Tynte St Library holds a special place in my heart in more ways than one and is probably one of the…read moremost community orientated local government facilities that actually works. The locals are here on a daily basis borrowing and returning books, having a chat with the library staff and make friendships and acquaintances more often than not. A great meeting place for the community are there are various programs run by the library and the Community Centre out the back. Adelaide City Council libraries - as far as I - offer a service to purchase items for you if none of their library centres possess it in their collection! Mind you it is at their discretion if they decide not too for any reason. It has the largest kids area from all four public libraries in the city and have childrens programs such as storytime once a week and look on their website for school holiday programs too. Their DVD collection is second to none and can contend with any video store in the State! CD's also are extensive but a warning...if you're found to be burning (copying) any, you will be banned from the library for a year! Library membership is free and remember to bring your ID when joining. Word of warning though...watch out for overdue fees and reminder notices after 30 days of items being late as they carry a whopping $16 fee! But there is a way to avoid all these by registering with a world wide organisation by selecting the basic free of charge option called Library Elf. Follow the directions and you can set it to send you reminders before your items are overdue, most libraries should tell you about the service but not all staff remember to mention it. Tynte St Library has two return chutes, one on the footpath which is good for wheel chair bound patrons and another built into the front door.

Does getting a tongue lashing from a librarian make them even more attractive?…read more I think so. Or at least having that thought at the time made my $50 fine sting just a little less. This space is tiny. If you haven't been, take what you're imagining and divide it in half. But they don't call Adelaide the learnered city for nothings. There's a brilliant system which overcomes this space issue. You're able to search (we have the technology!) the cumulative collection of the four city libraries and request items to be sent to your closest branch. Extra points for progressiveness, you can check out ebooks, hop on the net for free and use the website to read current newspapers from around the world. A great resource, IT'S FREE (so long as you return things on time), so don't overlook it! Now to leave you with some Librarian jargon that sounds dirty (thank's McSweeney's!): Colon classification, depth indexing, full entry, information package...

Very helpful staff. With such a small library, they are always helpful in finding a book wherever…read moreit may be.

This library is tiny and surprisingly comprehensive. There are five or six computers for use by…read moremembers (I think the general public can make 'guest' bookings also). These computers share a printer, which can also be used as a scanner. My favourite facilities here are that they have all the daily papers available for reading in a relatively comfy lounge area. They also have a fairly big DVD collection which comes in handy as there is no local video store. The foyer boasts a host of free street press to keep you updated with what's on around town. Incidentally - they also have an extensive collection of self help books which may be due to its location directly opposite the Hutt St Centre for Adelaide's homeless and vulnerable residents. Hutt St Library is just one amongst several City Council run libraries and once you have a card you are entitled to borrow also from North Tce, Tynte St and Grote St locations.

The Campbelltown library is one of the best I've been to in South Australia, and I'm lucky enough…read moreto call it my local. As a member of the SWAP Library Network you also have access to a huge pool of resources from multiple libraries around town, all of which can be accessed at the library itself, or over the internet with an easy login based around your membership card. There are stacks of DVD's and CD's, as well as, well yes, obviously, books. Placing reservations over the net is a breeze, and you'll get notification when your requests are in and ready to collect. As well as the pictured public access computer section, the Campbelltown library features an Ipad available for public use, and a great childrens toy library too. The childrens range of books and multimedia resources is huge compared to other places I've frequented. Staff always seem to be friendly, and are far more likely to give a gentle reminder that a book is overdue than to slap you with a fine - even extending a deadline to allow you time to get the offending item back to them. Membership is free - stacks of off street parking here, too. Great community resource.

I received the email letting me know the books I ordered on-line had come in. The same service…read morehappens when a book is overdue if you register your email against your account. Today was quiet so I was lucky to grab my books and exit quickly. I do wish the hold section was closer to the service desk when I don't want to use any other facilities within the library. When its busy the line up is crazy. Typical me forgot to bring my library card and it wasn't an issue as I was able to provide my drivers licence and was found in their system. The services available ranges from the obvious books to DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, e-books, magazines, newspapers, audio books, scanning, printing and much more. I don't borrow the DVDs anymore as they seem to be bad quality with the numerous scratches, and I've had trouble playing then at home. Probably caused by over use. There is a Justice of the Peace Service and you just need to check with the library the availability. The times for this service are on the office door.

