The Whakatāne library is a council library and exhibition centre in the Esplanade Mall on Kakahoroa Drive, in Whakatāne. It is one of four community libraries run by the Whakatāne District Council, alongside Murupara, Edgecumbe and Ōhope. The library offers free wifi, computers for internet use, and a range of books. The exhibition centre is free to visit, and the library has activities for children during the school term.
Customers mention the exhibition most, including a collection of 34 oil portraits of the last tattooed Māori women, and traditional Māori weaving. The staff are described as friendly, welcoming and cheerful, and one reviewer said they are very helpful. Opinions differ on the size of the building. One reviewer found it very large with a huge selection of books, and another found it a compact library with a wide range of subjects. Our pick in Whakatāne for a visit that combines a free exhibition with books and friendly staff.