What you need to know about your library card
Using your library card
- Anything borrowed on your card will be issued to your record.
- The membership number on your library card and your password / PIN give you access to our eResources.
- Your library card can be used at all libraries in the Christchurch City Libraries network.
- You can load money onto your membership account using Pharos to pay for copying, printing, and other library services and products.
- Take your card with you on holiday as it allows you to borrow from most public libraries in New Zealand.
Looking after your library card
- Money owed for charges or lost or damaged stock will stay on your record until paid.
- If your library account is not used for two years, it is deleted from our records. This is necessary to keep up-to-date statistics for strategic planning and budgeting.
- Take care of your card.
- Do not let others use it.
- Report its loss or theft immediately so that we can stop other people using it.
- You are liable for replacing materials borrowed with your card until it is reported lost or stolen.
- There will be a charge for replacement cards.
Your Digital Library Card
We have an app called Christchurch City Libraries Mobile (CCL Mobile) that you can use to manage your library account, place holds and scan to check out books at our self-issue kiosks. Managing your library account using our app means that if your card wears out, you do not need to get a new one. This helps reduce waste.
Loading money on your account
You can pay for copying, printing and paying for internet access with Pharos. Credit can be transferred from your library card or e-services card to your Pharos account. You can load money on your account at any library location; please ask a staff member at the main desk.
If you do not qualify to be a member of Christchurch City Libraries you can request a Pharos visitor account.
Keep your account details safe so that other people cannot use your credit.
Library Card FAQ
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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. -
To get a library card simply join the library.
Youth membership is available to anyone aged under 19.
For children less than 16 years old a parent or legal guardian is required to sign the membership application 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.
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If your card wears out but you are satisfied using the CCL Mobile 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.
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We will email you 3 days before an item is due, and:
- We will send you an email or letter 7 and 21 days after an item becomes overdue
- We will send you an email or letter 7 days after a bill of $2 or more is owed in charges
- If we have your cellphone number, we will text you 14 days after a bill is created if the amount owing reaches a certain level
- We will post you an invoice 21 days after a bill is created, if the amount owing is $20 or more
- Any outstanding bills will be sent to debt collection 42 days after a bill is created, and if the amount owing is over $25. 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:- Items are 28 days or more overdue
- $30 or more is owed in unpaid charges
- Any unpaid charges are owed for 21 days or longer.
Contact us
If you have any queries about any unpaid bills, please phone the library at 941-7923.
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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.
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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.
Sustainable Library Cards
Christchurch City Council is committed to sustainability and waste minimisation. We are excited to be offering a more sustainable alternative to plastic library membership cards with our new FSC certified paperboard cards and digital app, CCL Mobile.
FSC is the top-standard for ethically sourced paper products. Because these cards are 100% paperboard with no plastic coating, they are fully biodegradable - you can even put them in your green bin!
Tirohanga Whānui - Overview
The four cards are produced on a robust 700gsm card and have stunning new designs produced in partnership between Ngā Ratonga Māori and CCC Marketing.
The three key elements of the card design:
- Digital first and Waste Minimisation
- Sustainable and Biodegradable Card Material
- Te Ao Māori design
The cards were co-designed by Māori Library Services and Marketing leading into Libraries Matariki campaign. A month long celebration based on an annual changing theme aligned to the specific stars of the cluster we are celebrating. The theme of 2022 “Toitū ngā mahinga kai a Matariki – Sustainable, natural resources of Matariki” celebrating the growing stars Tupuārangi (things that grow in trees and bushes, like fruit and also birds; Tupuānuku (things that grow in the soil) and Ururangi (things associated with the wind).
Like all the stars of the Matariki cluster, they are closely associated with health, wellbeing and our natural environment, thus tying in nicely with the sustainability focus of the whole project.
It was agreed that the design elements would incorporate aspects that reflect all nine stars of Matariki and their respective associations. This also extends these natural and sustainable threads through Matariki representing the connection between people and the environment.
Ko ngā Āhuatanga Hoahoa – Design elements
Te Karere – Translation of wording
Māori messaging is a call to action from Libraries to our community to come and physically discover something through exploring, examining our collection, resources and services.
Tōmene = (verb) to explore thoroughly, inspect, have a good look
Mai = (particle) directional, indicates direction towards the speaker
Ngā Whakaahua – Patterns
The patterns are derived from traditional tukutuku panels, ornamental lattice work that adorn wharenui, carved meeting houses throughout Aotearoa.
This weaving style originates from a series of binding and knotting techniques which Māori brought with them from the Pacific. Once in Aotearoa, these techniques were adapted to weaving for adornment of their structures, capturing stories of where they came from, how they got here and reflective of their new environment. Tūranga has a set made by master weavers and the community which were then gifted to Christchurch City Libraries.
This pattern is based on the Poutama, “a stepped pattern… symbolising genealogies and also various levels of learning.” It symbolises the owners desire to attain more knowledge and learning in their life’s journey.
The colours are linked to the celestial stars of Matariki – Pōhutukawa, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi and Matariki (the mother), who are considered our guardian stars, Te Kāhui Kumanu o Matariki that nurture and care for us, helping us to achieve our learning aspirations.
While this pattern is based on Roimata, “formed with stitches that fall vertically like… tears”. It also links to another weaving pattern tātai whakaheke which refers to an intergenerational activity such as the passing of knowledge.
The colours are associated with the water stars of Matariki – Waitī, Waitā and Waipunarangi, who we consider as Te Kātao o Matariki, the water stars of Matariki, reminding us of how knowledge flows from one source to another.
This pattern is based on Waewae Pākura, foot prints of the swamp hen (Pākura is a Kāi Tahu word for Pukeko). It symbolises our life journey to obtain knowledge, It acknowledges the journey many of our customers have made to live here in Aotearoa.
The colours correlate to the growing and wind stars of Matariki – Tupuānuku, Tupuārangi and Ururangi, that we refer to as ngā mahinga kai a Matariki, the sustainable natural resources of Matariki. This design is reminder to not only care for our environment but also to continue to cultivate our knowledge.
This pattern is based on Whakapuareare, to make holey. It is a kupenga, net style weave which links to the narrative of Taramainuku who is connected to the stars of Matariki as he uses a kupenga to catch those who have passed on to be released into the sky as stars at the rise of Matariki. It also acknowledges the only going gathering of knowledge and the linking of the past to the future through the present.
The colours are a culmination of all the values of the Matariki star cluster, embracing difference, diversity and encouraging acceptance.
Sustainable Cards FAQ
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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.
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These sustainable library cards are 100% paper however in Christchurch the minimum size for recycled card is an envelope. They are biodegradable so we suggest that they are placed in your green bin once they have reached their end of life.
Library cards
He taonga tuku iho
Tukua kia rere tō wairua, ki nga taumata
Nōu te ao.
This heritage is yours
(so) let your spirit [imagination] soar to the heights,
(for) the world is yours to explore.
