City Scene - November 2000: Library celebrates anniversary with storytelling, book and collection

November 2000

Stimulating Senses

Cricket World Coming To City

Gardening Raised To New Heights

Port Hills - Keeping The Dream Alive

The People's Palace

Library celebrates anniversary with storytelling, book and collection

To mark the 150th anniversary, Christchurch City Libraries has organised a storytelling programme that brings to life some of the province's earliest settlers.

Talented storyteller and historian Margaret Copland will wear period costume and recreate the lives of two extraordinary women - one from England and the other from Poland.

Based on extensive research and aimed at adults, the stories are full of fascinating detail and intriguing insights of early Canterbury life.

Stories will be told at several libraries around Christchurch:
Monday, 11 December: Shirley Library 10-11am; Fendalton Library 2-3pm.
Tuesday, 12 December: Sumner Library 11am-noon; Linwood Library 1.30-2.30pm.
Thursday, 14 December: Spreydon Library 10am-noon; Halswell Library 2-3pm; Central City Library 6-7pm.

Christchurch City Libraries has also published a book, "Rich man, poor man, environmentalist, thief", a historical book portraying eight local personalities.

Launched in Heritage Week (October), the book focuses on people who have influenced the development of Christchurch but have largely been forgotten.

Author Richard Greenaway, genealogy librarian at Christchurch City Libraries, considers the people portrayed to be almost like "old friends . . . The decision to publish was a wonderful opportunity to build on my existing knowledge of these people".

The book is the result of extensive research into land, police, school, bankruptcy, newspaper and local body records. It costs $10 from Council libraries and services centres.

The library has also been involved in a collection of prose and poetry written by Canterbury children and being published in December by Clerestory Press.

"And me for all of those: voices of Canterbury" also contains work by local adult writers such as Margaret Mahy, Owen Marshall and James Norcliffe, and illustrations by Trish Bowles.

The cover is by Gavin Bishop. The book will be launched at a function hosted by Scorpio Books. The Central City Library is also planning an event of readings by the young writers in December.