New Brighton Library is closing for repairs from Monday 1 August, but customers won’t have long to wait to see their favourite library services return, with a temporary library popping up in New Brighton Mall from Monday 15 August.
“This is the best of both worlds for the community’s library customers,” says Erica Rankin, Community Libraries Manager with Christchurch City Council.
“New Brighton Library is a popular locale, certainly with the most striking setting and views of any library in our network, and it’s going to be getting the tender loving care it deserves. It sustained some moderate earthquake damage in 2011, and the work will pack the necessary repairs into a relatively short timeframe.”
New Brighton Library is expected to reopen in early 2017, after repairs to the concrete columns and floors, replacement of the east-facing first floor windows, as well as external painting, new carpet and more.
“The second piece of good news is that people will still be able to get their library fix during the repairs,” Ms Rankin says. “The New Brighton community are incredibly engaged library-users, and the decision to set up shop in New Brighton Mall means that they get that all-important stability.”
An initiative driven by the Burwood–Pegasus Community Board, the temporary library will be located at 60 Brighton Mall. It will offer a small, popular collection including all the usual items for borrowing, plus eight free internet computers. The opening hours will be the same and the popular preschool sessions will continue as normal.
The temporary library will be open from Monday 15 August, and will remain in operation until New Brighton Library reopens. Unfortunately, because it will take approximately two weeks to clear New Brighton Library for the repair and set up the new temporary library, there will be a period from Monday 1 August to Sunday 14 August where no library services will be available locally.
The nearest alternate libraries are Parklands Library at 46 Queenspark Drive, Aranui Library at 109 Aldershot Street, Linwood Library in Eastgate Mall, and Shirley Library at 36 Marshland Road.
Repairs to New Brighton Pier, adjacent to New Brighton Library, are scheduled to begin shortly afterwards in October 2016. The Salt on the Pier restaurant and café will remain open throughout most of the work.
