City Council supports a Strategy for Small Libraries
Christchurch City Councillors have asked staff to submit costings on the retention of all libraries in the 2006-2016
Long Term Council Community Plan.
This follows yesterday’s announcement by Mayor Garry Moore that suburban libraries will not close. He said the
councillors had underestimated the value of suburban libraries to the community.
“We won’t be closing the libraries. Councillors have heard what the people have said.”
The Draft LTCCP statement was: “As part of the early thinking about the 2025 Libraries Plan, rationalisation of some
libraries is being considered. A number of new libraries have been built which provides the opportunity to assess
whether all the current libraries are required to meet community needs”.
“We have had a clear message from thousands of people in our community and it has become clear that small suburban
libraries are important to the community as our new, larger libraries," the Councillors said.
“As a council, we should ensure that the 2025 Libraries Plan includes a Strategy for Small Libraries in order to serve
the community’s needs.”
Ends