The winners in the youth category were:

• First prize Samantha Romjin
• Second prize: Hariklia Nicola 
• Third prize: Hanah Adam Shah 

Runners up:

• Nadia Adam shah 
• Natalie Guldberg 

The winners in the Adult category were:

• First prize: Susan Williams
• Second prize: Kaushiki Roy
• Third prize: Mahadevappa Rajeshwari 

Runners up:

• John MacTaggart
• Bianca Potgieter

“We were thrilled to receive so many stories that showed how public libraries change lives in communities across New Zealand every day,” says our Executive Director Tim Antric.“They connect the lonely, help people find homes and jobs, and encourage a love of reading and learning in the young and old. The stories, sometimes deeply personal, were heart-warming to read.”

One of the aims of the competition was to help us understand what people want in their communities so public libraries could adjust their focus for the future and become more of a hub of services – not just somewhere to borrow books.

“And the stories made it abundantly clear that this is something that is already happening,” Antric says.

A panel of judges selected the top stories in each category which were then shared for two weeks of pubic voting through our Facebook page to decide the winners. The first prize winner in the adult category received prizes valued at $750. In the youth category the top winner received prizes valued at $350.

Public Libraries of New Zealand would like to thank Mighty Ape, GOVIS, Unity Books and the New Zealand Book Council for so generously supporting the competition.