It's a lovely please for the kids and toddlers with so many books and toys to choose from and a…read morefriendly staff. I just wish they would pay more attention to the dirty carpet and stuffed toys and have them washed or replaced regularly.

I love this library. I spent countless hours here as a child and I remember arguing with my Mum…read moreabout how many books I could borrow at a time. Ah, those were the days. The selection here is fantastic. Kids have it the best with a big kids section and plenty of chairs and bean bags to chill out on. There are always decorations in this area too. There are computers available for public use as well as a few for looking up that one book you have been trying to find for ages. The staff are very helpful but you often have to wait awhile so the computers are a blessing. I like that the books are mostly in the right places. There are a few libraries in the area where there aren't enough staff so it can get very hard to find things as no one is keeping tabs on naughty people who return them to the wrong places. Beware of keeping a book from here for too long - the fines get really big, really fast. There was a time when I avoided the library for almost a year because I knew I had such a big fine. Luckily for me the system crashed at some point in that year and they lost the fine histories. That sure was a nice surprise the next time I went back. As a library card holder you get a little book bag with Knox Library written on it. It's great for holding all your books so cherish it and wear it with pride!! No seriously, I'm not joking. That bag lasted me years!

Good library. When I was at school, I'd get mum to ditch me at the library so she could do her…read moreshopping and I could get some study done without the distractions that I always used to manage to find at home, no matter how much of an isolation chamber I turned my room into. Then later on, when I was at uni, I used this place a few times because they had the books I needed for assignments that I couldn't get at my campus library simply because there were more students doing those assignments than there were copies of the book available. Since then, I've tended to not go in as much. It's a good library, but there are a couple closer to me. I do still have my library card, though. Sometimes if I"m doing some shopping, I'll go in and borrow a novel or three. Cheaper than buying.

I've quietly sat, read, and worked on assignments at this library many times. Too many times. I…read morecan't begin to calculate how many hours of my life have been spent here, reading and taking notes, wishing that whatever assignment I was doing would magically be over. It's a pretty standard library. The library is well stocked, and if they don't have what you're after, maybe they can request it from one of the other branches at Balwyn, Camberwell, Hawthorn or Kew. I've done that before, but I usually find it easier and faster just to drive to whatever branch has what I need. I guess the important thing is that it's nearly always had what I have needed, and it's a good quiet place to work if you find working at home distracting.

The staff are happy at Ashburton Library. It makes a difference, it means that I don't feel weird…read moreabout staying too long in a comfy chair reading a book. I know that sounds strange, after all I'm allowed to be there, but I feel like I'm encroaching on someone's turf getting settled at a library. These guys work there every day, they don't need to see my mug neck-deep in a book for several hours when I could just as easily grab and go. Happy staff, tick. Good range of books, tick. Catalogue that is well built and functional, tick. Done and done. Time to go to the library!

For those of you following me I'm sure it is no surprise to see yet another library review…read more Libraries have always been part of my life, so much so that I spent over twelve years working in one. Anyway to the review at hand. Fitzroy Library at first glance is representative of the suburb it inhabits. Eclectic. Its location near the Town Hall between Smith and Brunswick Streets means that it probably should be busier then I found it to be an a quiet Monday morning. The staff were friendly, helpful and quick to assist! As a non-member i was still able to use the free wifi which was helpful, although its speed was a little sluggish. I loved the layout, despite being essentially one long room the stacks separate sections and give the appearance of little enclaves and lounge areas. The overall effect is one of intimacy. Chinese and Vietnamese collections mingle with fiction, nonfiction, children's and magazine collections. The study carrels with power points are perfect for a long haul session. Bonus points for the current fine amnesty!

- Friendly, comfortable and accommodating. - The staff are…read morepleasant and helpful. - The Wifi connection is rather slow and occasionally drops out. - Often quite loud, as there are always plenty of children on the communal computers, so if you need silence to work, this is not the place for you. - Offers a number of children's community programs including a story time and playgroup. - A large number collection of foreign language texts available for loan. - The DVD selection is on the small side, but does have some decent arthouse and difficult to find titles.

It is difficult to know how to rate this library. As Sophie L says, the selection of books is…read morelimited and the interior is nothing to write home about. There is a toilet (good) but it is pretty ordinary (not so good). On the other hand, the staff are great and the children's story time has got to be the best in the world. Yes, I'm serious, the best in the world. Compulsory for all local(ish) parents. Get there early if you want to be anywhere near the book - it is popular.

The Albert Park branch of the Port Phillip Library really isn't anything to write home about…read more The selection of books is pretty limited. The only genre that seems to be well stocked is the teen section, so if you're looking for Sweet Valley High or Goosebumps then you're good to go. Otherwise, not so much. However, there is something quite cozy and cute about this place. So if you want to curl up with a (potentially) good book, go and check it out.

