I want to ...
Featured
WORD Christchurch Festival 2026: 1 to 6 September
WORD Christchurch Festival is on next week — from 1 to 6 September 2026. Read all about events, writers, and get librarian picks!
Featured
WORD Christchurch Festival 2026: 1 to 6 September
WORD Christchurch Festival is on next week — from 1 to 6 September 2026. Read all about events, writers, and get librarian picks!
I want to ...
Featured
Featured
Join us for school holiday fun and learning
Come to the library in the school holidays for bookable programmes and free drop-in activities. Booking open 7pm Thursday 27 August.
WHAIAO Exhibition: 8 August to 29 November
An exploration and celebration of Māori worldviews & the items we are humbly able to hold in our collections at Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi.
Celebrate the wonder of words with National Poetry Day 2026
We're running a poetry competition from 17 to 31 August for adults and under 18s. Winners will have their poem printed on a tote bag!
National Poetry Day 2026: Friday 28 August
An assemblage of poetry stuff for National Poetry Day. WORD events, fave NZ poems, and poems with titles that make you go Hmmmmm.
Featured
Join us for school holiday fun and learning
Come to the library in the school holidays for bookable programmes and free drop-in activities. Booking open 7pm Thursday 27 August.
eResources
eResources
I want to research: eResources for deep dives and study
Access thousands of full text journals, discover primary sources, research your family history and more. Free with your library membership.
Talking Books Book Club
Join the Talking Books Book Club from uLibrary. This month's title is Black Silk & Sympathy by Deborah Challinor.
Libby Reads Book for August - Register for the Live Event
Join us for an evening of discussion with Emma Viskic, author of Resurrection Bay, August's featured Libby Reads title on Libby.
eResources
I want to research: eResources for deep dives and study
Access thousands of full text journals, discover primary sources, research your family history and more. Free with your library membership.
For Readers
For Readers
New For You - August 2026
New For You is a monthly selection of new books, topical titles, and hidden gems — chosen especially for you by our book buyers!
New this week
Every week we publish just ordered, new fiction, and new non-fiction lists. Find out the newest titles added to the library collection.
Arts and literature reading guide
Find fun reads that shed light on your favourite music, theatre or literature. Reads that inform and entertain just like great works of art.
Historical fiction reading guide
Recommended titles for readers who love royal intrigue, fans of sagas, or those gripped by the action in historical adventure.
New For You
New For You - August 2026
New For You is a monthly selection of new books, topical titles, and hidden gems — chosen especially for you by our book buyers!
New titles
New
Join the library. It's free!
Kia ora and welcome to Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi - join online now.
Just added
Just Added
Elizabeth McCombs (1873 – 1935)
Elizabeth McCombs became New Zealand’s first woman MP in 1933 when she won the Lyttelton seat in a by-election.
Craft Snippets with Christine Powell
Sep 30th | 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Christine’s creative journey has taken her from Antarctica to the colourful warmth of knitting and eventually, to writing a book about both.
Craft snippets: Linen-making with Gina Russell
Report back from a talk and demonstration by linen-grower, Gina Russell of Papahoa Fibreworks, about how linen is harvested and processed.
Curious about collectables? Check Carters Price Guide
Discover the value behind the vintage at Carters Price Guide.
Explore
Elizabeth McCombs (1873 – 1935)
Elizabeth McCombs became New Zealand’s first woman MP in 1933 when she won the Lyttelton seat in a by-election.