Did you know that from the “small beginning in Knightstown, the Christchurch suburban library system developed”?
“On 24 May 1867, after much discussion and preliminary canvassing, a meeting took place at Mr David Lewis’s home in Springfield Road ‘to form a Mutual Improvement Association’.
Dr Augustus Florance was elected president with Messrs William Moor, coachbuilder, and John St Quentin, painter/signwriter, vice presidents.
The secretary was to be Mr John Dixey, a carpenter,
and the librarian, Mr Charles Duggan [my ancestor], who was a painter.”
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/charles-duggan/
“The Library (on High Street, Knightstown) opened in 1867 as the St. Albans Mutual Improvement Association & Reading Room.
In its early days it was often called the Knightstown Library.”
“From 1867-1920, the Library was in Dover Street (High Street, Knightstown).
At a meeting of residents in August 6 1873, it was decided to abandon the name of Knightstown and to become simply a portion of St Albans.
…in 1875 there were five suburban libraries in Christchurch – at Papanui, Waltham, New Brighton, and two at St Albans.
By a special local act in 1893, the old Knightstown Library was transferred to the people of St Albans for the purpose of establishing a new library, so that thenceforth St Albans has had only one library.
In May 1885, the words ‘Public Library’ were added to the title to reflect the importance of this activity.
In 1894 the committee decided to rebuild the front portion of the premises. In 1901 there was a further extension of the hall.
When the St Albans Borough amalgamated with the City of Christchurch on 1 April 1903, the facility became better appreciated and the city council subsidised the running of the hall.
On 7 March 1904, Christchurch City Council changed the names of many streets in Christchurch. High Street in St Albans became Dover Street.
By 1917 the old buildings were not fit for purpose and in need of replacement. The city council offered to build a new brick building on a site in Colombo Street North.
From 1921, it moved to 1049 Colombo Street, St Albans.
On 28 May 1921, the Mayor, Dr Thacker, accompanied by other civic dignitaries, opened the new building, renamed the St Albans Public Library.
In 1985, the Library changed its name to the Edgeware Library.
By 1997, with membership falling and usage declining, time had arrived to rationalise suburban voluntary libraries, and the St Albans Public Library became one of three victims.
On 29 November 1997 the Library closed (after 130 years of service to the community), with the advent (Jan. 1998) of the Canterbury Public Library mobile library to Edgeware.
The Colombo Street site became the home of the St Albans Community Centre, which suffered earthquake damage in 2011 and was subsequently demolished and rebuilt.”
‘History of the St. Albans Public Library 1867-1967’
Dorothy Bashford’s History of the St. Albans Public Library
https://archives.canterburystories.nz/agents/corporate_entities/46
Existence: 28 October 1867 – 29 November 1997
The Library opened in 1867 as the St. Albans Mutual Improvement Association & Reading Room.
In the 1870s it became the St. Albans Mutual Improvement Association and Public Library, and in the early years of this century was referred to as the St. Albans Public Library and Mutual Improvement Association.
In its early days it was often called the Knightstown Library (Knightstown being the original name of St. Albans).
Many community groups hired the rooms for their meetings.
From 1867-1920, the Library was in Dover Street.
From 1921, it moved to 1049 Colombo Street.
In 1985, the Library changed its name to the Edgeware Library.
On 29 November 1997 the Library closed, with the advent (Jan. 1998) of the Canterbury Public Library mobile library to Edgeware.
The Colombo Street site became the home of the St Albans Community Centre, which suffered earthquake damage in 2011 and was subsequently demolished and rebuilt.
‘The Christchurch Metropolitan Library Service, 1852-1948’
Master of Arts and Honours in History Thesis by D. E. Wood, November 1950
https://heritage.christchurchcitylibraries.com/Publications/1950s/MetropolitanLibrary/PDF/CCL-70963.pdf
See Blog Post: ‘Early Suburban Libraries’
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/early-suburban-libraries/
Chapter IV: Christchurch Suburban Libraries
Knightstown & St Albans (Pages 93-96)
“On May 24, 1867 the residents of St Albans and Knightstown met at the house of Mr Tom Lewis to consider the formation of a Mutual Improvement Association.
