Library draws 30,000 in first month
With more than 30,000 customers in its first 30 days, Christchurch's newest library, the Upper Riccarton Community and School Library, is celebrating a successful opening.
Almost a decade in the planning, the state-of-the-art facility is New Zealand's first joint-use urban community and school library, having been built by the Christchurch City Council in partnership with Riccarton High School.
It is designed as an integrated community and educational learning, information and leisure facility, serving the high school and the Riccarton, Avonhead, Ilam, Sockburn, Wharenui, and Wigram communities.
Community librarian Joan Simpson says the community response has been fantastic. "They love the design, in particular the light, spacious environment, the layout and easy flow through the building, and of course the new technology."
With more than 30,000 customers through the doors in the first 30 days, she says it is wonderful to see the community making full use of the facility. "One customer even likened the new library to a New York book store. It's great to be getting such positive feedback."
Riccarton High School principal Phil Holstein says students have embraced the new facility. "It's been hard to keep them, and staff, out of the library since the start of the new school year.
"They like the new environment. Having the three learning centre classrooms in the library has opened up a whole new aspect to our learning. Not only is it a great environment but the school has access to such wonderful resources and the students are able to mix with the community. This interaction is important and being welcomed."
The library houses a book and audio-visual collection of 50,000 items, providing facilities for residents and students to study and access information and use the latest communication technology.
Designed by Christchurch architects Warren and Mahoney, the library boasts the latest energy-efficient and environmentally friendly innovations, including an electronic weather station to monitor temperature and track heat and light.
- Upper Riccarton Community and School Library, at 71 Main South Rd, is open Mon-Fri 9am-8pm and Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
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