Fact sheet
Libraries Manager
Carolyn Robertson took up her appointment as Libraries and Information Manager on 17 January 2005.
Staff
In July 2004 there were the equivalent of 254 full-time people employed in the library network, including part-time and technical staff and service centres.
Membership
This is free to all Christchurch City Council ratepayers and residents. Non CCC ratepayers pay for each item borrowed unless they have a subscription. At the end of the financial year July 2006 - June 2007 there were 305,823 members.
Charges
Apart from a modest charge for audio-visual material and the Bestseller Collection, all stock is free to borrow. Our basic reference service is free to all.
Resources
Each library has a wide range of resources including books, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, magazines, CD-ROMs and other materials. The library has a good range of videos and DVDs including music, sport, educational and literary subjects.
Access to New Zealand and pre-selected websites is provided free of charge at all libraries in the network. Unrestricted Internet use and email is also available at a charge. In addition we subscribe to a range of databases for the use of our customers which can be used either in our libraries or by logging in through our web site.
Enquiries
In the year July 2006 to June 2007 the network answered 907,417 enquiries.
Stock
In June 2007 the network had 1,105,903 total items.
Issues
In the year July 2006 to June 2007 the network issued 6,095,417 items.
Network
In addition to the Central Library there are community libraries and a mobile library.
| A brief history of the Canterbury Public Library, to 1982 | ||
| 1976 | September | Bishopdale library began operation |
| 1982 | Central Library moved from corner of Cambridge Terrace and Hereford Street to its current location in Gloucester St | |
| 1993 | December | Linwood Library opened |
| 1997 | October | Sumner Library joined the Christchurch City Libraries' network when the former voluntary adults' library and the children's library amalgamated |
| 1999 | July | An exciting new building for New Brighton Library opened |
| 2000 | July | Fendalton Library and Service Centre opened |
| 2003 | August | St Martins Children's Library closed |
| 2003 | August | South Christchurch Library, Service and Learning Centre opened |
| 2005 | August | Parklands Library opened |
| 2006 | January | Upper Riccarton Community & School Library opened |
| March 6 | Non-city membership fees are dropped for Banks Peninsula residents due to local government merger: Akaroa, Diamond Harbour, Little River and Lyttelton Libraries join the network | |
Central Library
- Floor area – approximately 6,000 square metres
- Issues – 1,094,544 in the year July 2006 to June 2007
- Stock – 333,159 in Central building in March 2008
Technology
The libraries are linked by the Sirsi/Dynix Unicorn library system. Customers have access to stock information via computer catalogues in our libraries and through our website http://christchurchcitylibraries.com.
| 1989 | 19 June | OPAC released (inside the library) |
| 1995 | 7 June | Internet access and pages on WWW launched at www.ccc.govt.nz/library/ |
| 1995 | 1 November | Dial-up access to catalogue introduced |
| 1997 | 9 June | Web1 interface to catalogue introduced |
| 2001 | 18 April | Redesigned web site and new URL (library.christchurch.org.nz) launched. Old site: wayback machine - August 2000 |
| 2004 | 13 November | Sirsi Unicorn Library system replaced DRS |
| 2006 | 4 January | Redesigned web site launched |
| 2007 | June - September | Pharos system introduced for library PC booking and printing / copying charging |
| 2008 | 14 June | Moved website domain from library.christchurch.org.nz to christchurchcitylibraries.com |
