I used to live in Avondale and hated it, and that hatred extended to everything in Avondale or…read moreAvondale-related. If you'd asked me what I thought of Avondale library I would have said terrible. Now that I no longer live there my feelings have softened. And to my surprise, Avondale library is not nearly as bad as I remembered (re: imagined) it. When I went in recently I was impressed with the quality and quantity of the art and design sections - clearly someone who works here takes an interest. The fiction was more what you'd expect from a smaller suburban library, heavy on the thrillers and chick-lit, light on the post-modernism and lit-lit, but the non-fiction was a treasure trove. Avondale library, I take back anything bad I might have said about you in the past.

I love the study area here, its my number one place to go to when I need to study away from uni but…read moreclose enough to get home when I've had enough. You get heaps of table room and they're separated quite well away from the rest of the noise of the library (people walking in, checking out books, etc). If I need a break, I can grab a book or a magazine and have a read without having to re-locate. I have great memories of this library as I went through their whole section of teen angst through high school (its a great, highly recommended section too). The book selection here is still great and it's good to see that younger kids are still borrowing books from their local library. They've also got a small video collection (the last time I checked a video out of the library happened when I was going through an Anna Karenina phase) with some classics thrown in there too. The set-up of the Manurewa Library is very user friendly and I've always found the staff here to be really helpful. They're also pretty good at keeping up with newly released books, so I'd snap those up quick before its gone for the month! This is a great, friendly, local library with all the resources you need.

This the coolest design you will find of a library, and not only do I think this, but the…read morearchitecture who designed it has won a NZ Architecture Award for Public Architecture and also other awards for sustainability and environmental design. Home to a number of favourites, such as the Plunket Birkenhead Workshop, and the best children's reading area, and outdoor play balcony I have seen yet. I appreciate that my child gets the freedom to walk around a kids zone, and have time outside inside of a library which is not common. Stunning panorama if your in the need of some time out or inspiration while you write or read or study, on the upstairs level. Exceptional librarian's staff this library and are always keen to help me find a book, a movie or log in to the free Internet. Take this opportunity to experience an excellent Auckland City Library.

I won't say much but second the great reviews. This is a great library and as a backpacker i spent…read moremany days in here using the wifi, getting info, etc. Not many backpackers here, mostly locals. Quiet. clean. very nice :)

Since turning Libraries into 'Shared Spaces,' a few years ago, I find this library smelly, and was…read moretold by the clerk that the computer area is a 'volatile space ". Seems every patron is tarred with the same brush...treated as if we were last of the homeless, mentally ill, indigent population. And why are they being treated so badly there? Dreadful experiences in that Library. People in filthy clothes stretched out over several seats seemingly in a drunken stupor. Glares and glances and tight facial expressions from the library clerks. Dreadful. Libraries should have remained libraries. Not drop in centres

The Central City Library is one of the first places I went to when I arrived in Auckland, mainly to…read moreprint some documents and use the free (but limited to 20 minutes) computers. I have since joined and have been regular borrower of books, DVDs and magazines. It's the perfect place to go to when one feels like reading, learning or getting entertained... for cheap! I find the range of books really wide and varied... I even found a book that I know has been self-published, so I guess it cannot be found everywhere. I even attended a free little gig on the first floor on a Friday night, which was so unexpected but really good fun. I had not been a library rat for a few years but the Central City Library reconciliated me with my nerdy side!

Since its rebuild Devonport Library is stunning inside with its woodwork .Upstirs there are lovely…read moreviews towards the harbour. Each branch library has differences in books and DVDs etc. Devonport is no exception to this which is why I often travel there by ferry

Whilst I live in central Auckland, I regularly come across on the Ferry to come to the public…read morelibrary here. While it doesn't look like anything special from the outside, it possesses a community vibe that I find really attractive in a library. Lately I've been to too many soulless corporate behemoth like libraries that while they do admittedly have a better selection of books, and fancy things like microfiche (has anyone ever used one of these things?), they really lack that certain 'je me sas quais' that you find here, and friendly librarians who would happily hang out and chat with you all day about book selections etc! It definitely helps too that it has one of the best views of the waterfront from the picture windows at the back, in the Auckland area (for a library anyway) So settle in, find a good book and lose yourself for a while.

Less helpful people working there now, but those still there are super helpful. Free wifi!…read moreVery nice study desk area's with power points for plugging in your laptop, and overlooking green areas outside. Very good thinking area. Lots of dvds still available for rent

This is my local library and one of my favourite places. It is as kid-friendly as could be and I…read morelove that I can walk in here with my kids and we each go our own way before meeting up later. I still have moments of amazement where I'm like "books for free!!!!!". It's one of the great pleasures of civilised life to have access to more books than you could ever read in a lifetime and best of all, it costs nothing! The librarians here are particularly helpful and one in particular always goes out of her way to make recommendations to my 11 year old daughter which I am so appreciative of. I will say though that there are a couple of (male) part timers here who are grumpiness personified. Yeah we know libraries are cool and yes, you must be very cool to work in one but let's not forget, it's still a customer service job. Like I said, the ladies are all lovely so go figure.

This is a fairly new library out West and it is a very nice one at that…read more There isn't much parking around though, except for a bit out the back and the street parking out front. The building has a really nice exterior, and the interior is really nice too. A good layout helps you find the books easily, and I like that there is quite a nice selection on offer. It isn't the biggest library out there but it does the job nicely. The staff are friendly and very helpful and it is a pleasurable experience finding books there. There is also a good bit of space dedicated for some quiet reading, and research if that's what you are after.

Now that all the Auckland libraries are joined, is awesome how you can request book to your local…read morelibrary. The got pretty high tech since back in the days, I was waiting in line for my book request and a old librarian kindly came up and told me I can self pick up the book right off the shelf and even check out the books myself with the new self check out machine. Nice little cozy library.