On 4th August 1859, the Mechanics Institute opened the Canterbury Public Library for those who wished to further educate themselves. A few hundred books were made available to one hundred subscribers, all set up in a single room at the Town Hall, High Street.
The first books for public use arrived in Christchurch via the Canterbury Association ships, the historic ‘Charlotte Jane’ alone carrying two thousand books in her cargo hold – along with the Lyttelton Times’ pressing press and St Michael and All Angels’ church bell. As the Lyttelton Immigration Barracks began to be used less and less, a room was made into the region’s first unofficial library.
When the Mechanics Institute began to experience funding problems, the library was passed into the care of the Canterbury Provincial Council and the Canterbury College (University of Canterbury) in 1873. By this time, the Library had moved to the corner of Cambridge Terrace and Hereford Street. It would remain on this site until 1981. In 1948, the C.C.C. became the new caretaker.
On 11th January 1982, with 400,000 books and 90,000 members, the Canterbury Public Library reopened in its pre-earthquake location on Gloucester Street. It was New Zealand’s first library to have an automated library system and the first library in Australasia to have an internet presence.
In 2000, with well over fifteen suburban/mobile branches (Spreydon being the first, opening in 1971), the Canterbury Public Library was renamed to the Christchurch Public Libraries.
A new chapter awaits this popular public service as the media openly seeks the city’s opinion of what our new library should be. As of 2015, with a new design all drawn up, it looks to be part of the rebuild of the new Cathedral Square.
The attached photo shows the ground floor of the Reference Room of the now demolished Old Library Chambers, cnr of Cambridge Terrace and Hereford Street, circa 1930’s.
*Image courtesy of the Christchurch City Libraries – CCL PhotoCD 8, IMG0018 and link to http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Photos/Disc8/img0018.asp*
Mnamo Agosti 4, 1859, Taasisi ya Mechanics ilifungua Maktaba ya Umma ya Canterbury kwa wale waliotaka kujielimisha zaidi. Vitabu mia chache viliwekwa kwa ajili ya waandikishaji mia moja, vyote vikiwa vimewekwa katika chumba kimoja katika Jumba la Jiji, Barabara Kuu. Vitabu vya kwanza kwa ajili ya matumizi ya umma ziliwasili Christchurch kupitia meli za Chama cha Canterbury, kihistoria 'Charlotte Jane' peke yake kubeba vitabu elfu mbili katika mizigo yake pamoja na Lyttelton Times' kushinikiza vyombo vya habari na St Michael na Malaika Wote 'kanisa kengele. Kama Lyttelton Uhamiaji Barracks alianza kutumika chini na chini, chumba ilifanywa katika eneo la kwanza yasiyo ya rasmi maktaba. Wakati Taasisi ya Mechanics ilianza kupata matatizo ya fedha, maktaba ilipitishwa katika huduma ya Halmashauri ya Mkoa wa Canterbury na Chuo Kikuu cha Canterbury (Canterbury Chuo Kikuu) katika 1873. Kufikia wakati huo, Maktaba ilikuwa imehamia kwenye kona ya Cambridge Terrace na Hereford Street. Ilikuwa na nafasi ya kuhifadhiwa hadi mwaka 1981. Mwaka 1948 CCC ilifungua akawa msimamizi mpya. Mnamo Januari 11, 1982, maktaba ya umma ya Canterbury ilifunguliwa tena katika eneo lake la kabla ya tetemeko la ardhi kwenye Gloucester Street. Ilikuwa maktaba ya kwanza ya New Zealand kuwa na mfumo wa maktaba ya moja kwa moja na maktaba ya kwanza katika Australasia kuwa na uwepo wa mtandao. Katika mwaka wa 2000, na zaidi ya matawi kumi na tano ya vitongoji (Spreydon kuwa ya kwanza, kufunguliwa katika 1971) Maktaba ya Umma ya Canterbury ilibadilishwa jina kuwa Maktaba ya Umma ya Christchurch. Sura mpya inangojea huduma hii ya umma maarufu wakati vyombo vya habari vinavyotafuta wazi maoni ya jiji juu ya kile maktaba yetu mpya inapaswa kuwa. Tangu mwaka 2015, na muundo mpya wote uliochorwa, inaonekana kuwa sehemu ya ujenzi wa Cathedral Square mpya. Picha iliyoambatanishwa inaonyesha ghorofa ya chini ya Chumba cha Marejeo cha Chumba cha Maktaba ya Kale iliyoharibiwa sasa, cnr ya Cambridge Terrace na Hereford Street, karibu na miaka ya 1930. Picha ya picha ya CCL PhotoCD 8 na kiungo cha http: www.christchurchcitylibraries.com