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New on the CCL website

New: photo topics

We've added some new topics to our photo collections samplers including music, cars and photos of Dame Ngaio Marsh. Some other topics have been updated with new images including New Brighton, Maori, Faces of our forebears and 1906 Exhibition.

Learning Centre Summer Holiday Programmes

Our summer holiday programmes are now online and open for bookings. To keep session quality high each session has limited numbers and is open to a specified age group. Kids can learn how to create music, make a blog, film a book "trailer", play with photos and brand new online tools to make posters, animations and much much more.

New: New Zealand Women's Golf Open

Information on the 2009 New Zealand Women's Golf Open

Image collection: Golf

A selection of photographs from our images collection showing golfing scenes in Canterbury.

New: Best Reads 2008

We pick our top books of 2008, and you get to have your say.

Updated: Christmas / New Year hours

Library hours over the Christmas and New Year's holidays

Updated: Reading Crusade 2009

Schools can now register online for next year's Reading Crusade.

Podcast: Library Detective 5 - Behind the Scenes

The Library Detective meets Megan and Philip, two of the libraries' selectors, who buy books and DVDs and other resources for people to borrow. We also hitch a ride with Guy on the courier service - shipping books around the library network.

edition: 17 November - DIY

New Zealanders love to renovate and build and do all kinds of handy tasks around the home. Building and DIY projects need to follow certain guidelines - for safety and weathertightness, for example. Christchurch City Libraries has a building guide, with quick links to council building information.

New: Building guide

Kiwis are great DIY enthusiasts, and many people love the ability to save themselves money and create their own ‘dream home’ or renovate their existing dwelling.

Updated: Read the book, then see the film

We’ve gathered together most of the movies coming up that are based on books so that you can get in first.

New: Architecture and Architects

Added to our arts resources, includes an interview with Richard Dalman about the 2008 Canterbury NZIA architecture awards.

RSS: new non-fiction this week

Our RSS feed of the non fiction that arrived this week

RSS: new fiction this week

Our RSS feed of the fiction that arrived over the past week

RSS: just ordered this week

Our RSS feed of the items that we ordered this week

Digitised: Gallipoli papers

Gallipoli campaign : operation and transport orders, memoranda and other papers issued to the Canterbury Infantry Battalion at Lemnos, January-September 1915. Copies of official orders issued to the Battalion during the Gallipoli landings.

Digitised: The Kiwi

A troopship magazine from World War I. Front four pages are headed Shipmates O' Mine and contain signatures and names.

Updated: Mars Phoenix lander RIP

The Phoenix Mars lander has finally ended its 5 month journey on Mars after a loss of power left it frozen on the planet's icy surface. Find out more from our background.

Media release: 1950s snapshot wins historical photo competition

Judges have unanimously selected a winner of the Libraries' Heritage Week photo competition, saying the image “encapsulated the spirit of the 1950s and portrayed a moment in social history.”

Photos: Bridge of Remembrance

A selection of our photos of the Bridge of Remembrance.

Edition: Courage Day and Armistice Day

This week marks not one but two remembrance days: Armistice Day is Tuesday, and marks the end of hostilities during World War I. This Thursday is the international day to remember imprisoned writers. In New Zealand this day is named Courage Day, after Sarah Amelia Courage and James Courage, writers whose books were burned or banned.

Digitised: Seditious prisoners & conscientious objectors fund

By Edwin Howard. A history and accounting of the fund, which was set up in December 1916, to provide for objectors arrested under the War Regulations.

Digitised: Memorial Service held on Anzac Day, 1916

The first annual commemoration of the landing of the men of New Zealand on the Gallipoli Peninsula, April 25th, 1915, and of the lives laid down on that day and during the ensuing campaign. Service held in Christchurch Cathedral.