From this small beginning the Christchurch suburban library system developed.
Hailed with enthusiasm, the scheme made rapid progress and, less than a month later, the newly formed society received the title deed of section 311 on the map of the City Surveyor, as a gift from Mr William Moor to be used as a site for a Reading Room and Library.
It should be pointed out at this stage that the library was not the objective of the Association which aimed at the mutual improvement of its members by means of classes for special studies, lectures, readings, and discussion.
A comparison with the definition of a mechanics’ institute, appearing earlier, will show very little difference.
Like its counterpart in the City, it was intended to be essentially a working-men’s organisation, the subscription being a half-crown per annum.
When the Association was formally opened on October 28, 1867, Mr Cutler declared that the Christchurch Mechanics’ Institute had been created for and not by the working-men and in that fact he saw the cause of its failure. He felt certain that the new Institute would meet with a much greater measure of success.
But disillusionment came on November 12, 1869 when the committee, in view of the unsatisfactory state of the Society’s affairs, agreed, by motion, to adopt the only alternative of handing over the deeds, books, building, and all other property to the trustees. Following this startling disclosure, the committee resigned in a body leaving a debit balance of about £10.
After a lull of just over a year, a public meeting was held in the Reading Room, on December 28, 1870 to reorganise the Society by electing new officers. It would appear from the Minute Book that a continuous existence was maintained from this date.
This is substantiated by a letter to the Editor of the ‘Times’ (July 7 1873), which expressed surprise at a proposal, brought forward at a meeting of the St Albans Wesleyan Church, to establish a library for the district in a building used for the district school, which was soon to be vacant.
The writer declared that, for six years past, St Albans had boasted a public library, in a room built by the Mutual Improvement Association, which had received two liberal grants from the Provincial Council.
On the following day (July 8 1873) J. L. Wilson, one of the promoters of the new scheme, wrote denying the existence of a public library in St Albans, declaring that the existing institution was in Knightstown.
In order to prevent confusion, it is advisable to clarify the nomenclature question now. Knightstown was merely a part of the St Albans district and the Knightstown library that was founded by the St Albans Mutual Improvement Association in 1867.
At a meeting of residents in August 6 1873, it was decided to abandon the name of Knightstown and to become simply a portion of St Albans.
When a public meeting was held to consider the establishment of a reading room and library on July 8 1873, the Chairman (Mr J. L. Wilson) said that doubtless the meeting was aware of £5000 voted by the Provincial Council to assist old and establish new reading rooms and libraries.
He felt that the Institute should take advantage of this grant, as, in his opinion, the library at Knightstown was not centrally situated.
Stating the case for the Knightstown library, the Chairman, in a letter to the newspaper about a week later (July 17 1873), declared that as far as amalgamation was concerned they would be glad to receive the promoters of the new society as members of their own association but, as the land, building, and its contents were public property, they felt that they would be doing an injustice to the inhabitants of their part of the district if they gave their sanction to removal to the schoolroom or to any other place.
A joint meeting between the committee of the two societies proved fruitless, the Knightstown people remaining adamant in their refusal to amalgamate.
Their attitude appeared to be justified by the apparent lack of interest of the St Albans people evidenced by the very small attendance at a further public meeting, and it even seemed likely that it would be difficult to raise enough money to claim a portion of the government grant. (September 18 1873)
However, by October 15, it was reported that £110 had been collected although it was remarked that an unpleasant feature was the apathy of those for whose immediate benefit the library was projected.
When the Mutual Improvement Association held its annual meeting a few days later, Mr Moor, a vice-president, remarking upon the high standard attained by the library, said that not only was it the pioneer of such institutions in country districts in the province, but it was also the best suburban library in Canterbury.
