Central Library Tuam is closing on Friday 1 November

Our Central Library Tuam is closing for good in under a fortnight. It closes its doors on 6 pm, 1 November 2013 to make way for the new Justice and Emergency Services Precinct.

In late January 2014, Central Library Manchester will open at 36 Manchester Street (on the corner of Allen Street). In the meantime, our wonderful Central Library Peterborough is still open.

Things to know

• Books borrowed from Central Library Tuam can be returned to any city library.
• From 1 November holds previously placed for pick up at Central Library Tuam will be available from Central Library Peterborough (91 Peterborough Street). You can change your holds pickup location in the catalogue too.

What will be at Central Library Manchester?

When it opens in late January, it will house the following collections:

• Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Nga Pounamu Maori
• Local Government (historical agendas, minutes)

Family History resources currently split between the Central Libraries Tuam and Peterborough will be consolidated at Central Library Manchester. They include electoral rolls, microfiche newspaper files, and telephone and business directories.

Central Library Manchester will also offer:

• General fiction, nonfiction, best sellers and biographies
• Large print and talking books
• Graphic novels
• Young adult titles
• 80 Magazine titles
• Newspapers (primarily NZ titles)

Due to limited space at Central Library Manchester there will be no children’s section (Central Library Peterborough will have an extended children’s area ).

The DVD and CD collections will be reduced.

What will be at Central Library Peterborough?

Much of the current collection at Peterborough Street will remain unchanged. It will also offer:

• World languages and ESOL material will now include Asian language items previously at Central Library Tuam.
• Music scores
• Extended Children’s collection
• Extended CD collection.

Motor vehicle manuals will be held in storage but can be requested for use at Peterborough.

New Central Library

The two temporary inner city libraries will continue to service the inner city until a new Central Library is built. Sited in Gloucester Street with a Cathedral Square frontage it is due to open in 2016/2017 and the Christchurch City Council will give residents an opportunity to have a say about the services they would like it to deliver.

This week in Christchurch history (21 – 27 October)

22 October 1863
It is 150 years since the first Agricultural and Pastoral Association show in showgrounds (which is now Sydenham Park). An “unofficial” show had been held in October, 1862.

22 October 1985
“Elizabeth” the one tonne sea elephant dies of a viral infection on Sumner Beach. She had lived for 5 years on the City’s beaches, estuary and rivers and was often found crawling up suburban streets.

23 October 1874
Canterbury Club building (designed by Frederick Strouts) inaugurated.

25 October 1986
“Qin Shihuang” (Chinese Buried Army) exhibition opens at the McDougall Art Gallery. 71,145 people visited the exhibition over a seven week period.

26 October 1980
Christchurch City Council gives land at Cuthberts Green to the trustees of new Ngā Hau E Whā National Marae.

26 October 1982
Old library re-opens as Library Chambers (architect Don Donnithorne).

27 October 1983
New office building on the corner of Manchester and Kilmore Streets has New Zealand’s first exterior lift.

A timeline of Christchurch events in
chronological order from pre-European times to 1989.

More October events in the Chronology.