Toi Whakaari holds New Zealand's largest physical collection of plays — approximately 16,000 items in the Nola Millar Library collection. We hold a VHS archive spanning four decades of theatrical practice. And we hold the Harcourt family ephemeral heritage collection: in combination a closed archive room containing decades of production materials including programmes, photographs, posters, press clippings, prompt books, and institutional records.

• More than 14,000 plays and screenplays.
• Over 12,000 books on performing arts, film, television, art, costume, scenography, stage crafts, directing, voice, movement, choreography, theatre and dance history, theatre and dance biographies and New Zealand culture.
• Over 4,500 DVDs and videos of films, drama and dance.
• Theatre and dance magazines.
• Selected archival recordings of performances, posters, programmes and photographs from Toi Whakaari and the New Zealand School of Dance.

Located adjacent to the Student Common, access is still through the main doors of Te Whaea.  Access to the open stack is available when the building is open. There is a self serve kiosk to issue and return items.

Our Kaitiaki Pātaka Kōrero, Learning Centre Coordinator works from Monday to Thursday 8:30 to 2:00 pm

Please note these hours are indicative only and can vary.  We welcome visits from the public and subscription members, alumni, or Victoria University of Wellington Theatre & Script-writing students during these times, though it’s best to make an appointment to ensure someone will be available.

Toi Whakaari & NZSD students can reserve items via the catalogue. Staff and subscription members can submit requests to reserve items by email.

Room and equipment booking enquiries can also be made by email.

The services offered to Toi Whakaari staff and students include lending, interlibrary loan, help with questions, viewing facilities, computer and internet access and the teaching of research skills. 

Access the catalogue here.‍

• Students (and staff) currently enrolled in the Victoria University Theatre Department or International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) who are studying at 300 Level or higher – no charge
• Graduates of Toi Whakaari or New Zealand School of Dance $50
• Members of Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand $50
• Everyone else $70

Contact the Learnign Centre before your visit to ensure staff are available to help. We will post resources to members who live outside the Wellington suburban transport region. The library pays the outgoing postage; the borrower pays the return postage. You can reserve items via the catalogue or contact the library by email or you can phone us with your request. There is no limit to the number of items you can borrow. The loan period is 30 days for books and plays, and 14 days for audio‐visual material. Provided that items are not needed by another borrower the item will renew automatically. The membership holder is responsible for any items checked out on their card and they will be charged for lost items.

You can use the online catalogue to find resources. There are three search options — two for general searching (a basic search and an advanced one with more options), and one for searching the play collection. In the Play Search you can search by cast number, cast analysis, genre, length, etc.

The library is resourced to serve Toi Whakaari and the New Zealand School of Dance. This is reflected in the collections and the areas of expertise of staff. If you’re having trouble finding suitable material, the Dramanet national forum has been established to help drama teachers to share resources. Another source of information is the National Library Services for Schools. Other websites which provide a cast breakdown and synopsis of plays are Playmarket and Doollee. Other sources for borrowing or hiring single copies and sets of copies of plays are your local public library, Theatre New Zealand or PlayBureau.