Judith Burkin has rescued over 300 books from Maraekakaho Hall. Photo / Supplied
A Maraekakaho resident has rescued the remains of what was once the community's thriving library, a treasure trove of more than 300 books dating back to 1837, from the village's community hall.
More than a century after the former library was opened to the public, Judith Burkin, a hall supporter,discovered and saved a number of historical books.
Burkin, who is the partner of a Maraekakaho Hall trustee, came across the findings when looking around the hall.
"My husband and I went with other trustees to have a look round the hall," she said.
"Someone opened a cupboard by the stage in the main hall and found what remains of Maraekakaho's once thriving library.
Burkin believes there may have been more than 3000 books at any one time after the hall was built in 1877, with local farmers, farm workers and their wives from Maraekakaho and Kereru the main users.
"I brought some home to have a closer look," she said.
"Over the last few months I've been cleaning them up and now they are safely stored in a clean cupboard in the supper room – back where the library started.
"The oldest book, published in 1837, is still in great condition. It and the remaining books are going nowhere – they are now clean and insect-free."
Burkin added: "Handling the books you can't help thinking about the people who have touched them in the past – who they were, what jobs they did, what clothes they wore and what Maraekakaho was like when they were reading them."
It would have been rare for a farming community to have a library, according to Burkin, when Maraekakaho Station owner Douglas McLean suggested setting up a library and reading room in the new village hall in 1877.
She added: "There are novels, an almost complete set of encyclopaedia, biographies and religious books. Each book has a number and a Maraekakaho Library stamp."
Burkin has always wondered where the remaining books ended up and has called on the public to help her in her quest to retrieve more.