Central Library reorganisation

6 August 2007

Christchurch Central Library is being reorganised to provide customers with better and easier access to services.

Work began last week and is expected to take about three months to complete, says Central Library manager Bev Prout.

“Improvements include installing a new centrally located ground floor enquiries desk and directory board, a Dewey sequenced non-fiction collection on the first floor and generally a more logical flow of resources to provide customers with better access to services.”

Ms Prout says the new enquiries desk will be installed in the next 10 days, providing customers with a welcoming and easily identified first-point of contact for assistance.

The ground floor is to become home for predominantly recreational resources, such as the library’s fiction collection, bestsellers, large print books, talking books, audio-visual items (CDs and DVDs), the young adult collection and the Centre for the Child.

She says the first floor will be the information level where customers will find the new Dewey-sequenced non-fiction collection, including biographies and world languages.

The library’s heritage collection will be located on the second floor. This will include the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre, Māori collection, newspapers, non-fiction books on the Pacific and Antarctic and pay for internet access.

The reorganisation will enable the library to put on display an additional 1000 essential New Zealand and Pacific non-fiction books which have been stored out the back of the library, while retaining all study spaces and lounge areas.

Ms Prout says the reorganisation involves the relocation of more than 200,000 items and is a 12-step programme.

“The reorganisation will cause some confusion in the short term and the library apologises in advance for any inconvenience to our customers.

“During the next few months, we encourage customers to ask frequently for assistance in helping to locate where various items in the collection have been moved.”