He declared that an attempt to start a rival library in another part of St Albans would only serve to excite members to renewed energy. (October 7 1873)
But the rival society continued in pursuit of its goal and, in mid-December, it was announced that a site had been acquired, plans were to be drawn, and the building commenced in the near future…” (December 20 1873)
Thus when the provincial system was abolished in 1875 there were five suburban libraries in Christchurch – at Papanui, Waltham, New Brighton, and two at St Albans. (Page 99)
In accordance with the provisions of these Acts, the first government grant of £5000 was made in 1878 and the Christchurch libraries which benefited from it were New Brighton, Papanui, St Albans, St Albans Mutual Association, and Waltham. (Page 100)
By a special local act in 1893, the old Knightstown Library was transferred to the people of St Albans for the purpose of establishing a new library, so that thenceforth St Albans has had only one library. (Page 101)
‘St. Albans Public Library Transfer Act’ 1893 Amendment (15th October 1898)
https://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/saplta1893aa189862v1898n9545.pdf
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/st-albans-community-centre-1867-2021/
‘St Albans Community Centre, 1867-2021’
https://www.canterburystories.nz/collections/publications/ccl-cs-94423
“The St Albans Community Centre has its origins as far back as the 1860s when a group of citizens, of what was then known as Knightstown, were already conscious of the need for cultural activity and a meeting place for such activity.
Adult education was available from the earliest days of European settlement. Mechanics’ Institutes (founded in Britain in the early 1820s as education establishments for skilled working men) were open in Auckland, Nelson and Wellington by 1842.
These offered a broad range of classes and lectures, as well as libraries and reading rooms.
The first Mechanics’ Institute in Christchurch (precursor to the Canterbury Public Library) was opened in 1859, to offer intellectual stimulation for all sectors of the community.
A separate area was set aside for the ladies.
The libraries were the most popular part of the institutes, so by the 1860s most had stopped offering courses. This led to the emergence of Mutual Improvement Societies – groups of working class men who met to improve their learning through conversation, reading and lectures. These societies epitomised the early Victorian creed of self-help.
On 24 May 1867, after much discussion and preliminary canvassing, a meeting took place at Mr David Lewis’s home in Springfield Road ‘to form a Mutual Improvement Association’.
Dr Augustus Florance was elected president with Messrs William Moor, coachbuilder, and John St Quentin, painter/signwriter, vice presidents.
The secretary was to be Mr John Dixey, a carpenter,
and the librarian, Mr Charles Duggan [my ancestor], who was a painter.
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/charles-duggan/
Having formed a society, members needed a place of operations. The conveyancing of a piece of land in High Street, Knightstown, (now Dover Street, St Albans) on 18 August 1867 from William Moor to the appointed trustees, Rev John Aldred and Messrs George Gould and Charles Robert Blakiston, “gentlemen on trust”, provided a site for the proposed association building.
This parcel of land was described as “10 perches part of RS 311”.
The present address of this would be 28 Dover Street.
The site is now occupied by Dover Courts. (Page 5)
In 1873, famous Kiwi cricketer and councilman, George Dickinson, offered some land on his property, St Albans, (next to what is now Merivale village) to create a public reading room and library.
A committee was formed and they invited the Knightstown association to discuss a joint venture.
So on 9 July 1873 a special meeting was called to discuss this invitation, with lawyer and provincial councillor Mr William Wynn-Williams invited to chair. The Knightstown group was in a difficult position.
They felt that they would get no further grant from the provincial government if they declined to amalgamate, yet they disliked the proposed site in Papanui Road.
Knightstown residents also thought that the St Albans residents ‘held themselves aloof from and considered themselves superior to the locals.’
Thus the deputation from the St Albans committee was unsuccessful.
The Mutual Improvement Association remained in High Street (now called Dover Street), Knightstown. (Page 7)
The Borough of St Albans (named after George Dickinson’s property in Merivale) was proclaimed on the 18 November 1881.
Over the next few years steady progress to the building was made.
In May 1885, the words ‘Public Library’ were added to the title to reflect the importance of this activity.
In 1894 the committee decided to rebuild the front portion of the premises. In 1901 there was a further extension of the hall.
When the St Albans Borough amalgamated with the City of Christchurch on 1 April 1903, the facility became better appreciated and the city council subsidised the running of the hall.
