Open Plus
MCHL offers extended access 6am until 11pm.
Enjoy greater flexibility at Manawatū Community Hub Libraries with Open Plus, giving approved members access to Te Āhuru Mōwai from 6:00am to 11:00pm daily, much like a 24/7 gym arrangement. During unstaffed hours, you can browse and borrow items, use study and workspaces, and access self-service kiosks in a safe, secure environment. This extended early access is part of a six-month trial starting 4 May and reflects more opportunity for convenient access.
To register, please bring your MCHL membership card along with an ID to the front counter and allow approximately 15 minutes for the sign-up process.
If you're not a MCHL member, join online for free. If you have any issues logging in or getting started, please contact us or come and visit.
Open Plus is a community-supported, award-winning service, designed with advanced security and in collaboration with local partners to ensure safe, easy access beyond staffed hours.
Open Plus is a membership add-on that provides self-service access to Manawatū Community Hub Libraries (MCHL) at our facility - Te Āhuru Mōwai, in extension of staffed hours from 6:00am to 11:00pm daily. It does not replace or reduce staffed hours. Instead, it provides our community with more opportunities to use Te Āhuru Mōwai when it works best for them 7 days a week. It works similarly to 24/7 gyms where members use their membership card to unlock the facility.
Open Plus empowers our community to use MCHL services when it works best for them. Since transitioning into modern library services in 2016, we’ve been exploring ways to make our services and facility more accessible to the public, such as adding meeting rooms into Te Āhuru Mōwai and after-hours access to both the meeting rooms and MCHL services. This maximises access to resources like Wi-Fi, computers, break-out spaces, collection lending and meeting room use. We’re excited to be more available than ever to our community who love MCHL.
First, MCHL members sign up to get an Open Plus privilege added to their membership card. When they visit during non-staffed hours, Open Plus members can simply scan their membership card barcode and enter their PIN at the entry panel at the Stafford Street entrance to unlock the door. Once inside, they can freely use MCHL resources and self-service equipment in Te Āhuru Mōwai such as the self-checkout machines, computers, printers, copiers, break-out spaces. Meeting rooms aren’t open unless booked separately in advance.
Any Manawatū Community Hub Libraries member aged 16 and older can sign up for Open Plus membership. You don't need to be a Manawatū District resident (the more the merrier!), but you do need an active membership card registered with us. Teens aged 16 and 17 must have a parent/guardian also view the orientation materials with them and sign the membership agreement on their behalf.
No, Open Plus membership is free to access MCHL services at Te Āhuru Mōwai. Services like printing/copying have a charge that is payable using the self-service kiosk.
Yes, and they assume responsibility for their guests per established terms and conditions and their Open Plus Membership Agreement. All youth aged 0-15 must be accompanied and supervised by an Open Plus enrolled adult during non-staffed hours, no exceptions.
Maintaining safety and cleanliness is our top priority. Cameras are installed throughout Te Āhuru Mōwai to monitor activity as per Council’s Privacy Statement. Members are also required to attend an orientation and sign an Open Plus agreement to agree to their responsibilities to keep our staff, other MCHL users, and the facility safe.
We have several processes in place to help members report technology issues, facility problems, or other concerns.
In the event of an emergency, please call 111. NZ Police have been given a special door code to access Te Āhuru Mōwai in the event of an emergency during non-staffed hours.
- Our Open Plus Feedback Form is available on our website at all times. QR codes are also posted throughout Te Āhuru Mōwai for instant access to the web form. Submissions go to our team, who will coordinate an on-call response during staffed hours.
- Printed feedback forms are available in Te Āhuru Mōwai to simply share how you’re feeling.
- For issues that you would like to discuss with staff, please call MCHL Staff on 06 323 5373 between 9:30am - 5:30pm, Monday, Wednesday - Friday, 10:00am - 5:30pm Tuesdays or 9:30am - 4pm on Saturday.
- For less pressing issues, you're invited to directly email MCHL staff mchl.openplus@mdc.govt.nz or phone 06 323 5373 at any time to leave a message and MCHL staff will return your call during staffed hours.
There won’t be any staff on duty during non-staffed hours, but they are available during regular staffed hours to offer the same services you know and love.
Depending on timing, you should be able to use the service within 24 hours of registering. After you turn in your Open Plus membership agreement and attend an orientation session, our staff take a few extra back-end steps to add the privilege to your membership card. You will be notified by email when it's turned on.
If you are an Open Plus member who is experiencing access issues with your membership card, contact our MCHL team on mchl.openplus@mdc.govt.nz.
You will be asked to exit Te Āhuru Mōwai at the public closing time and re-enter using your Open Plus membership card. This tells the system that you are inside after hours.
| Standard Open Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday, Wednesday – Friday | 9:30am – 5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 10:00am – 5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9:30am – 4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Public Holidays | Closed |
Note: Open Plus extends opening hours to 6am - 11pm Monday – Saturday and is accessible on Sundays and Public Holidays.
You don't have to live in the Manawatū District to be an Open Plus member, but you do need to have a membership with Manawatū Community Hub Libraries.