This is the official library of the Australian state of South Australia from 1834. It's the…read morelargest public research library in the state, focused on South Australian information. The Mortlock Wing was opened in1884 as a "Public Library, Museum & Art Gallery for the colony of South Australia" with 23,000 books and 3 on staff. The Mortlock Wing is now an exhibition space regarding the history & culture of South Australia. This Wing has been featured in a list of the top 20 most beautiful libraries of the world.

The entrance was unassuming, with run down carpet, but beautiful carved wood railings on the…read morestairs. There was a roped off room that had some old books, but the true treasure is the Mortlock Wing, which we found after wandering a bit more. It was like stepping into the world of Harry Potter is the best way I can describe it. The ground floor housed a lot of ephemeria, about past shows, movies, and festivals. Upstairs were where the thousands of old books were. Many people were reading quietly at the different tables, but there were a few tourists (hi, it's me) snapping pictures as unobtrusively as possible. As we left the Mortlock wing and kept going, we got to a jarringly modern section of the library, almost museum-like. The current exhibit showcased menus collected from all the way in the 1800s. Absolutely fascinating to read what was in style back then, and how much it cost. This is a great free stop for about an hour of your time, or even the whole day if you want to take advantage of the quiet and serenity for some reading or work. I will say this is not as large as State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, which housed a lot more exhibits and has an impressive dome, but I actually enjoyed this more.

A very nice little library in a beautiful building. Yes it's small so the book collection is also…read moresmall but you can order in any book in the entire SA collection (just use the SA libraries app). CDs and DVDs too. Nice friendly staff.

Yet another gloriously grey and old building carved from stone quarried in the region and now…read morerespected for its historic beauty and heritage. The Norwood Library is not the best library around but it is a pretty good facility and the collection of books is reasonable. If you can not find a book in the library you are encouraged to check on the database and if it is available at another library it can be ordered and you will get it eventually. There are music Cd's and some DVDs available and there are computers where you can do pretty much everything from homework for school through to research and study on the Internet. The history of the library is interesting and there are information brochures about it available. The atmosphere is generally pretty good and the staff are helpful.

I love this place! I have some pretty find memories of Goodwood Library and it still lives up to…read morethem as an adult. There's a good range of books to sort through (and, now that the state libraries are all connected, anything they are missing can be ordered in from elsewhere) and the lay out is quite pleasant. It is divided up into different nooks depending on age and genre of the book selection which gives one a cosy and secluded feeling while browsing. There are plenty of nice spots to sit and read too - including a little outdoor area with table and chairs which you access from the middle of the library. It's quite easy to while away a whole day here. Getting to the library is easy- there's plenty of parking nearby and the bus and tram stop practically on the door step.

Who knew Good wood had a library? It looks like a store that is closed and up for lease to me, I…read moreonly noticed it when I was crossing the road from Model Flight. So I decided to check this little alien library out, curiosity got the better of me. I sidled on in and tried to look like I belonged because I almost felt like I was cheating on my local library, I'm funny like that. Of course I was immediately bailed up by a librarian asking me if she could help; why is it that when you are trying to look normal you immediately come across as suss? I continued to browse and I found that I almost wished this was my local library, only because there is a toy library where you can hire stuff for birthday parties, there are alot of young children in my family and I can see the benefit in this service, plus, it keeps them busy while you browse for a novel. Sadly I cannot form a relationship with Goodwood Library because it is too far away and because that would be cheating.

