Book in weekend visit to Sumner Centre

Sunday opening is on the library cards for the Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre.

Under the Christchurch City Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), $43,000 will be allocated annually to fund staffing at the seaside library at the weekends.

At present, the library is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm and from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays. However, the LTP funding means that the library will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, boosting access to the popular centre from spring.

The longer opening hours are expected to come into force from September when staffing arrangements will be in place.

Longer weekend hours have been approved for Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre.

“Matuku Takotako is the centre of the community, and local residents have made it very clear that they want seven-day access – especially those who work and go to school outside the area during the week,” Christchurch City Council Head of Libraries and Information Carolyn Robertson says.

“Many Sumner children also play sport and travel out of the area on Saturday mornings so have limited opportunity to use the library at the weekend. For Christchurch City Libraries, ease of access is a priority and the new longer weekend opening hours will best meet that demand.”

Ms Robertson says Sumner has had a library since 1883 and the new centre continues that tradition of service to the community.

"Since opening in 2017, more than 73,000 people have visited Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre. It is a strong socio-cultural centre that embraces a range of services for the people of Sumner and the wider community, with hundreds of extra people visiting the popular beach suburb at the weekends, particularly over the summer.

“It’s important that this user-friendly ‘third space’ – away from home and the workplace – is open to everyone every day.”

Christchurch City Council Heathcote Ward Councillor Sara Templeton says she is “really pleased that the community will be able to access our award-winning Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre throughout the weekend”.

“We have heard from both the community and the Community Board that this is an important space to have open as Sumner is a real destination and to have the library and public toilets open for longer hours on Saturdays, and now on Sundays too, is very welcome,” she says.