New Central City library to open

14 December 2011

A second temporary Central City library is set to open in Peterborough Street next week.

Central Library Peterborough / Te Kete Wānanga o Peterborough will open at 87-91 Peterborough Street, between Colombo and Durham Streets, on Monday 19 December. The Council has leased the former VBase offices and a neighbouring empty store, both of which have been converted into the new library.

Libraries and Information Unit Manager Carolyn Robertson says the new library will aim to provide a taste of the services the closed Central Library in Gloucester Street did, but on a smaller scale.

The collection of more than 70,000 items will include new stock that had been ordered for the Central Library in Gloucester Street before the February earthquake and stock that was on loan at the time and has since been returned to other libraries, she says.

The Central Library Peterborough collection will include books for all ages, a range of new magazines, world language material, CDs, DVDs, talking books and newspapers. Family history resources will also be available and staff will be on hand to help customers use the service. Another popular service that will be available to library customers for the first time since the February earthquake will be microfilm newspapers. The Ngā Pounamu Māori and the Ngāi Tahu Collections have also been re-housed in the new facility and will feature prominently in its layout.

We are really pleased that our customers will have access again to some of the services they have been missing since the February earthquake. The new library is opening at the perfect time for anyone looking for a book or a magazine, a CD to listen to or a DVD to watch during the Christmas break, Mrs Robertson says.

Mayor Bob Parker says the opening of the new library is wonderful news for the people of Christchurch. Now, more than ever, our community is looking for opportunities to unwind. This new library provides a safe environment in the Central City where people can relax, meet up with others or take their families.

The library will have 25 computers offering free internet access. Printing, copying and scanning facilities will also be available.

New service kiosks, which are being introduced to libraries across Christchurch, will make it possible for customers to issue items. Staff will work alongside customers to make it as easy as possible for them to use the new equipment.

Another Central City library, the Central South City Library, opened in a refurbished store in South City Mall in July and has proved popular with customers.

Central Library Peterborough will be open from Monday to Friday from 9am-6pm and during weekends from 10am-5pm.