William Leys
In the late 1800s William Leys, who was then the Chairman of the Ponsonby School Committee, was concerned about boys loitering on the street corners, losing the benefit of school education. He had a vision to build a library to encourage recreational reading and learning. After William Leys' death in 1899, funds provided from his bequest and funds also provided by his brother Thomson Leys made possible the building of the Leys Institute which was opened in 1905. In 1906 a gymnasium was added to the complex, built from a bequest made by William Mason, a local resident.
In the early 1900s the complex was a real community centre, with an active library and gym club, and the halls being used by various clubs. Over the years members of the family have been heavily involved in the running of the library, also making outstanding financial commitments.
The complex was handed over to the Auckland City Council in 1964 and trusts bequeathed by the Leys family have continued to enhance the services provided.
The Reading Room
Local history material is on display in the Reading Room (downstairs from the children's room). The collection includes:
- exhibitions (changed quarterly) of photographs and maps of early Ponsonby
- projected images of old Ponsonby from the Heritage Images Online database.
- small collections of books related to the early history of Auckland.
- Ponsonby Heritage walks leaflet.
- newspaper clippings
- pamphlets and booklets
