$3M library and service centre for Fendalton

Christchurch’s latest and brightest library is open for business - along with a service centre and a police officer in the same building.

The $3 million Fendalton Library and Service Centre in Jeffreys Road opened for business on 3 July.

The bright and airy building was built on the site of the former service centre, which was the Waimairi District Council building before that. The old library building in Clyde Road is now closed and its 70,000 books, magazines, CDs and other items are now in the new library.

The new library, which opens an hour earlier each day at 9am, has about twice as much space as the old one and service centre staff will assist the 21 library staff in the new premises.

Someone from community policing will also be based in the building, under the jurisdiction of a Merivale- Fendalton senior constable and Avonhead senior constable.

Fendalton Library will close at 8pm from Monday to Friday. On Saturday it will be open from 10am to 1pm.

Members of the public joined Christchurch City Councillors and members of FendaltonWaimairi Community Board for the opening ceremony, which initiated a week of entertainment for children and a special programme of stories, some read by sportspeople including Silver Fern Anna Veronese. Workshops on skateboarding, cartooning, juggling, puppetry and computer use were held. There were two musical performances and several guest speakers.

The service centre will house Council services, enabling customers to pay rates, renew dog licences and such like. “The combined service will offer customers maximum convenience, while retaining excellent standards,” says Fendalton Library manager Marion Ogier.

The temporary buildings, used for service centre staff in the past nine months near the new building, are now for sale.