Christchurch Central Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christchurch Central Library |
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Christchurch Central Library in 2007
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| General information | |
| Type | Library |
| Location | Christchurch Central City |
| Address | Gloucester Street, Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 43°31′48″S 172°38′02″E / 43.5300°S 172.6339°E |
| Opened | 2 February 1982 |
| Closed | 22 February 2011 |
| Cost | NZ$5.8m |
| Owner | Christchurch City Council |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | Four storeys |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Warren and Mahoney |
| Main contractor | Charles Luney |
The Christchurch Central Library was once the main library for Christchurch City Libraries in Central Christchurch, New Zealand. It was the biggest library in the South Island and the third largest in the whole country.
This important library opened its doors in 1982. It was located at the corner of Oxford Terrace and Gloucester Street. Sadly, it had to close on the day of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake on February 21, 2011. The building was later taken down in 2014. A new library, called Tūranga, opened in 2018 to replace it.
Contents
History of the Library
The story of Christchurch's main library goes way back to 1859. The first library buildings were located on Cambridge Terrace and Hereford Street. After more than 100 years, a new, bigger library was needed.
Finding a New Home
It took years to find the perfect spot for the new central library. In 1974, land was bought at the corner of Gloucester Street and Oxford Terrace. This new location was special because it faced the Avon River. It was also close to the historic Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings. Plus, it was just a short walk from the city centre in Cathedral Square.
Building the New Library
The famous architecture firm Warren and Mahoney designed the building. Charles Luney was the main builder for the project. The land and construction together cost NZ$5.8 million.
The library officially opened on February 2, 1982. Sir David Beattie, who was the Governor-General at the time, opened the building. After it opened, many people joined the library. In just three months, 10,000 new members signed up!
Inside the Library
The Christchurch Central Library had four floors. It covered a huge area of 6,000 square metres. The ground floor and the first floor were connected by an escalator. The second and third floors were used for staff and services.
In 1997, the library added more space, about one and a half extra floors. Another escalator was put in to connect the first and second floors, giving the public more areas to explore. More changes were made to the building in 2001 to improve it further.
Earthquakes and Closure
The library building did not suffer much damage in the big 2011 Christchurch earthquake on February 22, 2011. However, the city centre was declared a "red zone." This meant people could not go into the area for safety reasons.
Temporary Library Locations
Because the central library was in the red zone, other temporary library spots were set up. These included:
- South City Mall (from July 2011 to July 2012)
- Peterborough Street (from December 2011 onwards)
- Tuam Street (from July 2012 to November 2013)
- Manchester Street (from January 2014 onwards)
The Tuam Street library was very handy because it was next to the temporary bus exchange. It became important as more books were brought out of the closed central building. However, it also closed later because the land was needed for the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct.
Demolition and Replacement
The Christchurch Central Library building was located in an area planned for a new Convention Centre. Because of this, the building was taken down in September and October 2014. A brand new central library, named Tūranga, opened in October 2018 to take its place.
Images for kids
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Christchurch Central Library during demolition
