Celebrations as work begins on new Redcliffs library

A sod-turning celebration has been held to mark the start of work on Redcliffs' new library.

The library will be built by City Care over the next five months and should be completed before Christmas.

The single-storey building has been designed by Young Architects and includes a reception area, meeting room, kitchenette and toilet.

The new library will be the home of the Redcliffs Voluntary Library Group, which has been running a library in the area for more than 100 years.

Before the quakes the group was operating out of a Christchurch City Council-owned building at 91 Main Rd, but the building was badly damaged in the February 2011 earthquake and deemed uneconomic to repair.

The Council has worked closely with the Redcliffs Library Committee to progress plans for a replacement building on the same site.

The Committee has worked hard to raise funds for the new building and has received financial support from the Council, Protranz, the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Trust, Vodafone and the Rata Foundation. 

Until the new building is completed library services are being offered from the Redcliffs Tennis Club.

A computer generated image of the new Redcliffs Library.