Membership FAQs

  • General Questions

    Anyone who lives in the Christchurch City Council area can join Christchurch City Libraries for free. There are also non-city membership options for people living outside the Christchurch area.

    To join, you need to bring ID and proof of your address into one of our libraries and speak to a staff member - they will assist you through the process and give you information about library services. If you can't visit the library to change your temporary membership to full membership, contact the library by ringing 941-7923 or emailing library@ccc.govt.nz. This will enable you to borrow items from the library as well as using our online resources.

    Please see the Join the Library page for details of membership types, the membership form (including an online option) and conditions of membership.

    Non-residents and non-rate payers who comply with the conditions of membership are eligible to join the library as subscription members.

    Anyone under 18 years of age and living in Selwyn, Hurunui or Waimakariri District Council areas is not required to pay a subscription as youth borrowing in these areas is subsidised by The Gammack Trust.

    To change your details please contact us by email, telephone, or LiveOnline, or advise us on your next library visit.

    You can also use the Update your contact details form.

     

    Yes. You can pick up someone else's items and collect their holds if you present their library card.

    You may also pick up someone's holds on their behalf by presenting the notification letter for those items. This notice is sent via email.

    Yes, library charges can be paid over the phone. This service is for debit or credit card (Visa and Mastercard) payments.

    You may be entitled to a concession membership.

    Please visit your local library or contact us to find out more.

    Concession membership is available to customers who have a condition that restricts their use of the library. A medical certificate, letter from a specialist or other verification of the condition may be required in order to obtain this membership category.

    As a concession member you will be able to borrow most items for up to six weeks.

    Borrowing is free except for the Bestseller collections, interloans and board games.

  • Your Sustainable Library Card

    The keyring card feature is not available in a sustainable material. We encourage you to use the CCL mobile app as a handy alternative to using your physical card.

  • Survey

    Why am I being contacted?

    You are being contacted as someone who has joined the Christchurch City Libraries. When you joined, you would have provided the email address that the survey was sent to.
    You are under no obligation to complete the survey.

    Why is the survey being conducted?

    We want to provide you with the best possible service we can, and your feedback helps us to do this.

    Who is conducting the survey?

    The survey is being conducted on behalf of Christchurch City Libraries. It is created and managed by the Monitoring team at Christchurch City Council.
    It is hosted on a platform called Qualtrics.

    What is the survey about?

    The survey is about the services our libraries provide.

    We are specifically asking about:

    • Library visitation in the past 12 months
    • Reasons for visiting and where you find information about what is happening at the libraries
    • Your experience with library staff
    • If you attended any events and what you thought about them
    • Your experience at your most recent visit
    • Your use of online services and your experience with the online services
    • If you have any barriers to using libraries and what needs most improvement
    • What you like best about the libraries

    What are the dates for this survey?

    This survey will be open from Friday 31 July to Sunday 16 August.

    How long is it?

    You'll be asked simple questions that require one-click to answer, with the opportunity to provide more detailed feedback if you wish. It should take around 5 - 10 minutes to complete.

    How is the information being used? Is my information confidential?

    All the information you provide will remain confidential. Results are summarised and the results along with any comments provided is shared with the leadership team at the library. You as an individual will not be identified.

    Why do you need my personal information?

    It is important for us to understand the views of different groups and communities throughout the city and to develop the appropriate services and support networks to better meet the needs of the community. All the survey information is private and confidential. Responses will not be passed on or sold to any third party.

    What is the prize?

    If you complete the survey you have the option to go in to the draw to win a $100 Take me Out voucher.

    When can I take the survey?

    The survey is conducted approximately once a quarter. You will receive an email invite when the survey is open and the invite will specify how long it is open.
    You will also receive an email reminder if you haven’t completed it.

    Problems with the survey?

    If you're having problems submitting your survey, note the details of the problem and contact the Monitoring and Research Team by emailing monitor@ccc.govt.nz.

