It will be 25 years since the Thames Library opened the doors to its purpose built building in Mackay St on June 1.

To celebrate the library will be offering commemorative bookmarks to locals and book-lovers alike, and they'll also be hosting a huge book sale during the week.

Opening of the Thames Public Library on November 2, 1905. Image: The Treasury - Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries

Due to Monday being a public holiday, the library will have a birthday cake and a card for visitors to sign on Tuesday, June 2.

The Thames library began as a Mechanics' Institute in 1869 and a reading room was opened on May 14, 1870.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council sayson June 5 the library was opened on the Grahamstown site where the Carnegie Library would later stand.

'By July 1 1870, there were 11 volumes and 111 subscribers,” says council. 'The Thames Borough Council assumed control of the Institute and the reading room and lending section were opened to the public in January 1880 as the Thames Free Public Library.

'It was one of the earliest free libraries in New Zealand.”

On July 12 1902, the Thames Borough Council took advantage of an offer made by American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.

His offer was to ‘pay for the erection of a public library in any city in the English speaking world which would provide a site and commit itself to the permanent maintenance of the institution'.

Carnegie promised £2,000 and a brick building was designed by architect J Currie.

'The foundation stone was laid on April 6 1905 and the library opened on November 2 by Mayor Arch Burns.”

Since the amalgamation of the local councils in 1975 the Thames Library has been owned by the Thames-Coromandel District Council.

The Carnegie Building had been inadequate for many years and so the decision was made to build a new library.

The Thames Library, prior to the removal of the porte cochere, as seen today. Photo: File