Coffee and kids in Tūranga first-floor mix

Children’s imaginations will be encouraged to run wild on the first floor of Tūranga, the new central library.

As the new home of the Imagination Station and with the biggest children’s book collection in Christchurch, Hapori (Community) is poised to become a central city attraction to rival the Margaret Mahy playground.

With an inside playground, art and craft spaces, technology areas, and a towering ‘book tree’ where kids can nestle among the branches and read, it is designed to be a place where kids can be inspired, learn and have fun.

Children and young people are the focus of Tūranga's first floor.

The other features include:

• An espresso bar where parents and caregivers can relax while their children let off steam.
• The TSB Space where library and community events for up to 200 people can be held.
• An activity room that can cater for school groups and features an interactive projector that allows kids to do things like play music on a keyboard projected onto the floor.
• A creative area for craft activities.
• A youth space including a multi-screen video wall.

“It has so much to offer that you’re not going to be able to experience it all in one visit – you’re going to have to keep coming back,” says Guy Field, who has the enviable task of overseeing the floor.

“What I love about the first floor is that it has such a good range of spaces. If you want to find a quiet corner to do some study or to read a book with your pre-schooler you can. But if you want to come in and help your youngster make an amazing creation out of ice-block sticks and glue you can do that too.”

Tūranga is due to open on Friday 12 October. Its usual weekday opening hours will be from 9am to 8pm although the ground floor will be open from 8am.

At weekends Tūranga will be open from 10am to 5pm.