Digitised: Christchurch War Memorial

The history and symbolic features of the Bridge of Remembrance opened By Viscount Jellicoe of Scapa, on Armistice Day, November 11, 1924. Extracts from the address of J. Wyn Irwin, of the Bridge of Remembrance Committee.

Digitised: The Canterbury Aviation Co. Limited

Details of services and training offered by the company following World War I.

Digitised: Canterbury Aviation Co.: the first 100 pilots

A brief history by Henry Wigram recounting the beginnings of the Canterbury Aviation Company. Notes on training pilots for defence purposes during World War I, and prospects for future. Includes a list of the first hundred pilots trained by the company.

Courage Day: International Day of the Imprisoned Writer

15 November is the date that throughout the world, PEN (the international writers' organisation which champions freedom of expression) holds events to mark the International Day of the Imprisoned Writer.

Digitised: Winning through from war to peace

Cover subtitle: this illustrated book, edited by L. S. Fanning, shows the wide range of help given to discharged soldiers by the New Zealand Government in the re-establishment of the men in civilian life.

Digitised:Diggers' Poems by Returned Soldiers

A small collection of poems by returned soldiers published after World War I. Poems: ANZACs – Australians – A soldier’s farewell – Jim – A soldier’s dream of home – Leave! – Mother, we meet again – The landing – The boy who went away – Down in our Trentham camp – Gone, but not forgotten – The parting – From shovel to Sam Browne – The Poisoner’s: M.M – In appreciation

Image collection: 1918 Influenza Epidemic

A selection of photographs from our images collection showing scenes during the 1918 Influenza epidemic in Canterbury.

Updated: USA Presidential Elections

Information on the Presidential elections updated with NZ TV coverage.

Digitised: Gordon M. Gee botanical illustrations

This collection of botanical illustrations is the work of Gordon Gee who for 18 years worked at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens as a sign writer. His skill as an artist was recognized and he was encouraged to produce drawings and paintings of specimens at the Gardens.

Coming Home - 90th Anniversary of the WW1 Armistice

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month is universally associated with the remembrance of those who died in the First World War. The date marks the moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front in 1918, with the signing of the Armistice. From October 2008 to March 2009, the return of soldiers to New Zealand is commemorated in a series of events, talks, movie showings, exhibitions and recitals throughout the country.

Podcast: Library Detective episode 4

The Library Detective meets Sam Gurney, ready to answer your call, or answer your question live online. Former Children and Young Adult Librarian Bill Nagelkerke takes us on a brief tour of the Margaret Mahy Collection. Finally, we visit the learning centre at South Christchurch Library, where we join a group of school children coaching senior citizens in computer skills.

Edition: 3 November, Footy and fireworks

The first ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is being hosted in New Zealand and this week also has New Zealand's annual fireworks celebration of Guy Fawkes.

Rugby League

Rugby League has been played for more than 100 years in New Zealand, and as with many sports, the World Cup is a coveted trophy.

Libraries 2025 Facilities Plan

The Libraries 2025 Facilities Plan was developed over an 18 month period from February 2007. The planning and development occurred with considerable community, key stake holder and elected member input.

Media release: Council releases Libraries 2025 Facilities Plan

The Christchurch City Council has today (31 October) released the Libraries 2025 Facilities Plan.

Football

Christchurch will be hosting some exciting and skilful games of football when the FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup comes to New Zealand starting on October and finishing with the Final in Auckland on November. Included in the games, all to be played at QEII Stadium, is a semi final on November. Football fans can find more about the World Cup and other great footballing resources that we have in the library.

Stand-out winner for Heritage Week Photo Competition

Find out the winners and highly commended entrants in our Heritage Week Photo Competition

Playaway audiobook trial

Christchurch City Libraries will be trialling the Playaway audiobook from November 2008 to May 2009. Playaway is the newest format of audio, combining a wide variety of content with an easy-to-use player all in one small unit. We have 50 titles from self-help to stories for kids: search our catalogue for keyword 'Playway'.

