Walked by this building several times without knowing it was the state library. Impressed with the…read morediverse the collection. Part, museum, and multiple changing galleries. They also have a modern wing. Welcoming atmosphere, at the historical building with a warm hearty greeting. Close to the Royal botanic Gardens,

Quality/Quantity - Well if you are following, we visit all…read morethe local libraries during our travels. Great place to take a break. It is clean, has AC, bathrooms, wifi, etc. Atmosphere - Open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm. The lobby hours differ, see picture. 5 stories, 6 if you count the lobby, see picture of directory. Cool lobby decor, especially the glass floors of Sydney Harbor. Some history and art are also in the lobby. Plenty of comfortable seating throughout. Cool garden, exhibit, etc. A cafe on the 5th floor, but I think it was closed today. Not sure what time we arrived. I'm told they used to have a bar here. Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Comment - Thank you for such a good public service.

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.

Nice little quite space under town hall, with a perfectly nice cafe next to it. No books here (can…read moreorder and collect through the computers though) Great for getting a bit of work done in the middle of the city . Only problem is, the internet is atrocious, can't even perform a speed test as it disconnects. So you would need to use your own hotspot or something.

As I am writing this here in the library itself, I have to say I'm feeling fairly comfortable…read more Sitting in a giant black chair in front of the wall mounted plasma TV and wii open for public use free of charge, I'm enjoying the pleasant ambience here in the library. A huge space, one floor off the ground, filled will isles of books (and subsequently endless hours of entertainment). I hadn't discovered this place until now, but I'm glad I have. The library is such a great reprieve from the world; quiet and not disturbed so that you may read / learn / study in peace. I've been to a few librarys in my time, not huge amounts, but so far they've all surprised me by how comfortable and accommodating they are, this one being no exception. The guy at the counter was able to give me advice on finding a book, and helped to make it a friendly place to be. And there are teen activites on specific days - the place is a hub of creativity.

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.

Little cottage-feeling library that is right next to the Watson's Bay Tea Garden! A little library…read morethat is comfy and friendly. The only thing missing would be a fireplace! I'm not sure if you can but....getting a hot cappuccino from the Tea Garden, finding a cozy spot and a good book sounds like heaven to me! Street parking all over the place, incredible views of the water...why aren't you there right now?? If you have not been to this branch of the public library, do it now!!! You're welcome....

All the cool kids on campus know to avoid the dusty, dark, possibly asbestos-infested Fisher…read moreLibrary in favour of the newer Law Library. The long-established prestige associated with law degrees (note the 'Freehills' corporate law firm branding on the shiny, sliding glass doors at the building's entrance) translates evidently to this architecturally designed, state-of-the-art edifice complete with acoustically sensitive, wave-like timber ceilings and a small fortune worth of computers. Though bona fide future barristers are beckoned indoors, everybody knows just as many Arts/Science/Commerce students lurk about the study desks, soaking up the academic ambience and secretly hoping to win a spot inside the coveted 'Cone Of Silence' skylighted seating area.

Glebe Library is housed in a gorgeous house and it has a lovely welcoming vibe reflecting a warm,…read morecreative, inner city community of Sydney's Glebe. The grounds have big beautiful trees and lawns providing a peaceful sanctuary-like experience. Entering into the building you'll be greeted by the friendliest library staff that don't fit into the the stereotypical librarians I'm used to dealing with my local library - North Sydney's Stanton Library. You may have met some of these icy cold librarians with their 'please don't disturb' body language and they have a knack of making you feel like a pest for turning up at their counter and asking a question or wanting to borrow a book. What is it about most librarians in public libraries? I think the only reason these people work in libraries is that they love reading and let's face it - those who love reading certainly detest being interrupted and having to deal with bothersome customers wanting to be served. And this is the thing - they are there to 'serve' us - they are public servants. I'll stop now cos this is starting to sound like a rant - but really there are a lot of librarians who need to be more 'customer service' focused and less on their 'whatever librarians do when they're serving at the counter'. So anyway, back to the lovely friendly librarians at Glebe Library who truly get it - understand the essence of good customer service and make the customer feel good about being there. The both times I've visited the Glebe library was when I was invited to perform in the childrens program. (AKA Ukulele Baby Music www.ukulelebabymusic.com) an interactive childrens ukulele and singalong show The lovely Glebe staff give a warm cheery welcome - not just to me but to the little kids and their parents - and they seem to really relish being interrupted. What a pleasant surprise. And the programs at this library and others in the City of Sydney's library are awesome with book readings and music, face painting and circus and other cool stuff. Glebe Library is awesome and has real vision and passion for community building.