Wonderfully located near public transit, that fabulous shopping center, and a decently-sized car…read morepark, the Unley library is well worth getting home late. The children's area is particularly well organized in a way that shows you that they know their audience. My little dude quickly found books from his favorite authors. The toys, the colors, the collections.... brilliant. There seems to always be something interesting happening and you'll probably see me there later during the upcoming Umbrella Festival.

I love libraries (probably because I love books. Der...) and I was stoked when I discovered Unley…read morewas my new local. It has a modern fit out and a lot to offer over two levels. One of the most popular services is the membership-based toy library. There are an array of games, learning toys, puzzles, role play, dress ups and larger items for inside and outside play. The library has a large children's area, half filled with rows of books while the other half is an open space and regularly hosts book readings and activities sessions for children under five. It's a lovely space to sit and read to your child or enjoy your own book while your child places with the large foam square and mushroom stools. In addition to the usual selection of books, the library offers 'Hot Reads' - the latest books available for 10 days instead of four weeks for those that can speed read and get it back on the shelves for the next person. You can't reserve these and it's pot luck if you find one. There is a large table offered both upstairs and downstairs which most people utilise to read the daily papers. I have also just discovered a quiet study room upstairs with booths conducive to working or writing a uni paper. The library offers wi-fi for personal laptops. Ask at the counter for the necessary form and you'll be given a login and password. There are also a bank of computers you can book for an hour at no charge. These are popular and usually need to be booked in advance which I think you can do online. Otherwise, you can call ahead and ask for one to be reserved.

An amazing study haven. Barr Smith Library is the perfect place to prep for exams or to grab an…read moreimportant resource. There are heaps of facilities available including quite a few computers. The desks are usually rather spacious (particularly the ones on level 2 near the Western side of the building). One small complaint is that during peak times, it can be difficult to find a table but the library is being expanded so that may not be the case in the future. The reading room is a really nice place to study however it does get quite cold in winter so you may need to bring a jacket in order to keep warm. Elsewhere though, the library is quite well controlled temperature-wise.

Although I study at UniSA, I still come over to the Barr Smith to borrow books and study fairly…read moreoften. Over the past few years the library has been updated quite a bit, but what really attracts me to this library is its extensive range of fiction (no way I'm going all the way out to Magill) and the oh-so-quiet Barr Smith Reading Room. If you study at one of the other universities you can borrow here for free - you just need to go up to the counter to get your books instead of using self-service. Be careful with overdue fines though - it's harder to renew your loan online. The Barr Smith Reading Room is a big fancy, gilded reading room built in the twenties with old fashioned study desks that are a little too short for the contemporary man or woman. The room's construction was funded by its uber-rich namesake, Tom Elder Barr Smith. There are a whole bunch of giant inscriptions with his name and some fancy old portraits of him and his chums too. While the impressive classical Renaissance design is a drawcard the real winner here is how quiet it is. Something about the incredibly high ceiling and the palatial arches makes people shut up. This is where people come to actually study, not just to do 'group assignments'. Your knees will be up around your chin but this is a nice place to study if you can't concentrate at home. UniSA certainly doesn't have anywhere to match it.

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.

...Otherwise known as West Torrens Library…read more A+ A fabulous and well-loved community hub. Free WiFi, toy rentals, language kits, a community bulletin board, a jp, a copy centre and a quiet study area... all within an attractive, bright building. Outstanding! Large collection of books (not to turn this into a pissing contest, but for context the Hamra Centre Library is far larger than any of the city libraries). The brand new books tend to be enticing. The website leaves a lot to be desired. Why snuggle up with a good book... when you can have so many new encounters?

As one enters into the West Torrens Library a feeling of calm and peace washes over you. The…read morearchitect's use of natural light is brilliant (pun intended). The high ceilings and glass everywhere make this one of the top 5 most beautiful libraries I have visited (in competition with multiple libraries across the globe). I used to bicycle here when I lived in Torrensville. The hours are as posted, but I could never seem to remember them. more often than not I ended up getting here right after they closed. When I was able to get in, the staff were friendly and very kind to this foreigner. The selection of books was amazing. Seemed to me that they had new books that I never heard of, but enjoyed reading. The music and video collection I recall being extensive and broad.

