This central library is very popular within the community. It is located in an excellent position…read moreat the Top Ryde Shopping Centre. There are a huge range of good quality books, in paper form or for the technology whiz through Ebooks . The staff run courses on how to use Ebooks and how to sign onto the services. There are large print books and many Talking Books...which I love during travelling. I drive my friends crazy with putting on the latest Mills and Boons talking book on. There are numerous DVDs for hire and a good selection of CDs. Come here during the day or later in the evening. Avoid this place straight after school as the local school's students come here in droves instead of going home. The library is over run by young students from 3.15pm until about 5pm. There are withdrawal rooms for group meetings or for a study group. This is an excellent library but pick your time to visit. There is also wheelchair / pram access via the lift.

Ryde Library recently opened in Top Ryde Shopping centre. I love being a member of Ryde libraries…read more Each branch has town merits. Eastwood is located just outside the train station, Gladesville is easily accessible from Victoria Road, and Ryde is conveniently located inside the shopping centre. You can borrow books from any of the 5 libraries and return it to another branch easily. Because the council boasts of 5 different libraries, the collection of books is pretty good and the waiting periods for popular books is short. Top Ryde Library is the newest library and it is definitely contemporary in style and design. Clean, open spaces with comfortable couches and lounges to browse through books or magazines, makes this library my favourite. Membership is free and you can borrow unto 25 items for 3 weeks. Although DVD's magazines and Fast Reads can be borrowed for a week only. Their self-service check-out counter makes borrowing items easy and quick. The JP service is available on Mondays 10 am - 12pm and Wednesdays 10am - 12pm.

This library is on the first floor of Royal Randwick Shopping Centre, next to Fitness First and the…read morecommunity rooms. The library is contemporary and well stocked, with a central skylight providing lots of natural light. There is a small student study zone, for school students only. In terms of studying there it's not the best, with only four share tables with four chairs each. The chairs are more like low arm chairs than proper chairs to sit at a table with. Great for lounging and reading, but considering they are the only tables and chairs without computers on them, people try and study here, with the table up around their chin. This space is definitely not good for laptop users, as your ideally right angled arms are at an acute angle, or straight out in front of you. Also, there is only one power point, accessible by only one of the tables at most. Further, a woman runs her tutoring service from these tables and meets high school students to tutor them. So much for quiet library time! But to be honest, libraries in the eastern suburbs are hard to come by, and at least you can park in the underground car park.

It is a small, cozy library that is connected to other two libraries. It has reading area, kids…read morespace, meeting room, computer with internet access, free WiFi and print services (0,30 each sheet). The staff are polite and very helpful and the catalogue is great (you can check it online). The library also offers some activities such as kids club, author talks and writing sections.

Huge library with lots of study desks basking in natural light around the perimeter. Find free two…read morehour public parking in the side street adjacent to the library. There is a secret garden behind, the historical society and a youth centre within the same building. The free unwired internet is great for laptop users. There is a Justice of the Peace service at Gordon Library, with JPs available on the first Tuesday of every month from 10am-1pm. They are also available in the library meeting room on alternate Thursdays from 11am-12pm.

Located on the Pacific Highway in Gordan, the library attracts many HSC students studying for their…read morefinal exams. Most of the time, every table and chair is taken. Unless you get there earlier in the morning you will have to wait for a desk to become available. While the library isn't the biggest in terms of space and amount of books, it's still pretty decent for a local library. A major plus is the free wireless internet. I would often bring my laptop to Gordan library while studying for my university exams. There are computers available if you forgot your laptop or don't have a computer and are free of charge- you just need to sign in when you get there. Book drop points are located outside the library which are open when the remainder of the library is closed. There is plenty of parking at the back of Gordan shops, otherwise the train station is close by.

Whilst there are many things about Glebe Library than don't quite compare to the new and swanky…read moreSurry Hills Library, Glebe's older book house has a lot of redeeming factors that mean it still ranks pretty highly. The Glebe Library grounds are beautiful. Grassy and surrounded by big leafy trees, it's the perfect place to lie with a newly borrowed book. Inside the building however, things aren't quite as cheery, as the computer area is a tad depressing, and the carpet throughout the building gives it a musty feel. Sadly there is no free wifi unless you're a member of the library. This membership however also includes membership to all ten of the City of Sydney libraries, including Customs House, Surry Hills, Newtown and Town Hall. Internet/computer usage for non members is $3 per half hour. The library also offers information services relating to local history and are happy to help with most general enquiries (literary, historically or locally related). Glebe library has also jumped on the Green Team, offering the loan of Bike Repair Kits (also selling patches) for their cycling customers and you can borrow 'Power-Mates' which measure the amount of electricity each of your appliances uses on the basis of spreading awareness of electricity output. My favourite feature of the Glebe Library is, by far, their kids area. A fun layout including a Thomas the Tank Engine filled with books, this section makes me want to grab a pillow and snuggle up with a picture book before borrowing from their awesome toy library. The library also offers school holidays and HSC workshops, and my dream job, Rock'n Rhymetime and Storytime for ages 0 - 5. I'm looking forward to borrowing a toddler and falling asleep to the animated voices of the librarian.

