Special Shelves for Large Books at Te Puna

We’re pleased to share that our Special Shelves for Large Books is now fully set-up and ready for staff and students to explore at Te Puna Library (B180). Bringing together beautifully illustrated, large-format books that showcase visual content across Art, Architecture, Natural Sciences, Photography, and Design.

These large print books have now been grouped into dedicated, easy‑to‑find locations across Levels 1–3.

Here’s where you can find them:

•          Level 1 – One white tambour located near north end of printers
• Level 2 – Two wooden shelves near printer in middle of mezzanine floor (for Creative Industries and Architecture respectively)
• Level 3 – One white tambour near printer at west end of mezzanine floor

To support safe handling, two small browsing tables have been added on Level 2 - one on each side of the shelving areas.

New L sticker for easy identification

Large-format books can now be easily recognised by a new L sticker. This initiative helps ensure they are shelved correctly, returned to the appropriate locations, and handled with care.

The large books kept on these shelves in Dewey decimal order and have a L sticker on them and will have a note in the item record description “ Note: Large book – may be on display table or shelves” and LARGE in the call number 720.92 PAL MIT LARGE

Improvements to ProQuest Central Ebooks

Unitec Library is excited to announce upcoming improvements to our ProQuest Ebook Central e-books, making them more accessible and easier to use. (ProQuest Ebook Central supplies the majority of Unitec Library’s e-books.) These changes include:

Enhanced accessibility features, including:

• Navigating using just a keyboard or speech recognition software
• Navigating using a screen reader
• Going directly to main content areas on the page using skip links (web)
• Listening to an ebook using a screen reader with Text Only Mode enabled
• Zooming in up to 200% using browser tools without text spilling off the screen

(These changes meet Level AA of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2))

An easier way to download whole e-books or chapters of e-books

Adobe Digital Editions will no longer be needed. Instead, users will be able to download content through the new ProQuest Ebook Central App. 

We are expecting this change to go live by 27 July 2026, and we will update the library’s ‘Ebooks at Unitec Library’ guide with new, clear instructions.

 Ngā mihi nui,

 The Unitec Library team

Library building access for Easter and Anzac

During Easter Week and Anzac Day, study spaces opening hours may vary.  Please check below.

Anzac Day observed on Monday

Day	Te Puna Library	Waitakere Library	Waitakere Rangimarie
Good Friday 3 April	Closed	Closed	Closed
Easter Saturday 4 April	7am - 6pm	Closed	Closed
Easter Sunday 5 April	7am - 6pm	Closed	Closed
Easter Monday 6 April	Closed	Closed	Closed
Easter Tuesday 7 April	7am - 6pm	Closed	Closed
Friday  24 April	7am - 9pm	8am - 5pm	6:30am - 9pm
Saturday (Anzac Day) 25 April	7am - 6pm	Closed	8am - 4pm
Sunday 26 April	7am - 6pm	Closed	Closed
Monday (Anzac Day Observed) 27 April	Closed	Closed	Closed

 For full information link to the Library Hours

Have a wonderful holiday break!

Level 3 study spaces

Good news! In early February, the Architecture lab moved back to Building 48 as planned to create more study spaces. Student asked for more study areas in the library based on Student NPS survey 2025. 

To address the need for more study spaces, we added 30 desks with power connections and have tables with whiteboards for group study in an open space on level 3. The whiteboard markers available at the Ask Me desk to borrow. 

Recreational Reading - We moved a Recreational collection from level 1 upto level 3

Chill Zone - There is a chill-out zone on West side on level 3

                                                                                              

Printer - Each level has printer with instructions for staff and students on how to 

 

Self-Check machine

Quiet learning space on level 3 if you are looking for a quiet space. Also, the DVD collection is in the quiet learning space as well.

Changes to our print, copy and scan system

 

Last week we replaced all our old Konica Minolta Multi-Functional printers (MFDs) with Canon MFDs. The new MFDs are located across all campuses for your printing, scanning and copying needs.

To print, copy or scan from the new Canon MFD you will need to download a new printer driver. See this guide for more information and instruction on how to print, copy and scan.

If you have any questions, please email IT support itsupport@unitec.ac.nz or phone 0800 275 467 (0800 ASKIMS) during normal business hours. 

Summer Hours for 2025 -2026

Summer Holiday hours from Friday 21 November 2025 - 23 February, 2026

Te Puna (B180)
Mon - Sun: 7am - 6pm
Public Holidays: CLOSED

Waitakere library (B520)
Mon - Fri: 8pm - 5pm
Sat - Sun: CLOSED
Public Holidays: CLOSED

All library will be closed from 17 December 2025(12 noon) - 6 January 2026

From Monday 23 February 2026, the building hours will return to normal hours 

See full details for Waitākere Rangimarie (B510) and Library Hours on Library hours.

Have a great summer break from the Library Team 

Introducing colour coding signage at Te Puna Library

Navigating a library should be as enjoyable as reading a great book. We are excited to introduce our new color-coding signage system designed to help our library patrons find what they need on the shelves.

You Said, We Did: A Smarter Way to Navigate the Library 

This improvement was initiated after Subject Librarian Sana Saleem attended a design student presentation in March 2024, where a student suggested we consider a “colour coding system” to make it easier to find print materials on the library shelves, relevant to their subject area 

 Students said : 
“ It’s hard to know sometimes which section of the library starts and ends when looking for print books”

We did: 
We heard our student voice —and we initiated a project  to improve access to our print collection for all library users (in particular visual spatial learners) by introducing subject area colour coding in accordance with the Unitec’s  brand wayfinding palette that match the colours of Schools and show how our collection is closely aligned with Unitec’s teaching and research. 

Our new colour-coded signage system is now live across the library. 

Some examples of how our students have responded to this initiative:  

• “Easier to find the colour for my subject area” 
• “I love the design you're going with. It is simple, straight to the point and the colour is well thought out, making it well uniformed with the unitec colours”. 

Library project team  

This project was led by Sana Saleem, project members Anna Wheeler and Stephen Brebner worked together to successfully implement the project by improving signage to replace the current bay end signage on all three levels at Te Puna Library. The project was delivered in two parts : Level 2 and 3 at the end of 2024 and Level 1 earlier this year. 

The project team partnered with the Copy Centre to ensure the signage was professionally designed  in accordance with Unitec’s brand. 

How it works 

Here’s an example of the new colour-coding for one section of the library: 

Level 1 Te Puna                                   

ECE - one colour that represents the Teaching Area (Early Childhood Learning) that aligns with majority of the subject headings listed on the bay end sign

Bridgepoint and NZ/Pacific - two colours that represent the Teaching Areas/Schools that align with the  subject headings listred on the bay end sign.

Why it matters 

• Relevance to student's learning: The alignment of the Library's physical collection to our teaching areas is highlighted
• Branded wayfinding: Easier to find the book collections aligned the Schools
• Accessibility: Prominent colours and headings support users who struggle with reading
• Efficiency: our library users can locate resources quickly.  

Post implementation feedback after project completion in September 2025 showed that our initiative has enhanced user experience and had a positive impact on Unitec Library space, print collections and our diverse learner's confidence in wayfinding.