New Aranui Library Site

12 February 2010

The Christchurch City Council’s new Aranui library will be built on land in Aldershot Street, bordering on to Wainoni Park.

“This is a fantastic site for the library because it means that the library, which local people have waited so long for, will be really well connected to the local community,” says Carolyn Robertson, the Council’s Libraries and Information Manager.

On the other side of Wainoni Park is the Council’s Wainoni Aranui Family Centre, a kindergarten, Salvation Army facility, Aranui Heartlands and the offices of the Aranui Community Trust.

Range of sites considered

Christchurch City Libraries evaluated a range of sites within the catchment area for the new library — bounded by Wainoni and Pages Roads, Shortland Street and Anzac Drive. The Council also plans to use a small portion of the adjoining Wainoni Park for shared car parking.

The small-sized neighbourhood library will be built on land currently occupied by a house, which will be removed to make way for the new building. The construction project will go to tender around the middle of the year and work is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

Libraries strengthen communities

“We know that libraries can do a great deal to help strengthen communities — as well as all the other things they can do — and Aranui residents are currently disadvantaged in terms of their access to information and technology,” says Mrs Robertson. “So this new facility will be a very welcome addition to the community.

“It will play an important role in the Aranui community and will enhance the lives of local people. It will be a place to meet friends; get books and other resources; use the internet; learn and relax.

“Now we have the site confirmed (subject to gaining resource consent for the library), we will be seeking input from the local community on the design and services to be available at the library. It’s very important that people feel the library is theirs,” says Carolyn Robertson.

The new library has already received a significant koha, in the form of a collaborative work by six Māori artists. The kaupapa of the collaborative work is Matariki, each artist explored this theme in their medium and produced a panel that reflected their Matariki theme. The work is in several mediums including photography, weaving, carving and painting.

For further information phone:
Linda Harrison
Senior Communications Advisor
Ph 941 6417 or 027 599 4577