Some well-known people who have died recently Lynne Reid Banks, 1929-2024 British author of books for children and adults John Barth, 1930-2024 American writer best known for his postmodern and metafictional fiction Eleanor Coppola, 1936-2024 American documentary film director, screenwriter, and artist Andrew Davis, 1944-2024 English conductor. He was longtime chief conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra Joe Flaherty, 1941-2024 American actor, writer, and comedian Peter Higgs, 1929-2024 British theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize winner V ..read more

Students from Van Asch performing. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. CCL-FlKr-35889542023. Running from 6-12 May 2024, New Zealand Sign Language Week this year has the theme "an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere" (Deaf Aotearoa Holdings Limited). Conducted every May by Deaf Aotearoa, NZSL Week began in 2007 after the official recognition of New Zealand Sign Language in 2006. The aim is "to elevate awareness and appreciation of NZSL and the Deaf community, while fostering empowerment and unity among its members". See our page on New Zealand Sign Language for NZSL resources and information. Check out our c ..read more

As a Pokémon lover, I was more than a little excited about the chance to review this latest graphic novel (and it did not disappoint)! Gotta Catch A What?! has two Pokémon stories and both feature Ash and Goh taking the lead, and follow their adventures as they watch Raihan take on Leon in a Galar Region battle, meet a Galarian form Farfetch’d, and they search for another Pikachu. As usual with Pokémon, there is an awesome mix of cool battles and really hilarious moments! Of course, our favourite villains Team Rocket show up, intent on stealing all of the Pikachus… but a helpful Raichu might h ..read more

Digging under the Robert McDougall Art Gallery. Copyright Christchurch Star. CCL-StarP-03530A. Construction worker, Peter Robinson, working on opening up the basement area at the Robert McDougall Art Gallery to create new art storage spaces. 13 February 1979. Share your memories of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery. Register on Canterbury Stories. Do you have any photographs of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery? If so, feel free to contribute to our collection. Explore local images and share your photos Visit the Discovery Wall and upload your images Explore Canterbury Stories View more Picturi ..read more

May is New Zealand Music Month and our library collection has more resources to support your musical journey than you would imagine. For instance, did you know about our collection of musical scores? While you might associate the word "score" with background music in films or television, in the context of the library collection it refers to our books of printed sheet music and they are a real boon for anyone learning to play an instrument AKA "The New Zealand Music Makers of The Future". What's so good about scores? I had a chat with one of our library assistants, Jill, about how Tūranga's sco ..read more

Quiz: Business It's all business for the Ōtautahi Christchurch Quiz this month! Local company Lane Walker Rudkin produced which brand of clothing? Style Canterbury Swanndri Rodd & Gunn Which store in Ōtautahi Christchurch, that opened in 1929, had the advertising slogan ‘the friendly store where everything is different!’ Hays Ltd Armstrong and Co Briscoes & Co Millers When did Nurse Sybilla Emily Maude begin district nursing services in Ōtautahi Christchurch? 1900 1896 1880 1920 What product was Edwin Trent the first person in Australasia to grow, becoming a big industry in Ōtau ..read more

Interpretation board for Anzac horses. In copyright. CCL-DW-155411. Interpretation board detailing the history of horses which served in the South African War and the First World War at Birch Hill Cemetery (130 Garry River Road), Glentui. Share your memories of Birch Hill Cemetery. Register on Canterbury Stories. Do you have any photographs of Canterbury horses which served in the First World War? If so, feel free to contribute to our collection. Explore local images and share your photos Visit the Discovery Wall and upload your images Explore Canterbury Stories View more Picturing Canterbury ..read more

We have double passes and Buy 1 get 1 free tickets to the new NZ movie The Mountain, directed by Rachel House.  They have been kindly given to us by Madman and Piki Films.  The Mountain is in theatres now. It's a heart-filled drama about three kids on a mission to find healing under the watchful eye of Taranaki Maunga, finding friendship and adventure on their journey. It also marks the directorial debut of actress Rachel House (she's been a standout in so many movies including Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok - I've just been watching her in Eagle v Shark and the Heartbr ..read more

Anzac Day will be commemorated on Thursday 25 April. All our libraries will be closed on this public holiday Read our page on Anzac Day and Gallipoli to find out more about the history of this commemoration Check out the new booklist of First World War and Anzac Day related books Spotlight on ... Finding your NZ ancestor's military record Wednesday 1 May 10.30am to 12noon at Upper Riccarton Library An introduction to the digital and physical resources that can help you find service records and information for soldiers, nurses and other military roles. Free, book your spot Anzac Day services ..read more

The Bridge of Remembrance, which crosses the Avon River from Cashel Street, was opened in 1924 to commemorate the soldiers of Canterbury who fought in the First World War. It was opened by Governor-General Lord Jellicoe, who had previously laid the foundation stone on Anzac Day in 1923. Bridge of Remembrance at dawn by Gary Mills. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. CCL-PH23-GaMi-0001 The triple-arched bridge was designed in 1921 by William Gummer, then a partner at the firm Gummer and Prouse. It is built of concrete faced with Tasmanian stone. The carved lions, which represented the British Empire, lie ove ..read more