Library news – November 2014

Find out what's new around our network of libraries.
Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.

Buildings and facilities

Closure of Diamond Harbour Library (Updated Tuesday 4 November 2014)

The Diamond Harbour Hall and Library will be closed for at least another week as a precaution after the discovery of asbestos panelling beneath the building.

The Council is awaiting the results of some soil sampling – depending on the extent of the discovery and the work that may be required to remove it safely, the building could reopen in a week or two.

This precautionary closure began on Thursday 30 October after the building’s cladding was identified as a type that may contain asbestos. This was discovered by the local fire brigade after water-blasting to clean the building accidentally set off the fire alarm. The Department of Labour was informed and, as a precaution against the possibility of the water-blasting releasing asbestos fibres into the air, the building was closed.

The building is cordoned off and users are being asked to avoid it over the coming weeks, and to return any items to an alternate library if possible. The nearest is Lyttelton Library. Customers with reserved items are being contacted to arrange alternate pickup locations.

This is a precautionary approach, and we apologise for the inconvenience caused to the Diamond Harbour community and to the building’s users.

Council Customer Service Desk at Hornby Library

Starting from 4 September 2014, a Christchurch City Council Customer Service Desk will be available at Hornby Library for all Council enquiries and payments. This service will be available on Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 6pm.

Stock availability

The Source electronic resources access

Please note that library Non-city members can access all electronic resources except where specifically excluded by the terms of Christchurch City Libraries’ contractual agreements with those suppliers. For more information see our Membership policy.

Store is open and most Store items are now available.

  • While libraries are closed, items in those collections are not available to be borrowed.
  • Items which are unavailable should now have their status in catalogue records as Currently inaccessible. The only exception to this is stock held at ‘LRS’. Unfortunately we are unable to change the status of this stock from Available to Currently inaccessible. In time this stock will become available once more.
  • Holds may be placed on items held at closed libraries and will be delivered to you when the item becomes available. Your hold will not expire, but may not be delivered for some time.
  • Please contact us if you have questions.

We apologise for any inconvenience.