Media Release 19 January 2006

State-of-the-art library facility opens this Monday

New Zealand's first joint-use urban community and school library opens in Christchurch on Monday (January 23, 2006) at 9am.

The state-of-the-art Upper Riccarton Community and School Library (71 Main South Road) has been built by the Christchurch City Council in partnership with Riccarton High School, and was designed as an integrated community and educational learning, information and leisure facility. It serves the Riccarton, Avonhead, Ilam, Sockburn, Wharenui, Wigram and Riccarton High School communities.

"The council's partnership with Riccarton High School has enabled us to create a facility where through the sharing of resources, learning facilities and expertise we have provided the community with better facilities and delivered a more cost-effective service, at the same time promoting lifelong learning," said Nicki Moen, Manager - Community Libraries, Christchurch City Libraries.

The library will house a book and audio-visual collection of 50,000 items, providing facilities for residents and students to study, access information and use the latest communication technology.

In addition, Nicki Moen said with the cafe's indoor-outdoor seating, and comfortable lounge furniture being peppered throughout the facility, Upper Riccarton will quickly become a place for the local community, where they can take time out to relax, read, meet friends and chat over coffee or spend time with their family learning and having fun.

Designed by award-winning Christchurch architectural firm, Warren and Mahoney, the library boosts the latest energy-efficient and environmentally friendly innovations, including an electronic weather station to monitor temperatures and track heat and light.

Low-energy lighting systems on daylight sensors will reduce demand for electricity, while automatic window openers will control air flow and temperature, and automated lourves, at the front of the building, will track the sun to reduce overheating in summer and provide winter warmth. This will be aided by concrete internal walls, insulation and double glazing.

The library has also been designed to conserve water consumption, including the collection of rain water from the roof to flush toilets.

Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore will officially open the Upper Riccarton Community and School Library as part of a community celebration gala day on Saturday, February 25.

ENDS

© Scoop Media