Everyone should make friends with their public library. Mine is one of my favourite places in my…read moreneighbourhood, and wherever you are, your public library should be one of your favourite places too. Why? 1) Free books.* Hello? And if books aren't your thing (well, what's wrong with you, for starters), there are magazines and most libraries now also have pretty good DVD and CD collections. Sure, it's not extensive, but browsing the St Kilda Library DVD section has seen me stumble along some classics that I would never have thought to pick up at a DVD store (or to, ahem, attain in other ways). Sure, you often have to place things on reserve and wait forever for them (I am currently 60 out of 69 in the waiting list for JK Rowling's Casual Vacancy), but this teaches you patience. 2) Everything you need to know about your local community, you can learn from your library. Okay, maybe not everything, but you can get a really great sense of the people in the area. You can tell this by the different languages stocked, the notices on the community board, or the kind of free seminars that are held. 3) That brings me to the next point - free events. I have been to talks about Buffy the Vampire Slayer at my library, poetry readings and book launches. I have overheard a talk on composting and seen flyers for something about worm farms (I think it was green week). Libraries also do cool things for kids, like storytime and craft things on school holidays. 4) Free wi-fi. St Kilda Library is usually packed with backpackers making the most of this. Before I got wi-fi at home, I spent even more time at the library. 5) The people watching is FANTASTIC. This relates a little to point 2. A lot of the time, people who hang out in the local library are just, you know, doing their thing. But sometimes, if you are lucky, their thing is being crazy. Or in the case of French backpackers, making out quite noisily while you are trying to concentrate on the paper you are writing. (Okay, not all French backpackers, but that one couple that time has tarred you all with the loved-up brush.) And finally, 6) Free books. What? I thought it was worth mentioning twice. So what's so special about St Kilda Library? I don't know, mainly just that it is my local, the place that I like to go to get a bit of work done yet at the same time get out of the house. Maybe if I moved away I would come to love my new local library as much as St Kilda, but for now it's just a familiar space. It had a bit of a refurbish recently so they have more computer banks and the like, but have maintain the slightly daggy decor that I think is important for any public library. I got a bit upset when they stopped counter service (the librarians and I used to have some good chats over the checkout) and installed self-service machines...but then a colleague who lives in the area told me that you can select "Pirate" as one of the language options. Arrrrrrrrgh. *Yes, I know technically the books aren't free but are actually paid for by local rates and taxes, but it's not like you're paying for them upfront. And isn't it nice that our rates go to awesome things like books?

As a mother of two, I've learned to love my local library. This place is an amazing resource right…read moreat your fingertips. They have an amazing selection of children's cooks, DVDs, games, and plenty for the adults. Bonus to it all is the story time, they even have it in Russian! They've recently re-modeled the library as well so it is a bit more modern and to check out books, you no longer need to stand in line to have a person do it, you can walk over to a super easy check out kiosk that even takes to security off DVDs and games. It's way cheaper to read a book from the library than a book store and with such a great selection, why waste the money? You can even log on the website and reserve books if you're in a hurry. They'll email or SMS you when they are ready for pick up and the reserved area is right by the check out kiosks!

This library is situated right next to the Mt Waverley Train station, making it extremely…read moreaccessible and easy to get to. I enjoy coming to this library, there is a good selection of books on offer- and they are usually where they're supposed to be. This library is has a relatively open plan layout in comparison to other libraries I've been to. The study area is visible from the second you walk inside, desks are placed side by side to maximize space and private study rooms may be booked (2 people per room). There are a few computers here that can also be booked, but these tend to get pretty busy during afterschool hours. This is a simple library that is quiet most of the time, I tend to avoid 3:30-5:00pm as there are usually kids who run about making loud noises. Overall this is a good simple library, nothing extravagantly good or bad about the place. Just your basic local library.

Mount Waverley Library has updated a little in the last 10 years. A coat of paint, newer computers,…read moreand leather-look seats. Very nice. The library is small, but often full of people coming in to read the paper, use the computers, or even just relax on their lunch break. It's very friendly and peaceful, far more so, I think, than it's partner Glen Waverley. This is the one to go for for the children's section. The junior books section (ranging from learning to read to teenage novels) takes up half the library. Mount Waverley also boasts a very good audiobook section for those of you who like to "read" while driving.

Let me just start by sayin... Eastland library give yourself a big ol pat on the back. No…read moreseriously, I'm not trying to be facetious here. But you- Eastland library are absolutely phenomenal. being a year 12 student I spend most of my weeknights here, often alone of accompanied with a study pal, we can both genuinely say that we have never been to a better place to concentrate and really knuckle down. Being self diagnosed with ADHD I find my mind wandering whilst trying with utmost persistence to concentrate, this usually happens in the classroom as I have my peers to distract me and also at home where I can easily trick myself into taking short breaks to eat or play on my DS. This doesn't happen at the Ringwood library. The feng Shui is honestly remarkable, I get hella good vibes whenever I'm here and being a pisces I am very intuitive and a little bit psychic. The homely study nook spaces, sleek, modern Australian design with Scandinavian elements through the furnishings of the 3 storied library feature numerous couches, tables both with and without computers and make for the perfect space to get some proper work done. Being inside this library fills my child body with genuine joy, such a calming environment, I almost forget that there are crackhead eshays just opposite this wondrous work of architecture, by the station picking up cigarette buts from the floor and yelling obscenities at the elderly. Thank you whole heartedly to the City of Maroondah, i am forever in debt to you for giving me such a magical learning space.