New titles: October 2008

All the new titles that came into the library over the past month: fiction, non-fiction, children's, young adults', large print and audio and video e.g. CDs and DVDs

Golf

Golf has been played in Canterbury since the the early 1900s. In the 21st century there are dozens of golf courses in Canterbury, offering challenge for beginner and professional alike.

Updated: Cycling

The Season of Cycling is well underway and conditions are good for commuters to put away their cars and cycle to work. Our libraries have a great range of information for both the recreational and sporting cyclist.

Halloween

Updated for 2008 - links to ideas for costumes and what's behind Halloween.

Plans of Christchurch Buildings

A selection of architectural plans and drawings from the collection of the Strategy and Planning Group Heritage Archives, Christchurch City Council. The plans and drawings are of a range of buildings in Christchurch, dating from 1909 to 1968.

Interview: author Paul Cleave

Interview with Christchurch crime writer Paul Cleave

Podcast: Library Detective episode 3

The Library Detective looks at ways that libraries move within the community with mobile librarian Gerald Perrott, and Ethnic Services Information Librarian, Jill Richardson. The Library Detective goes for a ride in the big orange mobile library bus and finds out how the maps collection is used by customers from all over the world who have recently settled in Christchurch.

Guy Fawkes

Information on Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot, Christchurch and Canterbury fireworks displays and fireworks safety

Media Release: Cemetery tours to visit historic Christchurch graves

<P>This year’s Spirited Cemetery Tours, part of Christchurch City Libraries Heritage Week 2008, will visit the mass grave of victims of the 1947 Ballantyne’s fire, among other historical graves.</P> <P>The tours will be led by Librarian Richard Greenaway, recipient of the Canterbury History Foundation’s 2008 A.C. Rhodes History Medal.</P> <P>Like the libraries’ other Heritage Week 2008 activity – an historical photo competition – the cemetery tours will focus on the 1940s to 1970s and visit the graves of people who held prominent positions in Christchurch during this time.</P> <P>The photo competition is also focussing on this era. It opened last month and members of the public are invited to enter photos from this time, with a digital camera and photography vouchers up for grabs.</P> <P>Photos can be entered in one of the following seven categories: fashion, transport, buildings and streets, sport and recreation, occupations, events, and everyday life, before October 22. Visit christchurchcitylibraries.com/events/competitions for entry details.</P> <P>“We’re seeing a great response to the competition. The photos coming in are a fascinating insight into Christchurch’s recent history. They’re being exhibited at libraries throughout the city and we’ll announce the winners on 28 October,” says Christchurch Central Library’s Aotearoa New Zealand Centre Team Leader Annette Williams.</P> <P>Photos entered to date can also be seen on the libraries’ online photo album: flickr.com/photos/christchurchcitylibraries</P> <P>People wanting to take part in the one-hour cemetery tours should be at the:</P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Bromley Cemetery on 18 October at noon,<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Ruru Lawn Cemetery on 19 October at noon,<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Memorial Park Cemetery on 25 October at noon.</P> <P>For more information visit christchurchcitylibraries.com/events/competitions, or contact the libraries’ call centre on 03 941 7923 or <A href="mailto:library@ccc.govt.nz">library@ccc.govt.nz</A>. <BR>16 October 2008</P>

World Financial Crisis 2008

Go to any news source, be it online, newspaper, television or radio, and the headlines are dominated by the current international financial crisis. If you are wanting to expand your understanding of the 2008 financial crisis the library has some very useful resources including recommendations of good places to help you understand financial jargon.

Care of children in libraries (in traditional Chinese)

A translation of the care of children in libraries policy.

Care of children in libraries (in simplified Chinese)

A translation of the care of children in libraries policy.

Care of children in libraries (in Korean)

A Korean translation of the care of children in libraries policy.

