The changing face of the library included more people using the library as a community focal point, Mrs Gilbert said.
"We provide a number of spaces at low rates for community groups. We encourage people to see us as a community space because there doesn't seem to be that kind of space available anywhere else these days."
Demand for e-books was growing every month and the library had a programme to teach people how to use e-book reading devices, Mrs Gilbert said, though paper versions were still very popular.
"Reading is a fairly tactile experience. People like to touch the pages and so on. It's not quite the same with e-books. But they do have their place. Most people who read e-books also read hard-copy books."
Nationwide there are more than 300 public libraries and 110 community libraries. In the last financial year, more than two million members borrowed 48,000 items across the country. The number of members and borrowings were down slightly on the previous financial year.
The number of new members - 206,734 - was also slightly less than the previous year, though the number of patron visits, total library expenditure and number of items added to collections was up on 2012/2013.
Meanwhile, more than twice as many e-books were available last financial year than the year previous, and almost 500,000 more e-books were downloaded by patrons.
Public Libraries of New Zealand executive director Tim Antric said the country still had a love affair with printed books. "There's been a huge increase in e-book usage but it's still less than four per cent of total borrowing," he said.
"I think we'll continue to see a steady increase in e-book usage but the need for printed books won't go."
People were increasingly using libraries for more than just borrowing and reading books, he said. "There's been a 77 per cent increase in WiFi usage. That tells us New Zealanders need access to the internet when they're away from home or if they haven't got it at home.
"One in five families with children don't have access to the internet at home and a lot of schools still don't have enough computers for students so we're filling a big gap."
Public Libraries of New Zealand believed libraries were an important part of breaking the poverty cycle, he said.
"Libraries are for everyone. Books are a key part of a child's learning process and on top of books, there's a range of free programmes available at libraries.
"Libraries are run at a local level so they best meet the needs of locals. They're as important in the community as anything."
Rotorua District Library
Fines owing: About $190,000
Biggest outstanding fine by a single person: $636
Most popular genres: Romance and Western
Most popular books: Mightier Than the Sword by Jeffrey Archer, The Silk Thief by Deborah Challinor, The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Other popular authors: Lee Child, Wilbur Smith and Nora Roberts (aka J.D. Robb).
¦Fines include replacement costs of books not returned.
