History of Christchurch City Libraries Art Collection
Canterbury Public Library had a lending collection of reproductions and original New Zealand art works for 37 years. The collection was established by the then City Librarian, R.N. O'Reilly (who went on to become Director of the New Zealand Library School in Wellington and of the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth).
The lending of reproductions started on 1 September 1953 with a collection of 80. Prints continued to be bought up to about 1990. Originals were bought from 2 May 1955 (The cat / Louise Henderson, and, Fabric design / Alison Pickmere) until 4 March 1981 (Oaro & Amuri Bluff / Margaret Rhodes, and, Things that go bump in the night / Stephanie Sheehan).
Lack of funds in an inflationary market slowed and later stopped the buying of originals. The more valuable of the originals, e.g. those by Rita Angus, Colin McCahon, Bill Sutton and Toss Woollaston, were withdrawn from circulation in the 1970s and 1980s, many being housed at the Robert McDougall Art Gallery. In October 2001, 115 were formally gifted to them. Of the remainder (111), some are hung in the Central City Library and the others are in storage. The increasing value of originals meant the Library could no longer purchase them and by the mid 1980s they became too valuable to lend. (Some libraries bought or were given art works at later dates when they were built or as part of building decoration).
- Search the Catalogue
- Learn more about the collection in our digitised publication Library Treasures: New Zealand Art Works from the Canterbury Public Library C.S.A. Gallery, 9th February - 5th March 1989.
- Three books and an original McCahon please, an article about our art collection for our 150 Anniversary website
