“Today’s readers are tomorrow’s leaders,” Kolovai students noted at the opening of the new Kolovai Community Public Library this afternoon.

HRH Prince Ata cut the ribbon at the Kolovai community centre, which now boasts the first properly catalogued village library on Tongatapu.

Responding to an appeal, thousands of books have been donated by more than 50 Auckland Council Libraries among the dozens of other items given by individuals, including 20 bikes, and several laptops.

Brendan and Kahoa Corbett from Mangere, Auckland, were determined to establish the library after they saw the devastation caused in the village by Cyclone Gita 18 months ago.

“We felt so sad and were thinking of ways to help the schools to recover, so when we went back to New Zealand we started to get books to take to Tonga,” said Kahoa.  “We didn't know then that we would get thousands of books donated”.

She has family links to the village, and was inspired by her uncle, the late Dr Sione Latukefu, a leader in education.

CFR Lines Tonga had shipped the books free of charge from New Zealand to Tonga, but Kahoa said that taxes and duties were imposed by the Tonga government to clear the shipments of books and other donated items.

Schools

Mele Kamoto, the manager of the new library, said they now had so many books there was not enough room on the shelves for them all.

“We have many children's books so we are thinking of lending large quantities of books to primary schools on Tongatapu, so they don't have to come all the way over to the library, and then later they can change them for different books.”

The books have been properly catalogued by a librarian from Auckland Council Libraries who came to Tonga to help set up the collection.

The Kolovai community celebrated the opening of the library this afternoon, joined by 'Alopi and Lotte Latukefu, who spoke at the gathering.

The library also displays trophies, certificates and photographs of successful and famous people who have their roots in the Kolovai community.