Parklands Library is closing for five months for structural repairs and an upgrade.

The library will be closed from Monday 13 October 2025, and Christchurch City Council expects the work to be completed in March 2026.

“We know Parklands Library holds an important space in Christchurch’s northeast community, and that losing it for five months will leave a big gap for many,” says Rosie Levi, Acting Head of Libraries and Information.

“However, we’re sure everyone will agree that the wait will be worth it so that we can deliver a permanent fix for its structural issues as soon as possible.”

The structural issue was discovered in February, when an assessment found that the building was below the 34% New Building Standard (NBS) meaning parts of the building were earthquake-prone.

“It was always our intention to close to complete some regular maintenance and upgrades, so we’re taking this opportunity to complete those too – when we reopen, visitors will be able to enjoy an all-around much improved environment,” Ms Levi says.

Ms Levi says the upgrades will include improved layout, drainage, fire protection and electrical/lighting systems, along with roof repairs and cladding replacement.

“In fact, it was while we were preparing for this work that staff noted that some of the exterior structural elements of the building showed signs of deterioration, which prompted us to get the engineering assessment that found the building to be below NBS,” Ms Levi says.

The discovery prompted the Council to complete some quick remediation work to make sure the building was safe to occupy while planning for a permanent fix got underway.

Open Book Café inside the building will also close for the duration.

During the closure, reserved items can be collected from New Brighton Library, unless otherwise requested. Items cannot be returned to Parklands Library during this period, but can be returned to any other library across the city network.

For those wanting to find the nearest alternatives, they are New Brighton Library at 213 Marine Parade, Aranui Library at 109 Aldershot Street and Shirley Library at 36 Marshland Road.