Library exchange likely for cities

Press, 29 July 1986, Page 7

Library exchange likely for cities

Christchurch, New Zealand, and Christchurch, England, may extend their sister-city relationship to include a library exchange. The Christchurch City Council’s cultural and public relations committee yesterday approved in principle a staff exchange between the libraries of the two cities.

The City Librarian, Mr John Stringlemen, has been negotiating the exchange for some time and a suitable time is February to July, 1987. He said the library had twice exchanged staff with other libraries —

one on the Isle of Wight and one in Tucson, Arizona. Both programmes had proved beneficial for the, staff, Mr Stringleman said. To avoid work permit problems the staff of the two libraries would swap houses, cars, and pets but retain their own salaries. The actual details of the exchange would be made after the staff members were selected. Mr Stringleman said the library in Christchurch, England, was much larger than its New Zealand namesake.