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It’s the most wonderful time of year for book worms as we welcome back the annual library book sale. You can grab yourself a bargain this weekend at the Libraries Big Bargain Book Sale. Head down to the Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre to see the thousands of books on offer. Christchurch City Council Head…
Lyttelton Library and Service Centre will close for three weeks from Monday 20 February to allow a new heating system to be installed. “We’re replacing the boiler with a modern air conditioning system that will provide cost-efficient heating and cooling and make everyone’s visits to Lyttelton Library much more comfortable,” says Carolyn Robertson, Head of…
A new visiting exhibition at Tūranga shines a light on New Zealand’s cutting edge space technologies and world-leading research. Tūhura Tuarangi is an interactive, hands-on science roadshow developed by Tūhura Otago Museum. It will be held in the Level 1 TSB Space in Tūranga from Saturday 11 February until Sunday 26 February. The exhibition features…
While historical author Lucinda Riley and comedian Richard Osman are rising in the ranks of popular adult fiction, no one can bump Lee Child off the top spot. For the fifth year in a row, the British thriller writer (who is now co-writing with his brother) has taken out Christchurch City Libraries’ most popular adult…
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but last year’s winner of the Christchurch Photo Hunt competition is worth a lot more than that. The image Balloonist in Lancaster Park was taken in 1899, mere weeks before the turn of the century during a parachute display by famous daredevil Captain Charles Lorraine. Hours…
The popular Papanui Library is closing for six weeks for refurbishment and a change of layout. The library will close from Monday 19 September and reopen on Monday 31 October 2022. The NZ Post and Council Customer Service Desk will remain open as normal, 9am–5pm, Monday–Friday. Head of Libraries and Information Carolyn Robertson says the…
Dame Ngaio Marsh’s life was almost as much of a mystery as her famous detective novels. She lived a completely private life, despite being dubbed one of the “Queens of Crime” alongside names like Agatha Christie and selling more than two million copies of her novels. And was also full of dualities. When Dame Ngaio…
The popular Papanui Library is closing for six weeks for refurbishment and a change of layout. The library will close from Monday 19 September and reopen on Monday 31 October 2022. The NZ Post and Council Customer Service Desk will remain open as normal, 9am–5pm, Monday–Friday. Head of Libraries and Information Carolyn Robertson says the…
Dame Ngaio Marsh’s life was almost as much of a mystery as her famous detective novels. She lived a completely private life, despite being dubbed one of the “Queens of Crime” alongside names like Agatha Christie and selling more than two million copies of her novels. And was also full of dualities. When Dame Ngaio…
Christchurch children will get an opportunity to peep into the past at a special community art event at Tūranga in late August. The free event will see Dunedin-based community artist Janet de Wagt working with the children to help them make their own shoebox dioramas using some of the historic photos of Christchurch and Canterbury…
Ever wondered about the women in your family history that never got the attention they deserved? How about finding out more about whakapapa research and your ancestry? The Christchurch Family History Expo can help you uncover anything and everything about your family tree. Hosted at Tūranga by Christchurch City Libraries in collaboration with Memories in…
A barrier to accessing the full Christchurch City Libraries collection for those living rurally on Banks Peninsula has been removed. As part of this year’s Annual Plan process, Councillors approved dropping library hold fees for residents permanently living on the Peninsula using Akaroa and Little River libraries. “We had feedback from people living in the…
Passion, perseverance and patience. These are just some of the qualities that helped Samantha Fairhall write, produce and self-publish a very special book – The Little Book of Smiles. It took five years from inception to publication but the Canterbury University psychology student was driven by a desire to support positive mental health in young…
Asma Elbadawi is a sports inclusivity consultant, dyslexia advocate, spoken word poet and Muslim woman who successfully campaigned to allow Hijab to be worn on the basketball court. And she’s coming to Christchurch as part of her national speaking tour held by the Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand. Ms Elbadawi will address overcoming life’s…
Te Hāpua Halswell Centre has played host to the country’s first ever Esports Minecraft Build Challenge/Wero Hanga. Technology entrepreneur Sir Ian Taylor opened the event, which was developed in response to his online learning platform Mātauranga. This online resource explores the voyage of the explorers who crossed the Pacific Ocean to land on Aotearoa New…
Shocked, surreal and excited. Those are the words of first-time artist Samira Ahmed as she watched her print being delicately hung up on show in Tūranga. Samira is one of eight Somali women aged between 20 and 70 whose art is now on display in the Gurigeena: Our Home Somali exhibition held by the Canterbury…
Christchurch City Council is promising it will engage with the community as it draws up plans for rebuilding the quake-damaged South Library and customer services building, Te Kete Wānanga o wai Mōkihi, in Beckenham. The Council’s Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee has agreed that it makes more sense to build a new facility than to…
Two days before Christmas – December 23 1880 – stonemasons put their finishing touches onto the Christ Church Cathedral tower. At 30 metres high the tower soared above the surrounding buildings, most of which were no higher than two stories. An enterprising local photographer called Edmund R Wheeler saw an opportunity to capture the…
Rebuilding the quake-damaged South Library and customer services building will cost less than repairing it, investigations show. The South Library Te Kete Wānanga o Wai Mōkihi, in Colombo Street, Beckenham, is the only library left in Christchurch’s network of 20 public libraries that has yet to be either fully repaired, or rebuilt, following the earthquakes….