  • Your Library Card

    Ask at one of our libraries, phone us or use our Live Online chat service. Please have your library card ready.
    Once you have a password or PIN, you can change it in the Personal Information settings once you have logged in.

    You can't use special characters when you make your password/PIN. Special characters include the following:
    ; & " / ` % + ? ' + : $ ^ # * ( ) - = { } [ ] < > . , ~  +

    Join the library to get a library card.

    Youth Membership is available to anyone aged under 18. A guarantor (parent or legal guardian) is required for those up to and including 17 years of age. 

    For children less than 16 years old, a parent or legal guardian is required to sign the membership card and take responsibility for borrowing.

    To join the library you need

    • Either your passport or two (2) forms of ID, preferably one with a photo-ID.
    • Proof of address (no more than 30 days old). This can be a letter (physical or digital) from your bank, school, power or telephone company.

    It can be hard work if you have to manage other people's library cards as well as your own. You can use the Library App to easily borrow and place holds for more than one library account. 

    The Library allows you to add multiple accounts, making it easy to manage individual accounts within the app. Find out how this feature works and get started setting up more than one account on your Android or iOS device.

    This is useful if:

    • You are looking after the library cards of your children and borrowing books for them;
    • You borrow books for elderly relatives, or people in your care.

    Christchurch City Libraries App

    Download from:

    Android devices - Google Play Store

    iOs devices - App Store

    Adding extra accounts

    You can link to additional accounts by navigating to the My Details menu and selecting Linked Accounts. 

    To add a new linked account, select + Add in the top-right corner of the screen. Then enter the barcode and PIN for the account you wish to link. Once entered, selecting Link will complete the process.

    Alternatively, you can choose Scan Membership Card, which uses your device’s camera to scan the library barcode. This provides a quicker option and removes the need to manually enter the borrower number.

    Selecting Linked Accounts again will display all linked accounts. You can also remove linked accounts if needed.

    If your card wears out but you are satisfied using the Library App rather than a physical card then just keep on using the app. If you still need a physical card, we will replace it free of charge. The new card will have a new membership number. Lost cards still incur a $5 administration fee to issue a new card.

    We will email you 3 days before an item is due, and:

    • We will send you an email 7 and 21 days after the item/s due date
    • We will send you an email 7 days after a bill of $2 or more is owed in charges
    • We will email you 7 days after a bill is created if the amount owing is $2 or more
    • If the amount owing is $20 or more, and we have your mobile phone number, we will also text you 14 days after the charge is incurred
    • We will post you an invoice 28 days after a bill is created, if the amount owing is $20 or more
    • If the amount owing is $25 or more, and we have your mobile phone number, we will also text you 35 days after the charge is incurred
    • Any outstanding bills will be sent to debt collection 49 days after a bill is created, if the amount owing is $25 or more. At this time, the cost of sending the bill to debt collection will be added to the bill.

    Blocked cards

    A blocked or barred card means you won’t be able to borrow items, place holds, or use eResources. It will be blocked until the overdue items are returned and any charges are paid.
    Your library card will be blocked if:

    • Some of your items were returned 28 days or more overdue. When you returned the items, the system automatically reversed the charges. However, the bar needs to be removed manually by a library staff member.
    • You have some items that are 28 days or more overdue.
    • You owe $30 or more in unpaid charges.
    • You owe any unpaid charges for 21 days or longer.
    • Your card has not been used for some years.
    • Your contact details are no longer correct or are incomplete and we are unable to contact you.

    Contact us

    If you have any queries about any unpaid bills, please phone the library at 941-7923.

    You must report the loss or theft of your library card immediately. You are liable for replacing materials borrowed with your card until it is reported lost or stolen.

    Please visit your local library to replace your card. You'll need personal identification with you that has your name printed on it, such as your current driver licence or passport.
    The parent or guardian provides the ID, and signature, for children aged under 16 years.

    There is a small charge for replacement cards.

    You can choose a new Password / PIN when you visit the library or by phoning us.
    You can also change your Password / PIN when you access your account information through our website.