The community centre in my old neighbourhood. Now it's an empty lot.
The community centre in my old neighbourhood. Now it's an empty lot.
As Wellington debates the future of its earthquake-damaged central library, and Christchurch enjoys its new high tech one, it's the perfect time to really think about libraries of the future.
A graphic showing the costs of proposed new libraries.
Increasingly, economic, political and human crises, along with natural disasters, constitute a recurrent reality around the world. The effect of large-scale disaster and economic disruption are being felt far and wide and impacting libraries in diverse ways. Libraries are casualties of natural disasters, from earthquakes to hurricanes, as well as civil unrest and wars. Sudden cuts in library budgets have resulted in severe staff reductions, privatization and even closures. The presenters share their experiences about how they have prepared for or coped with profound change.
A large collection of human bones were uncovered on the corner of Cambridge Terrace and Hereford Street during the 1850s. They belonged to the early Waitaha inhabitants (1000 – 1500 AD) who h…
Following the September 2010 earthquake and the closure of a number of campus libraries, library staff at the University of Canterbury was forced to rethink how they connected with their users. The established virtual reference service now meant library staff could be contacted regardless of their physical location. After the February earthquake, with University library closures ranging from 3 weeks to indefinite, this service came into its own as a vital communication tool. It facilitated contact between the library and both students and academics, as well as proving invaluable as a means for library staff to locate and communicate with each other. Transcripts from our post-earthquake interactions with users were analyzed using NVivo and will be presented in poster format showing the increase in usage of the service following the earthquakes, who used the service most, and the numbers and types of questions received. Our virtual reference tool was well used in the difficult post-earthquake periods and we can see this usage continuing as university life returns to normal.
Woolston Community Library, 1871-2011, was one of the earliest suburban libraries to open in Christchurch. Almost from the beginning, the library’s committees have fought a never-ending battle against failing finances, falling membership, unsuitable and disintegrating buildings, and threats of closure from the City Council, but somehow, the volu...
An entry from Ruth Gardner's Blog for 03 February 2014 entitled, "Lunch at the Library?".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 14 July 2012 entitled, "Library Lure".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 29 December 2011 entitled, "Littered Library".
South Library is the last of the council's libraries to be rebuilt or repaired following the Canterbury earthquakes.
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 28 May 2011 entitled, "Local Library".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 27 July 2012 entitled, "Library Lettering".
Cracking below the window of the former Lyttelton Fire Station and Public Library. The photographer comments, "The building at 2 Sumner Road has been sadly damaged by the quake. I was unsure of its future, but now this building has been demolished".
Christchurch’s new $92m central city library opened today – replacing the former library which was damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes. But as Logan Church discovers, with sewing suites, a TV wall and a music studio, this library is home to more than rows and rows of books.
A video of an address by David Ayers, Mayor of Waimakariri District, at the 2015 Seismics and the City forum. The talk is about providing opportunities for input and feedback.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.
The newly renovated Library Undercroft.