On 7 March 1904, Christchurch City Council changed the names of many streets in Christchurch. High Street in St Albans became Dover Street and Crescent Road became North Crescent Road and then, in 1909, Trafalgar Street.
By 1917 the old buildings were not fit for purpose and in need of replacement. The city council offered to build a new brick building on a site in Colombo Street North.
The proposed site was very swampy with several springs, but the land was drained and the springs capped.
The foundation stone was laid on the site on Saturday 31 July 1920 in a ceremony conducted by the Mayor of the City, Dr Henry Thacker MP. (Page 8)
On 28 May 1921, the Mayor, Dr Thacker, accompanied by other civic dignitaries, opened the new building, renamed the St Albans Public Library.
The former library site in Dover Street became the property of the city council.
In 1930 an annex was added and in 1950 the council provided a small kitchen and other facilities.
By 1997, with membership falling and usage declining, time had arrived to rationalise suburban voluntary libraries, and the St Albans Public Library became one of three victims.
The library did not meet the criteria set by the review committee for remaining in use and closed on 29 November 1997 after 130 years of service to the community.
A group of residents lobbied the council to retain the building.
The Christchurch City Council agreed to a proposal from the St Albans Residents Association (SARA) to turn the vacant premises into the St Albans Community Resource Centre.
Following alterations to the kitchen and toilet area, and the replacement of rotten flooring, Mayor-elect, Garry Moore reopened the building as the St Albans Community Resource Centre on 18 October 1998.
Serving as a focal point for the area, it remained a living, working memorial to the foresightedness of St Albans pioneers. (Page 9)
When the centre was demolished, a time-capsule was removed from behind the foundation stone. The presence of this was recorded in press reports of the time so it provided great interest when it was recovered and, with due ceremony, opened in 2018 to reveal the contents.
Copies of both the Lyttelton Times and Christchurch Press from 1920 and a handwritten history of the Mutual Improvement Association (see Appendix, Page 15) were enclosed within a small sealed brown bottle. All were enclosed in a wooden case especially made by timber merchants Hardie & Thompson.” (Page 13)
‘St Albans [Edgeware] Public Library’
Christchurch City Libraries Archives
Date Updated: September 2005
Includes: Minutes, General Ledgers, Financial Records, Membership Lists, Accession Records, Photographs.
https://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Collections/Archives/Inventories/Arch0059.pdf
“See BASHFORD, D. History of the St Albans Public Library, 1867-1967.
[Z027.493831 BAS (NZC Research Room pamphlet)] for a summary of the history and administration of the Library.
When the History was published in 1967 the Library, though housed in a building provided by the City Council, was run and maintained by volunteers.
Use of the Library having decreased as the City Council’s library services expanded, the decision was made reluctantly to close the voluntary library on 29th November 1997. At that time no decision had been made on the future of the building, though it was later refurbished for use as a Community Centre.
Appropriate book stock was transferred to the Canterbury Public Library, much of it going directly to the Shirley Community Library to help replace stock lost in their disastrous fire of April 1997.
A sketch of the Library, and a brief history taken from Bashford, was published in The Press, 29th November 1997, Weekend section, p.13.
Although Canterbury Public Library had held some St Albans Public Library records for several years, a cleanup of the building unearthed more items.
The opportunity was therefore taken in February 1998 to integrate the new material within the previously incomplete series, with consequent renumbering.
In June 1998, a further and final deposit was made and the last items incorporated.”
‘Papers Past’ | Timeline & History
Star (Christchurch), Issue 1686, 23 July 1873, Page 3
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18730723.2.14
‘Public Library at St Albans’
Proposed amalgamation for Knightstown & St Albans
Star (Christchurch), Issue 1892, 26 March 1874, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18740326.2.8
‘St Albans Library’, Plans for the library approved
Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8065, 12 January 1887, Page 5
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18870112.2.38
‘Knightstown Public Library’, Annual Meeting
Press, Volume L, Issue 8569, 24 August 1893, Page 1
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18930824.2.2.4
‘Local Bill’, Knightstown Library Transfer of Land
Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10412, 1 August 1899, Page 8
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18990801.2.50.6
‘For Sale by Tender’, St Albans Library in St Albans Lane
Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10831, 5 December 1900, Page 6
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19001205.2.70
‘Meeting, Entertainments’, Knightstown Library meeting (tender for building alterations & additions)
Star (Christchurch), Issue 7031, 22 February 1901, Page 1
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19010222.2.5
‘Knightstown Library’, Re-opening Entertainment
“Neither man nor woman liked to be alone, and there was just the danger that, in the absence of suitable companionship, unsuitable associated might be chosen.