A showcase of Linwood’s history aims to help boost the sense of community at the local library. A new Reflections of the East photography exhibition has been curated by Linwood librarians and highlights images of the suburb from the early 1900s through to the 1990s. “After the last two years the team really wanted to…
Calling all book lovers! Treat your shelves this week at the annual Big Bargain Book Sale. Thousands of great books will be on offer at the annual Big Bargain Book Sale which begins on Friday at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre. “This is such a popular event for the community and we’re excited to be…
Aranui Library will temporarily close for a week so maintenance work can be done and the library layout revamped to make it easier for customers to use. The closure will take place from Tuesday 26 April until Monday 2 May. Head of Libraries and Information Carolyn Robertson says the work at Aranui Library is part…
A magazine which was described as “a marae on paper” is being celebrated with an evolving exhibition at Tūranga. The exhibition Te Ao Hou: A moment in Time showcases the tenacity and elegance of the Māori spirit represented in the magazine Te Ao Hou and runs Saturday 16 April through to Sunday 7 August at…
With news that the iconic Dux de Lux may be restored by summer 2024, we’re looking for your help in bringing your favourite stories and photos of Christchurch’s favourite pub back to life. Do you have fond memories of Christchurch’s favourite pub the Dux de Lux? Our Christchurch City Libraries team want to capture your…
From today, people bringing back overdue items to Christchurch’s public libraries will no longer face a fine. “Like a growing number of libraries around New Zealand and the globe, we have taken away the charges for overdue items and we are wiping all historic debt relating to fines,’’ says Christchurch City Council Head of Libraries…
Library fines are on the way out and any owed debts will be removed. At their meeting today, Christchurch City Councillors voted to take away charges for overdue items and wipe all historical debt from 1 March 2022. “We are joining a growing number of libraries around the country and the globe which are taking…
Calling all revolting children! Tūranga Central Library is hosting a one-off Matilda: The Musical and Roald Dahl-themed afternoon tomorrow. The free event runs from 2-3pm on Wednesday 26 January at Hapori | Community, Level 1. Special guests set to make an appearance include cast members from the Showbiz Christchurch season of Matilda the Musical playing…
A barrier to some people utilising Christchurch City Libraries may soon be removed. A report which recommends stopping charges for overdue items and wiping all historical debt will be considered at the Council meeting on Thursday 27 January. “The removal of fines on overdue material for all library members has the benefits of improving equity…
Looking for ways to keep the kids entertained? Christchurch City Libraries is hosting more than 900 free or low cost events inside and outside libraries across the city this summer. Looking for ways to keep the kids entertained? Christchurch City Libraries is hosting more than 900 free or low cost events inside and outside libraries…
A guide to learning te reo Māori was the most sought after New Zealand non-fiction title at Christchurch libraries in 2021. Maori Made Easy by Scotty Morrison unseated last year’s number one Scrumptious by celebrity chef and food writer Chelsea Winter. In most other respects the tastes of Christchurch residents are remarkably similar to previous…