Software on our public computers
All library computers are free to use and have a range of productivity software installed. A full list of software installed is listed below, and is also available in the help files.
Windows 7 upgrade on public computers August 2011
From the 15th of August, Christchurch City Libraries will begin a rollout of Windows 7 starting with Papanui Library. Windows 7 is the latest operating system from Microsoft and will replace our existing Windows XP installations on our public PCs.
Windows 7 offers a range of exciting new features such as improved boot times, new graphical interface and better security. It also gives us the opportunity to roll out some exciting new applications such as Firefox 5, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 9, Windows Live Movie Maker and Office 2010.
On this page
Software - Windows 7 PCs
The following software packages are available. The software will be regularly reviewed, updated and added to. If you have a suggestion for software you would like to see included in this list, please let us know.
| Pharos Account Balance | view the balance on your Pharos account |
| Internet Explorer | web browser |
| Mozilla Firefox | web browser |
| Google Chrome | web browser |
| Opera | web browser |
| Acrobat Reader | open and read .pdf files |
| Adobe Digital Editions | eBook management software |
| Google Earth | view the Earth in 3D |
| Microsoft Office 2010 | suite of programs including word processor, slide-show, spreadsheet and more (see below) |
| Libre Office | suite of programs including word processor, slide-show, spreadsheet and more (see below) |
| jZip | compression utility (learn about Zipped files below) |
| CDBurnerXP | writes files to CD (learn about writing to CD below) |
| Paint.net | drawing program |
| Picasa | web-based photo album software from |
| Sketchup | 2D and 3D drawing software |
| Flickr Uploader | web-based photo album software |
| Windows Live Photo Gallery | photograph editing and management |
| Microsoft Camera Codec pack | supports most DSLR RAW formats |
| Skype | internet based phone and video calling |
| iTunes | music library software |
| Audacity | audio editing software |
| VLC | multi-format video player |
| Windows Live Movie Maker | video editing software |
| Kompozer | create web pages and web sites with this HTML editing software |
| Programmers Notepad | text tool for programmers |
| Magnifier | Microsoft screen magnifying software |
| Narrator | Microsoft light- duty screen reader utility |
| Windows Media Player | |
| Flash Player | |
| Silverlight | |
| Java Runtime Environment |
Office software comparison
| Libre Office | Microsoft | |
|---|---|---|
| Word processor | Writer | Word |
| Desktop publishing | Publisher | |
| Presentations | Impress | PowerPoint |
| Drawing | Draw | |
| Spreadsheet | Calc | Excel |
| Database | Base | Access |
Note: Due to potential security issues, it is not possible to install or run your own software on the library computers, e.g. install or run games stored on USB drives etc.
Software - XP PCs
The following software packages are available on our XP PCs. They will be replaced by the above Windows 7 PCs from 15 August 2011 onwards.
Software and versions on the Public XP PCs (updated August 2009)
- jZip v1.0 - compression utility
- CDBurnerXP v4.2.4.1322 - writes files to CD
- Firefox v3.0.8 - web browser
- Microsoft Office 2007 - suite of programs including word processor, slide show, spreadsheet and more
- iTunes 8.1.1.10 - music library software
- Open Office v3.0.1 - suite of programs including word processor, slide show, spreadsheet and more
- Acrobat Reader v9.1 - open and read .pdf files
- CoolIris v1.10 - flickr photo viewer utility
- Lib-X - library catalogue browser plug-in
- Paint.net v3.36 - drawing program
- Google Earth v5.0.11733.9347 - View the Earth in 3D
- Picasa v3 - web-based photo album software
- Sketchup v7 - 2D and 3D drawing software
- Kompozer v0.7.10 - Create web pages and web sites with this HTML editing software
- Skype v4 - internet based phone and video calling
- Programmers Notepad v2.0.8 - text tool for programmers
- VLC v0.9.9 - mulit-format video player
- Audacity v1.3.4 - audio editing software
- Flickr Uploader v3.14 - flickr utility
- Real Alternative - Real Media player software
- Magnifying Glass v1.0 - free, open-source screen magnification tool.
- Non-visual Desktop Access 0.6p3.2 - free and open-source screen reader
- FProt v6.0.9.1 - Anti-virus software
- Windows Media Player 11
- Windows Movie Maker
- Magnifier - Microsoft screen magnifying software
- Narrator - Microsoft light-duty screen reader utility
Office software comparison
| OpenOffice | Microsoft | |
|---|---|---|
| Word processor | Writer | Word |
| Desktop publishing | Publisher | |
| Presentations | Impress | PowerPoint |
| Drawing | Draw | |
| Spreadsheet | Calc | Excel |
| Database | Base | Access |
Saving your work
- All computers can access USB drives (except catalogues and Children's PCs)
- Most public computers have CD writers: you can purchase a disk from the library for $1.
- Most public computers have floppy drives: you can purchase disks
- Some computers have a flash memory card reader attached to enable access to your memory card e.g. Sony memory stick
USB drives
Follow the steps below to save your files to a USB device. You can purchase a USB from many of our libraries.
- Connect the USB Drive to the computer.
- Double click on My Computer at the top left of the desktop.
- Your drive will be either drive G, H, I or J. Select each until you find your files.
To a CD Rom
Follow the steps below to save your files to CD Rom.
- Place a writable CD in the CD Rom drive.
- Save the file(s) that you wish to write into the Burn Folder on the E drive.
- Double click on My Computer at the top left of the desktop.
- Double click on the CD Rom drive.
- You will see the documents you want to save to CD as greyed out at the top of the screen.
- Click on the File Menu at the top of the screen.
- Click on Write these files to CD.
- Follow the instructions in the CD writing Wizard that appears.
- Don’t forget to retrieve your disc from the computer.
Memory cards
Memory cards can only be used on computers that have memory card readers. Please ask a librarian which computers have readers.
- Place the memory card into the reader (the blue/white device on top of the computer). Alternatively if you have a USB adaptor for your memory card that may be used.
- Double click on My Computer at the top left of the desktop.
- The drive for your memory card will be either drive G, H, I or J. Select each until you find your files.
N.B. other devices like iPods and Digital Cameras cannot be connected directly to these computers.
Working with Zipped files
Zipping a file is used to reduce the file size.
Opening zipped files
Zipped files may be opened on these machines by double clicking on the zip file.
Zipping a file
- Save the Files to the E drive (my documents)
- Go to additional at the top of the screen
- Select “View files on E”
- Select the file(s) you want to zip. To select specific files hold down the CTRL key and click on the files you want.
- Go to the file menu
- Click on "SEND TO"
- Click on "send to zip"
- A new zip file containing all the files selected will appear in the E drive.
N.B. there is no way to add more files to an existing zip file.