But a good book was always a good companion, and had the further recommendation that one could shut it up at will and put it away, which could not be done with a companion in the flesh.
Such a library as the Knightstown was intended to afford decent, rational amusement to the reader, and as the books very greatly influenced the reader, he hoped the committee would have an eye to only the best being on the shelves.”
Mr C. Lewis, M.H.R.
Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16278, 28 June 1913, Page 14
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19130628.2.132
‘The City’s Needs. Programmes and Policies’. Views of the Councillors.
“The necessity of these libraries had been proved by the large number of subscribers. There was a proposal to borrow £3000 and it was hoped the Council would be able to build libraries in Linwood, Waltham, and Addington, and enlarge the St Albans library. Even if the Council had to borrow £5000, it must provide good libraries.”
Councillor H. D. Acland
“Councillor Loasby also emphasised the necessity for giving assistance to the suburban libraries. The committees in charge of these institutions were doing good self-sacrificing work to make the libraries a real benefit to the public, and the importance of libraries in the life of the community made it imperative that the Council should help those who had shown that they were capable of helping themselves.”
Councillor A. M. Loasby
Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 129, 7 July 1914, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SUNCH19140707.2.5
‘City Council. Last Night’s Meeting.’
By-laws and Finance Committee, St Albans Public Library
Transfer of the St Albans Library property to the Council.
Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1368, 2 July 1918, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SUNCH19180702.2.8
‘News in Brief’
“The committee of the St Albans Library desires to have the existing site sold and a new one purchased in a more central position.”
Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1376, 11 July 1918, Page 7
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SUNCH19180711.2.46
‘St Albans Library’
“The fiftieth annual meeting of subscribers of the St Albans Public Library and Mutual Improvement Association was held in the Library, Dover Street.”
Star (Christchurch), Issue 12586, 24 March 1919, Page 5
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19190324.2.49
‘St Albans Library’, Unveiling of the past president honours board.
Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16902, 2 August 1920, Page 3
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19200802.2.16
‘St Albans Library’, Foundation Stone of New Building.
“An historical statement engrossed on parchment, containing the above facts and names of the present officers, was placed behind the stone, together with copies of the local papers.”
Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2017, 2 August 1920, Page 7
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SUNCH19200802.2.39
‘St Albans Library’, Foundation Stone Laid.
Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18476, 2 August 1920, Page 6
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19200802.2.17
‘Town and Country’
“Dr Thacker, who was presented with the customary silver trowel when laying the foundation stone on Saturday of the new St Albans Library building, said that he often wondered what became of such souvenirs. Personally, as he was very fond of a fish diet, he would his trowel useful as a fish-knife.”
Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18476, 2 August 1920, Page 10
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19200802.2.60
‘St Albans Library’, Commemoration Stone Laid.
“A plot of land, part of rural section No. 311, situate in what is known now as Dover Street, was given by Mr W. Moor for a building, being conveyed by him to two trustees, namely, the Rev John Aldred and Mr George Gould.
The necessary buildings were forthwith erected and were duly opened to the public residing in St Albans on October 28, 1867.
Now, after a period of fifty-three years, the old premises being too small, it has become necessary to erect a more suitable building.
The building, which will be of brick, will cost about £2600 to erect.”
Star (Christchurch), Issue 16401, 15 April 1921, Page 5
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19210415.2.28
‘Municipal Elections. The City Mayoralty. Campaign Opened.’
“A Progressive Programme: The cost of the St Albans library had risen from £1500 to £2500. He [Dr Thacker, M.P. the present Mayor] had stood by St Albans, and the building was now nearing completion.
