With demolition about to begin on the earthquake-damaged South Library and Customer Service Hub, Christchurch City Council is opening two new pop-up facilities to serve the local community.
The temporary library, South Colombo, will open at The Colombo shopping centre, 363 Colombo Street on Monday 24 February 2025. The temporary Customer Service Hub will open at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre on Monday 10 February.
This means the last day open for the Customer Service Hub will be Friday 7 February, and the last day for the Library will be Sunday 9 February.
“The South building was badly damaged in the 2011 earthquakes, and the community has been very patient while we've worked to get a new, rebuilt facility in the pipeline,” says Carolyn Robertson, Libraries and Information Unit Manager.
“We're set to start construction on Ōmōkihi, the new Library and Customer Service Hub, in 2025. Because we’re retaining the same picturesque riverside location that our customers know and love, we first need to demolish the existing building – and unfortunately, that means displacing our much-loved library and customer services for the duration.”
Both temporary facilities will operate until December 2026, when Ōmōkihi is expected to open.
The South Colombo library will be located on the western side of The Colombo and offer a collection of around 10,000 items, an area for children’s sessions and spaces for people to relax and study. It will be open seven days, 9am–5pm weekdays and 10am–4pm Saturdays and Sundays.
The pop-up Customer Service Hub will be found near the pool front counter at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre.
“To help fill the gap during construction of Ōmōkihi, we'll also be extending the hours at the nearby Spreydon Library, and we'll have our South Mobile library van servicing various handy locations in the area. That includes local schools, community hubs, Princess Margaret Hospital, the Cashmere Club and She Chocolaterie,” Mrs Robertson says.
On top of the earthquake damage, the South Library and Customer Service Hub opened in 2003, and was due for an upgrade to modern standards – Ōmōkihi will be much greener and more energy efficient, and the space inside will better suit customers and staff.
When is the South Library and Service Centre building closing?
The two different Council services located in the South building will close from Monday 10 February 2025.
This means the last day open for the Customer Service Hub will be Friday 7 February, and the last day for the Library will be Sunday 9 February.
Once both services have relocated, the Council can start work to demolish the earthquake damaged South building and begin construction of the new Ōmōkihi facility.
When will the pop-up library at The Colombo open?
The pop-up library at The Colombo will open on Monday 24 February.
South Colombo will be located on the western side of The Colombo and offer a collection of around 10,000 items, an area for children’s sessions and spaces for people to relax and study.
South Colombo will be open seven days, 9am–5pm weekdays and 10am–4pm Saturdays and Sundays. It is expected to operate until December 2026, when Ōmōkihi South Library is set to open.
South Colombo will be cash free, with EFTPOS available.
Will I still be able to return items to South Library?
No, because the whole site will be a construction site. Items can be returned to any library in the Christchurch City Libraries network, including at South Colombo from 24th February when the library opens.
Where can I pick up my holds?
Here are a few options:
- South Mobile Van
- South Colombo (The Colombo Mall) after 24 February
- You can change your holds pick up location to nearby libraries including Tūranga, Spreydon Library, Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre or
Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre. If you need help, please ask a friendly staff member.
At the closure of South Library, any remaining holds will be relocated to Spreydon Library
Extended hours for Spreydon Library
While work on Ōmōkihi is underway, we’re also extending the hours at Spreydon Library (9am–7pm weekdays and 10am–4pm Saturday and Sunday) and boosting its collection with stock from South.
Our mobile library van will also be visiting local schools, community hubs and locations close to South Library including Princess Margaret Hospital, the Cashmere Club and She Chocolaterie.
Will the pop-up library have free wi-fi?
Yes, free wi-fi will be available as it is at other Christchurch City Libraries.
What are the closest alternative locations?
The nearest alternative libraries are
Tūranga, Spreydon Library, Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre and Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre.
Read: New library and service hub popping up soon in South, Newsline, 13 January 2025