Gone are the days where libraries were like stepping into a black hole of silence and study…read more Today's libraries are all about community and activity and the City Library is a great example. For the parents, it's a great stop off for the kids. There's a good, open kids book section complete with mini kid-sized cushions for you to awkwardly try to sit on as you read to your kids. Need a bit of quiet time? Have no fear there's free wifi here too if you need to check those footy scores while the kids explore the rest of what the library has to offer. - but why let them have all the fun? In the Innovation Lab, there are 3D printers to check out, a 3Doodler (a pen that writes vertically...) to play with and not to mention, there are a few books there too. Centrally located, the new Adelaide City Library sits right at the heart of Adelaide City in the new Rundle Place complex, overlooking the hustle and bustle of Rundle Mall. The entrance to the City Library is tucked down a lane way (Francis Street) and up 6 flights of stairs (or Level 3 via the lift). You can also enter via the Rundle Place car park lifts where it's actually on Level 6. Quirky nuances but all part of the adventure... It has everything you'd expect from a modern library - plenty of computers, reading spaces, books, media and even a very nice outdoor reading area. But this library is more than a place to go find a good book, it's a community hub that's bursting with potential. The whole library has the feel of a flexible, modular space with a number of studios and labs available to be used by community groups for everything from computer game development to art exhibitions. As well as the studios, there are also a few specialised areas like the Innovation Lab with those cool 3D toys. The Digital Hub also has a suite of computers and the library offers regular free training from the basics like how to use an iPad to using social media for your business. For the history buffs, the History Hub serves as your go-to place for a look back in time. Finally, for the parents with small kids, there is a very clean Parents Room in the a Rundle Place food court. To get there, head out the 'back' entrance of the Library towards the carpark and head down the lifts to the lower ground level and follow the signs. Coles is also there if you forgot to bring snacks and the food court has a decent number of lunch options. Go check out what a community library in the city is all about.

Back in my day, a visit to my local Norwood library was an adventure. I would get so excited about…read morethe range of books, magazines, videos and cassette tapes I could borrow that I'd often go over the borrowing limit and have to make the tough call at the front desk of which ones I'd leave behind. Today it seems libraries have upped the anti of "free stuff" you can borrow and services you can use. The City Library is a hub of free internet, books, mags, DVDs and of course a place for you to design your own 3D toy... hang on what? You can print in 3D now? Well take me Back to the Future and call me Marty - the City Library is full of new technologies even I don't know how to use. However, even tech dinosaurs like me can still learn how to produce music or a stop motion lego movie in their production studio or even design and produce a 3D toy in their Fab Lab. Check out their free community activity schedule for all the times and details. To be honest I've never actually come here to borrow books, but instead I've made use of the free high-speed internet and quiet space for working when I have a break during a day of meetings. I'm also keen to try their meeting rooms and digital hub training space for seminars as well as access their database from the SA archives (history nerd alert). This modern library is a great community centre and space rising high above the Mall and provides a little peace away from the busy shoppers.

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.

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.

The UniSA City West Library holds the best visual arts collection along with communication,…read moremarketing, business, and law sources. The library is most easily located from Hindley Street. This four level building is full of resources including high demand books, journals, computer pools, study rooms, printers, copiers, and the list goes on. There are also some great access areas available specificly for the disabled, which is great. The wi-fi can be confusing to connect to and you may need to use the security phones in the computer barns or ask at the front desk for assistance. This library is a great place to study; there are many different areas with desks and powerpoints, study rooms that can be booked for group meetings, and even "quiet zones" where phones and talking are not allowed. The library can be a little daunting the first time you go in due to it's large size and huge resources. If you head to the lift area there will be signs noting what the different levels hold and they will help direct you. If you're still lost, the help desk staff are fantastic and they will point you in the right direction. A little note, the returns chute is on the outside of the building and opening hours often fluctuate so be sure to check the weekly updated hours online or they will be listed out the front of the library entrance.

While the City West UniSA Library has little of the charm of the Barr Smith, it does have one of…read morethe best visual art book collections in South Australia. Inherited from the now amalgamated South Australian School of Art, the collection has been growing since the school's opening in 1865. You can trace the history of many South Australian artists through the collection of exhibition catalogues and gallery publications. There is also an impressive range of art historical books and contemporary art books. The library also respond positively to book requests - if there is a great art book you think the library should have they will usually order it in. You can also read past students masters papers and honours papers. The library is spread across four floors, with many computer areas which seem to increase ever year over summer. It isn't necessarily the best place to study - there isn't really a silent study area where people are actually very quiet. You can book rooms to do presentations in, and there is also a computer training room for tutorials. As well as visual arts, there is impressive architecture, design and economics sections. Opening hours vary, sometimes the library is open as late as midnight during university semesters. If you're an alumni you can pay a small fee to keep borrowing here, which is pretty damn worth it if you are an artist - art books are expensive and artists are poor.