He had assisted to get a four-acre playground for the Shirley School.”
Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17141, 10 May 1921, Page 7
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19210510.2.54
‘City Council. Last Night’s Meeting’
“St Albans Library: The St Albans Public Library Association made application for possession of the new building.
The Mayor said the city engineer had reported the building was finished.
It was intended to open the library on the last Saturday of the present finish.”
Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17158, 30 May 1921, Page 4
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19210530.2.18
‘St Albans Library. Opening Ceremony.’
“The Mayor said that the foundation stone of St Albans Library was the first that he had laid.
Books were the best thing in the world, and they added greatly to the enjoyment of those who read them. The education of the people depended on the literature that they read; many confined their reading to the daily newspapers. Books tended to improve the taste of the people…
Dr Thacker urged the people of St Albans to make the library the social centre of the district.”
Star (Christchurch), Issue 17734, 2 January 1926, Page 18
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19260102.2.140
‘Shirley – St Albans Notes. The Year.’
“In making a review of the past year’s happenings in the Shirley and St Albans districts it is noted that St Albans and Shirley still maintain the honour of being the most favoured residential districts.
The new sub-division at Shirley auctioned recently demonstrated that a large number of people are anxious to settle in this favoured locality, as the prices paid were a record for a sub-division in the district.
St Albans Library: The library for the first time earned the full council subsidy, which shows that residents are appreciating the benefit of the library by becoming subscribers.”
Star (Christchurch), Issue 18770, 28 May 1929, Page 8
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19290528.2.61.3
“With a view to facilitating the working of the library, the St Albans Library Committee has applied for permission to make an entrance from the circulating room to the room in front of the building by cutting a doorway through the plaster partition.”
Star (Christchurch), Issue 19198, 11 October 1930, Page 21 (Supplement)
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19301011.2.147.25
‘Shirley – St Albans Notes.’
“St Albans Public Library: A petition, signed by afternoon subscribers, asking that the previous afternoon hours of 2.30 to 5 p.m., instead of the present hours of 2.30 to 4 p.m. be reinstated was considered.
After a general discussion it was unanimously decided to adhere to the present hours, on the grounds that the Linwood Library, with over double the subscribers of the St Albans Library, had the same hours as those now in force in the St Albans Library.
It was thought that the number who attended in the afternoons did not warrant the extra hour, and it was pointed out that all the librarians were subscribers and voluntarily gave their services free of charge, a fact of which a number of subscribers did not seem aware.”
Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20602, 19 July 1932, Page 14
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19320719.2.139
‘St Albans Public Library. Annual Meeting.’
Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21843, 24 July 1936, Page 4
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19360724.2.25
‘St Albans Public Library. Annual Meeting.’
Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22455, 16 July 1938, Page 8
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19380716.2.35
‘Commercial Libraries. Competition with Public Institutions.’
Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23388, 23 July 1941, Page 4
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19410723.2.21
‘Comment of City Rates. “Increase Necessary Sometimes”.
Mayor’s address at St Albans Library’
“The difficulty is to keep the rates down, but I don’t think that is possible,” the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) said last evening when speaking on City Council subsidies for suburban libraries at the annual meeting of the St Albans Library.
Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26168, 19 July 1950, Page 3
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19500719.2.17
‘Library Space at St Albans. Expansion Plans Outlined.
Subscribers’ Annual Meeting Held.’
“The City Council’s plans for the expansion of the St Albans Library on property at the back of the present premises were mentioned briefly at the annual meeting of the library last evening.”
“A request for the establishment of a library in the Shirley district has been received from residents, said Cr. Sheppard, and the council had asked the advice of library authorities on the desirability of building a library there.
The whole question of suburban libraries and the council’s subsidy policy would come under review when the plans for modernising the central library had been carried out.”
Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31327, 25 March 1967, Page 22
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19670325.2.245
‘St Albans Library 100 Years Old.’
“The St Albans Public Library will hold its 100th annual meeting in its Colombo street premises on March 30…
The library was founded on May 24, 1867, when Dover street residents held a meeting to form a Mutual Improvement Association.
On October 28 that year, the original Knightstown library was opened in a small hall.
