Libraries opening – the latest information as at Friday 10 September

Kia ora, here is the latest information on the re-opening of Christchurch City Libraries:

Akaroa Library: Has resumed normal opening hours
Central Library: Saturday 11 September and Sunday 12 September 10 am – 4 pm; Monday 13 September to Friday 17 September 9 am – 6 pm next week
Fendalton Library: Monday 13 September to Friday 17 September 9 am – 6 pm next week
Papanui Library: Monday 13 September to Friday 17 September 9 am – 6 pm next week
South Library: Sunday 12 September 10 am – 4 pm; Monday 13 September to Friday 17 September 9 am – 6 pm next week

As of today, the Mobile Library has resumed its normal timetable and will be offering other services by special arrangement. In addition to normal stops, with the agreement of the Eastgate Mall management, the Mobile Library will also be open for library service in the Eastgate Mall car park on Monday 13 September 11.45am -1.15pm. For details about the mobile service and hours for other libraries as they open, please see the library website.

Libraries and Information Manager Carolyn Robertson thanked staff for their hard work in getting libraries re-opened:

Library teams have shown dedication and great effort to clean up and start to get Central, Akaroa and the Mobile Library up and running again – my sincere thanks to all of you who have helped. Our fantastic courier drivers were on the road as soon as they could, clearing bins, moving stock and doing other useful jobs as required.

In other libraries that have been assessed as safe, staff are busy tidying up. Some libraries remain closed until further notice while they are being assessed for structural damage. These libraries will be opened as soon as possible.

We look forward to welcoming customers back, and will let you know about other libraries as soon as we can.

Happy Eid!

Sali Mahomet making icecream in his 'dairy' behind his house at 69 Caledonia Road, St Albans

Amidst the shaking and rolling, and the blur of anxiety that has coloured this last week, it’s hard to remember that life goes on. However, for over 2500 Christchurch residents and for millions of people throughout the world, today marks the beginning of one of the most  important holidays of the year – Eid ul-Fitr. Eid ul-Fitr celebrates the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan, during which Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset.  Hence the name Eid ul-Fitr, which means the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”.

If you would like to know more about this holiday and about Islam in general, try some of the following links in our catalogue:

• children’s books about Eid ul-Fitr
• resources about the doctrines of Islam
• books about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

and in our Internet Gateway:

• Islam: Religion and Spirituality
• New Zealand Ethnic Communities

CINCH has information about Muslim community groups and organisations in Christchurch.  And for an insight in the life of one of Christchurch’s earliest Muslim residents, read about Sali Mahomet (aka “Ice-cream Charlie”) in our Heritage pages.

Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid) to those of you who are celebrating!

Mobile Library operating today and tomorrow

The Mobile Library is running today Friday 10 September (Week 2 of the timetable), and tomorrow.

• Opawa Rd  – Between Grange Street and Garlands Road 12.50-1.35
• Opawa Rd – Between Reeves Road and Cholmondeley Avenue 1.45- 2.30
• Rutherford Street – Between Barton Street and the Heathcote River 2.55- 3.40

With the agreement of the Eastgate Mall management the Mobile Library will also be open for library service in the Eastgate Mall car park on Saturday 11 Sept 10.00 am – 1.00pm and again on Monday 13 Sept 11.45am -1.15pm.

For the latest information, please visit our news alerts page on the library website.

Earthquake recovery information

If you need information or assistance, the following websites may be of use:

• Coping with stress – from the Ministry of Health
• canterburyearthquake.govt.nz – new all-of-government website
• Christchurch City Council website
• Civil Defence – regular updates are available.
• There is further information on the ECAN (Environment Canterbury) website
• Public preparedness information on www.getthru.govt.nz
• CanterburyEarthquake.org.nz aims to display key information from local and central government and links to useful websites.
• Recover Canterbury – great information for earthquake-hit businesses

Recover Canterbury – New website for business owners

Recover Canterbury aims to offer practical advice and information to help your business recover from the Canterbury earthquake. It is brought to you by organisations including the Christchurch City Council, Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, CDC (Canterbury Development Corporation) and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

On this site you will find information and links to answer your immediate questions, such as:

• The Government’s Earthquake Subsidy for wages
• Employee welfare
• Infrastructure and services
• Links with other businesses who may need or who may be able to offer immediate assistance
• A survey to assess the immediate needs of the business community – we need your feedback to ensure an appropriate Canterbury-wide support system is put in place by Government.

For more business information, check out the Business section on the library website. It included databases you can use from home.

Recovery assistance for businesses

Recover Canterbury – a new website for earthquake-hit businesses – is great source of practical  information in this time of need.

From getting financial and staff support and government assistance, to finding new, temporary premises, Recover Canterbury provides useful answers to your immediate questions, to help businesses get up and running again.

There is information for Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn businesses. The site also offers a helpline – 0800 505 096.

Central and Akaroa libraries open today

Central Library on Gloucester Street and Akaroa Library are open to the public. Central Library is open today from 9 am to 5 pm and for normal opening hours over the weekend (10am-4pm Saturday  and Sunday).

Other libraries remain closed until further notice while they are being assessed for structural damage. These libraries will be opened as soon as possible.

Return dates extended

Don’t worry about your books being due – all borrowed items with return dates between the 1 and 13 September have now had their return date extended to the 30 September. So don’t be in a hurry to bring library books and other items back,  hang on to them until our libraries are up and running. You will not get fines.

See our news alerts page for the latest information.

What’s available?

Our main website, including the library catalogue and premium websites are available.

You can also view some great material on:

• The NEW Christchurch Kids Blog
• the Pulse te Auaha – for teenagers
• Our Flickr site
• Community INformation CHristchurch (CINCH)

Help for parents with stressed children

To help parents whose children may be experiencing stress after the earthquake, a helpful book has been made available for free download. Described as a psychological first aid guide, it is by New Zealanders and will also help schools and librarians working with children.

After Disaster: Responding to the psychological consequences of disasters for children and young people by Peter Stanley and Sarah Williams.

The free download has been made available by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research.

Peter Stanley  and Sarah Williams are registered psychologists. The guide contains research-based information to help teachers, librarians and parents to understand children’s likely immediate and longer-term responses to disaster. It includes ideas of questions to prompt classroom discussion and activities to help students work through their experiences. Parents, Libraries and Schools are welcome to download all or parts of the book and share it with their communities.