I love how each library has a certain personality and focus. I know where to go when I want…read moresomething particular, and there are many libraries to choose from in Adelaide. Hindmarsh Library is spacious and cool, a great place to browse its dozens of newspapers, or its decidedly odd, yet interesting, non-fiction range. In the non-fiction section there is a row dedicated to sexuality, along the lines of "What Men Want" and "Orgasm" which sets this suburban library somewhat apart from its city counterparts. There is also a focus on spirituality, several guide books by Deepak Chopra, alongside titles like "Understanding the Future" and "Life Before Life", to complement the usual offerings of hefty books on Ancient Philosophy and Christian Apologetics. There is a limited number of computers for normal use, along with scanners and catalog computers. The wall art changes every two months to display local artworks. The art on display this month was made by the children of Bowden and Brompton Community School, though most often they display adult artwork from surrounding community art programs. There is a length of windowed wall overlooking Port Road, dedicated to plugging in laptops. From a high swivel chair you can survey the passing parade as your batteries chug back to life. At 2pm on a Thursday afternoon, the place is hushed, quiet and peaceful. My neighbourhood friend regularly complains of the noise levels in the library after school hours, when the space 'becomes a playgroup', but during school hours it is perfect for those seeking a quiet reading place. A table at the front displays new items. One that catches my eye is titled "Wolfsbane and Mistletoe", a book of festive werewolf short stories. The fiction collection is only as large as the non-fiction section, and romance novels comprise a quarter of it, so I don't come here for the latest quality fiction. There is a computer dedicated to Genealogy, which I have never been brave enough to approach, as well as a set of shelves for family and local history records. While you can connect to wireless, it is painfully slow, so don't expect to achieve much in a hurry.

Sometimes I wish they would amalgamate all the council libraries into four or five really awesome…read moreones. But then I remember that not everyone can ride their bike or drive wherever they want. Out of the many council libraries in my immediate zone, Hindmarsh is one of the better ones. It is quite large and modern, and has a mobile book service which is great for people who are unable to leave their home. As well as their excellent physical collection they have a small collection of online e-books, encyclopaedias and newspapers. In particular the children's e-book collection is an impressive online resource. During the summer the library hosts some great activity days for kids - storytime days and cooking days. As Jo mentioned, the fiction collection is a little paltry - it might do well to get a general public card for a university library like the Barr Smith if you're looking for a better range.

You know you live in an awesome community when you have access to a library like this! The Stirling…read morelibrary is one of the more well designed and furbished community libraries I have been to over the years. Might be the area, but I think that the Adelaide Hills Council have invested very well in the design of this building. It is very open, with some beautiful views of the grassed area and trees in front of the building. There is a great range of books available for all ages. Separated in easily defined areas for adults, young persons and children. I always find myself drawn to the cookbook sections of libraries. What can I say, I love food! The cookbook section in this library is very up-to-date and holds a great selection. It is great to see when community libraries invest on purchasing new books regularly. There are also lot of computers and two large printers to access with your library card. So if you need to check your emails or don't have a printer at home, don't hesitate to drop in. I have used the printer's on many occasions. They are cheap and good quality prints in black and white and colour. The staff in this library are so wonderfully helpful and happy. When ever I have needed assistance in finding a book or using the printers, they have gone out of their way to make sure I get what I need. This is very refreshing than many other libraries I have been to. In fact, the complete opposite from the librarians of my primary and secondary schooling! ;) Last thing to mention as a tip, if you do not have any money for the DVD store, community libraries are a great way to borrow DVD's for free. Something I learnt when I was a poor uni student. The selection in this library is great! Also, keep an eye out in the warmer months, this library sets up fold up chairs on the grasses area for you to sit and read. This library is close to many coffee shops as well. So why not get a take away coffee and book from the library. Then you can then sit on a chair on the grass and relax in the hub of Stirling.

The Stirling Library underwent some serious changes in the last few years, a whole new building was…read morebuilt to house both the library and council services. needless to say it is now far more modern and accessible and dare I say aesthetically pleasing. There is a pretty decent range of fictional material available here, not so big on artsy material though which irritates me, I'd like to learn how to draw something other than Manga characters. I'm confident if I expressed this wish to the staff they would be more than happy to get some material in from another library, guess I'm just lazy. There are a number of computers available with internet access, a photocopier and a couple of printers for your printing convenience. I struggled to use the printer but then I generally do this stuff from home so maybe I'm just a bit slow. My favourite thing to do when I'm here is to grab a novel (self serve borrowing system which is so much faster) and head outside to read my book whilst lounging on the lush council lawns. Although this is primarily a library/ council, functions are held here too, I recently went to a Masquerade ball here as part of the Spring Expressions Festival, I had a good time and drank too much champagne. Definitely a winner.