The secretary (Mrs B. A. Miles) said yesterday that the library was founded to teach people to read and write.
A constitution was drawn up which forbade ‘all loud talking, swearing or profane language, practical joking, smoking or drunkenness’ in the hall.
The City Council offered a new brick building to the library in Colombo street in 1920 and in 1921 the library was moved to its present site.
The library, the second oldest in Canterbury to the Canterbury Public Library, began with 436 books. Now there are 18,851 books and membership is 579.”
Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31333, 1 April 1967, Page 16
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19670401.2.214
‘Funds for Libraries’
“City libraries could well look to the government for financial assistance rather than rely entirely on ratepayers’ money. Councillor H. G. Hay, chairman of the City Council library committee, said at the 100th annual meeting of the St Albans library.
Suburban libraries received grants for books from the Government through the Country Library Service and it was an anomaly that the city libraries did not receive some funds.
“I notice that in the early days of this library, the then provincial government made a grant of £25 to the library. This was enlightened thinking.”
The library service in Christchurch would also have to consider the system of voluntary staffing.
While there were sufficient volunteers the system worked well, but the time was near when professional librarians would be needed to meet the needs of the libraries.
More money needed to be spent on libraries and consideration had to be given to building a new city library.”
Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31333, 1 April 1967, Page 23
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19670401.2.271
‘St Albans Library. 100th Annual Meeting.’
“The continuation of the St Albans Library had carried on the ideas of the Canterbury Association in furthering the education of the people of Christchurch, the Mayor (Mr G. Manning) said last night at the 100th annual meeting.
The ideas of the Canterbury Association were formed in England before the First Four Ships left and the libraries in the city had inherited these ideas and brought them to fruition, in education…
Mr Manning congratulated the library on its service to the community and said that the City Council had given £92,000 to the city library and the 18 suburban libraries in 1965.
Of this £26,000 had gone to the suburban libraries.”
Press, 6 February 1985, Page 5
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19850206.2.60
‘$87,500 for Linwood library fund proposed. St Albans.’
“After 118 years of issuing books, the St Albans Library will cease to exist. Instead the library will be known as the Edgeware Library.
A request to change the library’s name, to identify it with the nearby Edgeware shopping village, was approved by the committee.
Some councillors expressed reservations about changing the name of a public building after so long.
The library is the oldest volunteer library in the city.”
Press, 31 May 1985, Page 20
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19850531.2.134
‘St Albans library changes name’
“From Monday next week, a small suburban library which has served the St Albans district for the last 118 years, will add another chapter to its history.
The St Albans Public Library committee has decided to change the library’s name to Edgeware – a move to keep in line with a trend adopted by other shops and businesses in the Colombo Street and Edgeware Road shopping area.
The trend came after the last boundary change, which took Edgeware out of the St Albans electorate and postal district, and put it in Christchurch Central.
Proposals to change the name were approved by the Christchurch City Council’s cultural and public relations committee in February this year, and adopted by the library committee at its annual general meeting in March.
The committee president, Mrs Naomi Lynch, says the library is one of the few independent suburban libraries left in Christchurch.
It is run by a group of 14 voluntary librarians who, between them, have given 260 years service to the library.
The plain, unpretentious building has had little change made to it. Some remodelling inside has taken place over the years to keep it up to modern standards.
Mrs Lynch says suburban libraries serve a valuable purpose in the community – particularly to those in the area who are unable to make regular visits into the city.
“The Edgeware Library is not a very outstanding building. I’ve known people who have been in the area for years and didn’t know there was a library here,” Mrs Lynch said.
For historical purposes, the building’s facade that bears the old name will be kept. A sign will be placed in the library window of the new name.”
Press, 31 May 1985, Page 20
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19850531.2.137.1
‘Edgeware Public Library. 118 Years of Community Library Service.’
“Canterbury Public Library, Takes Pleasure in Supporting the New Edgeware Public Library (Formerly St Albans Library) and thank the citizens of Edgeware/St Albans for their support in the past, and trust continued support will be given to the Library, for this essential Public Community Service.”
