Monday 25th June 2007

Heritage Week

We all share a rich heritage of social, environmental and family history. If you've ever been interested in finding out more about your family tree, Heritage Week is a great time to get going. Christchurch City Libraries has a comprehensive range of resources on its website - from a guide to getting started, to expert assistance from The Aotearoa New Zealand Centre, which specialises in Christchurch and Canterbury Family history information. You can join one of six free tours of the Centre this week.

You get free access to ancestry.com from most of our libraries. A valuable tool for researchers investigating international family links, the library subscription gives you access to a wide variety of information. This service can only be accessed from inside libraries.

Keeping heritage alive

Heritage educator Cindy Hey Ferrymead Heritage Park hosts nearly 5000 students a year. Dressed in knickerbockers and long dresses, they meet Cindy Hey who introduces them to heritage first-hand. And just across the way is the Tamaki Heritage Village. Awatea Edwin, who wrote the performance that introduces visitors to New Zealand's past from a Māori perspective, gives us a guided tour of Christchurch's newest tourist attraction.

Where are they buried - a guide to Christchurch cemeteries

Cemetery information is a cornerstone of family history research. Librarian and local historian Richard L N Greenaway has compiled guides to Christchurch cemeteries, and tours are available as part of Heritage Week. In addition we have a guide to locating burial plots and you can access the Christchurch City Council’s Cemetery guide from any public internet computer in any library.

History in the making: HMNZS Canterbury to berth in Lyttelton

HMNZS Canterbury This Thursday The Royal New Zealand Navy's newest and biggest vessel arrives in its home port Lyttelton. We take a closer look at the size and the capabilities of a ship that displaces 9000 tonnes, has room for up to 360 personnel and a top speed of 19 knots.

Faces of history: A collection of photos from our heritage section that zeroes in on ordinary people from our past.

Resources

Recommended family history titles at your library:
- Bromell, A. Tracing family history in New Zealand
- Bromell, A. Tracing family history overseas from New Zealand
- Henry, R. Find your family on the internet: a New Zealand guide
Detailed localeye listings for heritage and history
Search CINCH for historical associations and genealogy groups
A wide range of information on family history and heritage organisations is available via our Internet Gateway

Next week

School holidays are fast approaching - we delve into the fascinating resources available at your library for children and take a look at interactive reading guides.