Artist's statement
The Auckland Region is home to 55 public libraries, each one quite unique with respect to its architecture.
Their architectural styles range from early twentieth century to the very modern.
Common to them all, though, is their significance to the communities they serve.
They are ‘repositories of wisdom’ to be consulted and drawn upon.
It is sound reasoning, in Christabel's view, that such repositories should be housed within buildings of architectural interest.
A visually impressive, appealing and well-designed library building is both a clear statement of the high value a community accords its contents and services and a declaration of its interest in ensuring that users and would be users are attracted to use them.
This Portfolio contains images of 15 of the 55 Auckland public libraries, taken from an architectural perspective. Christabel has included libraries from each of the South, West, Central and North Auckland areas.
The selection has been Christabel's own. There are other equally wonderful libraries in Auckland – those included in this portfolio are simply representative of the whole
Sequencing of images
The images displayed in this Portfolio, which include both exterior and interior photographs, are presented in the following order:
South Auckland libraries: West Auckland Libraries:
Pukekohe, Otahuhu and Mangere East Ranui, Massey, Henderson, New Lynn and Glen Eden
Central Auckland libraries: North Auckland Libraries
Parnell, Remuera, Onehunga and Waiheke Island Devonport, Birkenhead and Wellsford
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |
About
Christabel
Christabel has been an enthusiatic reader and user of libraries since a very tender age. She spent many cumulative childhood hours sitting on library steps (just like those above) waiting for opening time, all the while hoping that someone had returned a book she had not yet read.
Christabel has extended her interests to photography. In choosing a subject for her very first photographic portfolio of architectural images she thought immediately of the many libraries that helped launch her adult life.
Christabel has a Diploma in Digital Photography from the Southern Institute of Technology and is engaged in further studies there. Her interests are photo-journalism and documentary photography.