individual, group and corporate bookings, suitable for four people or up to 30. These can be booked online from 1 February.

We're going cashless - EFTPOS will be available for payments in the new library, but we will no longer accept cash. Photocopying machines will still accept coins. Library staff can also accept electronic payments for routine things like rates if the Customer Services counter is closed.

Membership - We're encouraging new members to sign up, so that they can easily attend programmes and utilise the full range of activities available, including new gaming equipment. New members will also take home a free kanuka seedling for their garden.

Performance space - This space can host performances, public meetings and events, and it features a large LED wall screen and terraced seating that connects the Ground Floor and Level 1.

Wriggle and Read - the first session for 2024 will be Tuesday 23 January at 10.30am.

Story and Rhyme - the first session for 2024 will be Thursday 25 January at 10.30am.

Create, Explore, Discover - the first session for 2024 will be Friday 26 January at 10.30am.

Riff Raff's Summer reading competition - this runs until Friday 26 January. A celebration party will be held at 10.30am on that Friday to draw the winners of the book vouchers.