Shelved Memories - celebrating 150 years of public libraries in Christchurch

Shelved Memories brings together treasures acquired by Christchurch City Libraries along with a collection of memorabilia spanning the last 150 years of library service in Christchurch.

From old catalogue drawers, library smocks and story-time puppets to World War II rationing cards and a selection of 1981 Springbok Tour protest posters, this exhibition provides rich insight into the city's library and the community it serves.

Viewers are encouraged to explore the treasures held by their local library and gain insight into both our own heritage and the world as others saw it in different times and places.

The exhibition celebrates Christchurch City Libraries' 150th anniversary and highlights the critical role the library has played in the lives of Christchurch residents since its inception as a Mechanics Institute library in 1859.

"The anniversary provides the perfect opportunity to tell the library's story and put our treasures on display for the public', says Libraries and Information Manager Carolyn Robertson.

"It's also a wonderful way to highlight the strong relationship the library has had with the people of Christchurch since 1859 and continues to have in 2009."

Visitors can read excerpts from library news-clippings scrapbooks, which provide a window into the interesting, often quirky and sometimes controversial life of the library network.

Photographs and information panels tell the story of the libraries from their early days housing a collection of only a few hundred books to the current collection of more than 1 million items.

The Libraries' Research Room material and archives are searchable on the Christchurch City Libraries catalogue and available to view on request at the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre, Central Library, Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Shelved Memories runs at Our City O-Tautahi until 8 October 2009.

Location: Our City O-Tautahi, cnr Worcester Boulevard and Oxford Terrace
Admission: Free