Introducing ... Bishopdale Library
We took a trip to Bishopdale this week, a community library in the leafy north-west of the city. Next door to the community centre and the Citizens Advice Bureau, the library sits in Bishopdale Mall, along with the YMCA, a Computing for Free centre and a variety of retail outlets. The library has recently been refurbished, and we went to find out all about it.
 ‘Bright, inviting’ library a hit
Like having a new library - that’s how children’s librarian Michelle Karon describes the refurbishment at Bishopdale Library.
The creation of lots of reading spaces and easy browsing for customers has been a hit she says. Read the full interview with Michelle.
Papa Kōhatu means ‘land of rocks’ which is a name that was used by Māori to describe a small area now known as the suburb of Bishopdale. This district was subjected to continual overflow from regular flooding of the old Waimairi River. The water would recede leaving large rocks and shingle across the Canterbury Plains before the stop bank was built. Thus, the name is a descriptive one that reminds people of the power of natural elements.
The Bishopdale history is very much intertwined with that of Papanui, as this was the original Māori name for both of these general districts. The suburb’s name derives itself from the large extended Bishop family who were early settlers and orchardists in the area during the 1850s. For some years some family members lived on Bishops Road, now a continuation of Greers Road, between Harewood and Sawyers Arms Road. Read more about Bishopdale’s Māori name.
Papanui was the original Māori name for the Bishopdale and Papanui district and is the Māori word for ‘a platform in a tree from which birds are snared’. The name also refers to a large funeral pyre. Ngāti Mamoe ancestor Marukore and his wife Tuhaitara, a high born Ngāi Tahu princess, had separated and due to events surrounding the separation Tuhaitara sent her eldest son Tamarairoa to kill his father who was at Papanui. Tamarairoa, accompanied by his younger brother Huirapa traveled to Papanui in search of their father. Marukore however, knew of their intent and lay in wait. He killed them both and built a huge pyre with great layers of wood to burn the bodies of his two sons. Read the full history.
Keen to help us trial NetLibrary?
NetLibrary is a digital media system that allows access and download of audio books, music, video and eBooks to your computer or laptop. Items can then be transferred to a CD player, MP3 player, smart phone or pocket PC. Many audio titles can be burned to a CD to play in the car or at home.
Christchurch City Libraries are considering this product, which is where you come in! Are you willing to give up an hour of your time to come into Central Library and play with these systems? You will be supported by friendly library staff who can help you out if you get stuck and will give you a free single movie ticket as a thank you for your time!
NetLibrary Trial times
Monday, July 7 and Tuesday, July 8, 2pm to 5pm.
Please note spaces are limited!
Contact Colleen Finnerty if you would like to participate and a include preferred date and time for your participation. An indication if you are happy to participate in future trials is also welcome!
We recommend: About the library resources
Our online resources:
Our Internet Gateway recommends:
Browse the resources in our libraries:
There are a few publications in the library collection about Bishopdale, and several local history books take a broader approach to Christchurch suburbs.
This week in Christchurch history
What interesting things happened in Christchurch this week? Find out with the help of the Christchurch Chronology on the library website.
- July 7, 1986 Heavy rain floods northern suburbs of city.
- July 8, 1880 Canterbury Society of Arts formed.
- July 9, 1863 Civic tree planting begins. Part of the day’s planting was a commemorative tree, generally regarded as the beginning of the Botanic Gardens.
- July 10, 1922 Hagley Park and Botanic Gardens included in city boundary.
- July 10, 1971 Record crowd of over 57,000 at Lancaster Park for rugby test, New Zealand v British Lions.
- July 11, 1879 Post Office building in Cathedral Square completed.
- July 11, 1951 Waterfront strike ends.
- July 11, 1979 First meeting of the Canterbury United Council.
What’s new online?
New on the blog
New on the library website
Next week: Te wiki o te reo Māori
Toi te mana, toi te kupu, toi te whenua
(The permanence of the language, prestige and land)
Meaning: Without te reo, prestige, land and Māori culture will cease to exist.
Celebrate Māori Language Week by enjoying our kete matauranga - a basket of resources for learning te reo Māori. |
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