Glebe's library is the exact opposite of the new Surry Hills library, both inside and out. The…read moreGlebe Library looks like an old Victorian mansion. The grounds are maintained well and the gardens are a therapeutic and relaxing. This library loans not only books, music, and movies, but also acts as a center of enquiry for neighbourhood. This includes things like parking permits, questions about waste and recycling, and graffiti removal. It's easy to become a member to the library. I did in on their website by filling out my contact information. As a member, you can borrow up to 20 items for up to three weeks. A membership also gets you access to free Wi-Fi in the library. This makes it a perfect place to study in a quiet environment. Its selection of books is okay and has available many classic novels. There are also many magazine titles and audio CDs to choose from. I've borrowed some audiobooks to download to my computer if I'm about to go on a trip.

It's a great library -- wonderful atmosphere, intelligent layout and facilities, very nice staff.read more

Stanton Library is the kind of library you enjoy walking into. The leafy trees outside and the…read moreglass abundant building inspire relaxation and learning - two ingredients you want from a library experience. I love that this library has a floor devoted to kids and that it's downstairs away from the quieter parts of the library. Stanton is also an engaging hub for community activities. They frequently have author talk and photographic exhibitions. They also host book groups, a scrabble group, knitting groups, computer classes and school holiday activities. Story time for kids happens on Tuesday and Wednesday at 11am. All I needed to sign up proof of current address. With your library card you have access to World Book Online and Encyclopedia Britannica. The Internet is available to use for 1 hour each per day but if you have a laptop as I do ask for the password to hook into the free wireless network and you can browse for as long as you wish.

Great little library inside the Balmain Town Hall. It has a few free study desks with power points,…read moreand plenty of computers to use the internet if you are a member. The library is open plan with library staff being very accessible. So accessible that you can hear every word of their phone conversations and it's not the quietest place to study. But it is air conditioned, and the kids books are in a separate section to promote peace and quiet. Parking is on street, while there is metered parking directly outside the library try some side streets like Short Street and Phillip Street on the other side of Darling Street as there is 4P unticketed street parking.

Love the new refurbishments. Such a welcoming and friendly library. Love it how there are modern,…read morecosy chairs to read the newspapers and magazines. The general reference library isn't too bad; however for all of the books I have wanted to borrow; I have had to place them on reserve; and for $2 a pop this is great value; however if you always keep having to reserve books this can really add up quite quickly. Another minor pet hate is that for the books that I do not need to put on reserve; I always (usually without fail) have to approach the librarian to arrange for these books to come from Leichhardt library for me to pick up here at Balmain library for another time. Not to worry; it is two trips; however from the family home it is an extra walk and that is definitely a good thing; especially the walk from Rozelle to Balmain is so peaceful. Love the study area. It is easy to bring a laptop and get some serious work done. Love it. Also the bean bags are fun to lie down and read a book (or two) in. I really love this place.

Free WiFi is a hit. Thank you to the City of Sydney consortiums of libraries for making this…read morepossible. You just need to arrive early enough if you're planning on doing some work or study. Bring your own tablet or laptop device too. Well organised library. A great way to touch base and find out on what is happening in the community. Great kids corner, with a dedicated junior fiction area. So convenient too. In the hub of it all. I am so looking forward to attending an art workshop that goes for three hours next month, as at the time of writing this. You only pay $5 and this covers all materials. Held every Wednesday (with the exception of school and public holidays) and all materials are included. Held at this library, and class is run by the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre. Plus you do not need to be a Surry Hills local or resident in order to enjoy. Nice one :)

First off, the Surry Hills library is a beautiful building. It's architectural design fascinates me…read moreand who doesn't love a wall made entirely of glass? (Armando Pamperdine, that's who, but who cares what that glass hating freak likes.) It's a large library and an air conditioned one, whether you're going there to rent out a book, do a bit of study or simply escape the heat and use the free wifi, it's a modern and attractive work space. Situated in the middle of Surry Hills, the library stands like a beacon of knowledge along Crown Street. With a wide selection and multiple levels. It is, without a doubt, a library.

The library is on the 2nd floor and cost $15 to be a member for a year. They go by calendar year so…read moreif you join in Oct you pay $15 till Dec and then start a full year in Jan for the same price. The library takes some getting used to, but then you're fine. Books can be borrowed for almost 2 months which is great, it allows you to borrow a selection and actually find time to get through them before returning. There is a good list of biographies and magazines including the quarterly essays which are quite an enjoyable read. The clientele are mainly elderly but if you can see past that, it is quite a good little library in the heart of the city.

You can now join in October of each year, and for $20 you get membership for 15 months to the…read morefollowing December. It's a great library.