New library and service hub popping up soon in South
Christchurch City Council Newsline: 13th January 2025
With demolition about to begin on the earthquake-damaged South Library and Customer Service Hub, Christchurch City Council is opening two new pop-up facilities to serve the local community.
The temporary library - South Colombo - will open at The Colombo shopping centre on Monday 24th February 2025. The temporary Customer Service Hub will open at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre on Monday 10th February.
This means the last day open for the Customer Service Hub will be Friday 7th February, and the last day for the Library will be Sunday 9th February.
“The South building was badly damaged in the 2011 earthquakes, and the community has been very patient while we've worked to get a new, rebuilt facility in the pipeline,” says Carolyn Robertson, Head of Libraries and Information .
“We're set to start construction on the new Library and Customer Service Hub - Ōmōkihi - in 2025. Because we’re retaining the same picturesque riverside location that our customers know and love, we first need to demolish the existing building. Unfortunately, that means displacing our much-loved library and customer services for the duration.”
Both temporary facilities will operate until December 2026, when Ōmōkihi is expected to open.
The South Colombo library will be located on the western side of The Colombo and offer a collection of around 10,000 items, an area for children’s sessions and spaces for people to relax and study. It will be open seven days, 9am to 5pm weekdays and 10am and 4pm Saturdays and Sundays.
The pop-up Customer Service Hub will be found near the pool front counter at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre.
“To help fill the gap during construction of Ōmōkihi, we'll also be extending the hours at the nearby Spreydon Library, and we'll have our South Mobile library van servicing various handy locations in the area. That includes local schools, community hubs, Princess Margaret Hospital, the Cashmere Club and She Chocolaterie,” Mrs Robertson says.
On top of the earthquake damage, the South Library and Customer Service Hub opened in 2003, and was due for an upgrade to modern standards. Ōmōkihi will be much greener and more energy efficient, and the space inside will better suit customers and staff.
Find out more about the temporary South Library at The Colombo (Christchurch City Libaries).