Media Statement: Redwood Library, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker

Redwood Library, at this stage, is remaining open. Council has identified in the Libraries 2025 Facilities Plan that the future role of Redwood Library will be evaluated after the opening of a new library at Belfast. I reiterate no decision has been made to close the library.

If you like: Stephen King

Ideas of authors to read if you like books by Stephen King

Nobel Prizes

The first of the annual Nobel prizes have been announced - see our backgrounder for details. This page will be updated each day with each prize's announcement.

Podcast: Library Detective episode 2

The library detective talks to authors Bill Nagelkerke and Ben Brown and illustator Helen Taylor about the art and craft of writing and illustrating a children's picture book.

Events this week

More holiday programmes at the learning centres, Friends of the Library lunchtime speaker Dr Bramwell Cook, Solar System Across the City and Footrot Flats displays continue.

Edition: Monday 6 October: New Zealand elections

Anyone not enrolled by Wednesday 8 October will still need to enrol and will have to cast a special declaration vote on election day, which takes about five times longer than a normal vote. Check out our election pages to find out more.

Interview: Nigel Howard, volunteer firefighter

In this interview volunteer firefighter Nigel shares some of the challenges and rewards of his time with the Diamond Harbour Volunteer Fire Brigade crew.

Emergency help - 111

What do you do when there is an emergency? Who do you contact for help? This is a listing of some organisations to connect you with help when you need it.

Edition 29 September: localeye

Explore localeye, our database of Christchurch and Canterbury websites including business, services and organisations

Submit your photo - star on our homepage!

Christchurch City Libraries is now featuring photographs of library customers on our website. We’d like to increase the number of images we show, and invite you to submit your own digital photo for possible inclusion on the site.

Edition: 22 September - Antarctica

Christchurch is hosting the 2008 Antarctic Festival, one of the biggest ever, before the festival takes a break for 2009. There is a huge range of events on offer including rare film footage of Sir Edmund Hillary, Scott, as well as the Terra Nova expedition. There are events for everyone to enjoy.

Library Detective podcasts

Christchurch City Libraries has joined the world of podcasting with a documentary-style series of six podcasts about the behind-the-scenes world of our treasured local libraries.

Women in the Council Chamber

Brief audio political biographies of Christchurch’s own “Women in the Council Chamber”, which originally featured in an Our City O-Tautahi exhibition from 19 - 30 September 2006, initiated and co-ordinated by Cr Anna Crighton.

Media release: Post-war Christchurch focus of photo competition

This year’s Heritage Week theme is “Retrospective: Christchurch Life, Architecture and Design 1940s–70s” and people are being asked to enter their photographic memories of the era.

Event, Saturday 20th September: Thornspell book launch

Hear Christchurch author Helen Lowe talk about writing the Thornspell adventure and read a selection from the book. Helen is happy to answer questions, and light refreshments will be provided.

Edition: 15 September 2008: Newspaper Collections

Christchurch City Libraries collection of newspapers provides valuable source material for historians and researchers and those interested in whakapapa and genealogy, but is also useful for those who like cartoons and crosswords or want to catch up on news from back home or look for a job in another town or city.

Albert Ronald Guthrey 1916 - 2008

Ron Guthrey passed away on September 8, aged 92. He died a few hours after his wife, Mary, aged 91. Mr Guthrey was a councillor from 1944 to 1968, and from 1968 to 1971 served as mayor.

Heritage Week Christchurch Photo Competition

Heritage Week 2008 is a celebration of Christchurch's heritage of the post-war period with the theme of "Retrospective: Christchurch life, architecture and design 1940s - 1970s". Christchurch City Libraries invites the people of Christchurch to enter a photo competition designed to uncover Christchurch photos of the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Sir Hamish Hay 1927 - 2008

Former Christchurch mayor Sir Hamish Grenfell Hay died on September 7 2008, aged 80.

