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Selwyn District Council have partnered with Christchurch City Council to operate a shared libraries digital collection for a two-year trial period.

From 1 July, library members in Selwyn and Christchurch will have access to an increased range of eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines available through the new service, which uses the existing Libby app.

The service will be named AWA, after the network of rivers and streams that flow through the Canterbury landscape.

“The name AWA symbolises the interconnectedness of our rivers and waterways and the flow between places and people,” says Denise Kidd, Executive Director Community Services and Facilities.

“This shared partnership means library users in the Selwyn District will see a 400% increase in access to eBook and eAudio content, totalling more than 100,000 titles,”

Ms Kidd says the partnership makes sense given the flow of people between our districts, where many residents live in Selwyn and work in Christchurch City and vice versa.

The partnership builds on the existing foundation of the Gammack Trust, where children and young people aged 0-18 years in the Selwyn District can register for a Christchurch City Libraries card to access their physical collections.

“We are hopeful that this will be the first of further library collaboration opportunities, such as programming and events, shared professional development, and extending the service to other neighbouring local authorities.”

Over the trial period both Selwyn and Christchurch will conduct regular monitoring of data and usage with a review of the collaboration taking place prior to June 2027.

Last modified: 30 May 2025 11:00am