Learning Centres' newsletter - September 2008

Enrol now for term 4 Horizons programmes, Youth Heritage Week competition, planning for 2009, Post ULearn 2008 conference opportunity, NZ Book Month, Sept/oct Holiday programmes, Press Display, School for Young Writers Workshops and our 5th Birthday celebrations.

Adult Learners' Week

Adult Learners’ Week celebrates the efforts, achievements and contributions of adult learners, educators and training providers. We have fun sessions all week from researching and documenting family roots to blogging and tagging.

Edition, 8 September: Motoring

Whatever you drive or ride, you can save costs and reduce breakdowns by keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape. There's plenty of material at your library which will help you buy, maintain or repair your car, truck, bus, motorcycle, or scooter.

Interview: Paddy Austin

Paddy Austin is Chair of the Christchurch Book Festival Trust. We asked her a few questions about what she is looking forward to about the festival and her memories of libraries and books that have shaped her reading.

Writer profiles: Hana O'Regan, Felicity Price, David Veart

Profiles of writers taking part in The Press Christchurch Writers Festival

Writer profiles: Marion Halligan, Lloyd Jones, Sam Mahon

Profiles of writers taking part in The Press Christchurch Writers Festival

Media Release: Students encouraged to be creative with history

Students in the Canterbury region are being encouraged to get creative by design to uncover changes in history as part of Heritage Week 2008.

Interview: Vanda Symon: A writer's life

Interview with writer Vanda Symon

Interview: Rebecca Priestley combines science and history

Interview with science writer Rebecca Priestley

Interview: John McCrone - Science and journalism

Interview with John McCrone, senior writer at The Press on science and the art of journalism

Interview: Joe Bennett - Knickers and prejudice

Joe Bennett talks about his latest book and about the life of a writer

Maps Collections

Find out about our collections of current and heritage maps.

Media Release: Christchurch writers get festive

From September 4 to 7, Christchurch City Libraries will be connecting readers to the South Island's biggest ever writers' festival with extensive online coverage, including reviews of events, daily festival round-ups and exclusive interviews with authors.

Edition 1 September 2008: Spring into action

The joy of spring puts most people into a happy mood and encourages them out into the garden and to spring clean. Whether you want to clear your clutter, tidy the edges, go sustainable, start a new hobby, find a new look or a new career, the library is the best place to start looking for advice on how to turn ideas into action.

Writer profiles: Glenn Colquhoun, Rachael King

Newsletter: Libraries 2025 Facilities plan

Writer profiles: Kate Atkinson, Mark Billingham

Competition: What's your favourite NZ book?

Tell us what your top New Zealand reads are and you will go in the draw to win book vouchers, or a copy of 1001 Books you must read before you die.

Writer profiles: Steve Braunias, Paul Cleave, Norman Doidge

Profiles of writers attending The Press Christchurch Writers Festival

Edition: The Press Christchurch Writers Festival

After months of planning, The Press Christchurch Writers' Festival is drawing near. A wealth of authors will visit the city early next month.

Interview: writer Carl Nixon

Interview with Christchurch author of Rocking Horse Road.

Interview: Mike Crean, senior writer at The Press

Interview: Christchurch Writers Festival co-ordinator Morrin Rout

Morrin Rout is one of the festival programme co-ordinators for the The Press Christchurch Writers Festival. She answered a few questions about the festival, her passion for reading and ravaging the shelves at her local library.

New homepage

We've updated our homepage, and made some minor changes to our site. Please contact us if you spot any problems

Plan for financial success -Budgeting edition 18 August

Think of your budget as a four-letter word: a plan for financial success.

Budget times - ideas for saving your money

If you’ve got a dose of the “mortgage, credit card, petrol and cheese blues” our libraries have great resources to help you save money and manage your budget.

Library Week - 11 August edition

Olympics resources for kids

Books and websites about the Olympics

2008 Beijing Olympics

Background information on the Summer Olympics

Controversies at the Beijing Olympics 2008

Beijing Olympians 2008: Edition, 4 August