Fantastic library based in the civic centre - easy to access from town. Is absolutely huge, with…read moreamazing selection of books, and I think around 50+ computers with internet access. Has reference library downstairs with rows and rows of desks surrounded by books, directories and so on. Also has wide range of magazines and trade directories that you can look through. Just next door is an art gallery and a cafe which does lovely food in a really attractive environment. It also has a small gift shop where you can buy artist's work from as well as stationery, cards etc.

A good library in town with many books, papers, magazines, cds and films. They have computers that…read moreyou can use to access the internet and there is normally a queue to use these. The library is located inside the civic centre and is quite big on three floors.

Staff are very helpful and friendly. The books are always tidy and everywhere is clean. They hold…read moreregular literary events that are always worth going along to. I particularly enjoyed their Murder Mystery evening over the summer. The book club is also very welcoming and we do read some interesting books.

This library building isn't very appealing, but it's whats inside that counts and there's lots to…read morechoose from! the library offers a lot of services, and has a cafe and toilet facilities. I am more likely to visit central Library if I need a reference book than to browse for something relaxing to read.

Very friendly staff helped me join the library, which I'm permitted to do because I have a local…read moreaddress and brought my water bill. Very nice selection of books and other materials. There's also a good sized children's area and they have a weekly "storytime" at this branch and others. The 'toy library' is an interesting idea I haven't seen at other libraries. Books are, of course, free. The library's selection of audiovisual materals, including videos and DVD's are not. For these, there is a lending charge of £1.60 for the former and £2.60 for the latter. The library offers quite a few activities and services for adults as well, including author events (a local 'action' author was being advertised while I was there), coffee mornings and a number of book groups. The library's computers are free to use and the welcome packet mentions that they can arrange free delivery for those who might be house-bound. I was able to quickly find two books that interested me - the Science Fiction section is medium size and the regular Fiction looks good too.

Reading central library is a great credit to Reading Borough Council…read more It offers so many services. I will list some of them here: Book loans, music loans,DVD loans, toy loans for children, internet access, newspapers and magazines (to read in the library), job searching, children and parents' sing-along sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the morning. The library is always busy and has something for everyone. When you join Reading library you can have access to all libraries in the Reading area. Also, if you want to borrow an item that isn't in that branch, you can request it from another branch without having to travel to it. They will then email you when it's in stock.

This is for the house, not the library, as unfortunately we did not have time to see the library…read moreduring this visit (but it is on the list of things to make time for on a future visit). This was our first time visiting a manor house, and it was amazing. From first walking to the end of the driveway/carriageway and seeing the house for the first time, I was enchanted. Everything is so well-preserved and/or restored so as to give a good sense of what it would have been like to have lived there in Jane Austen's time (they do recognize most of their visitors are Jane Austen fans, but really, if you have any interest in English country estates or manor houses, you can appreciate this house's history and beauty). The staff and volunteers are very passionate and knowledgeable, and they will share as little or as much as you want them to. The gardens are also peaceful to walk through, and worth the time. They also have The Old Kitchen Tearoom. We had not had a chance to eat that morning, so were pretty hungry by the time we finished the tour before walking through the gardens or down the road to Jane Austen's house. The tearoom was pleasant, with both indoor and outdoor seating available. It was a nice day, so we sat outside, and the small courtyard that makes up the outdoor seating was beautiful. We had the egg and bacon brioche sandwiches, which perfectly hit the spot and gave us the energy we needed for our future walks that day. In the future, I would just make sure to make Chawton a full day trip. Yes, it is a village and there is not a lot overall, but this house alone offers so much that you really need to give yourself the time to appreciate it. We were there for about 2 hours, but could have easily spent another 1-2 hours depending if we wanted to spend more time in the gardens, see the library, and/or see the church (which we did try to see, but was locked when we visited). Thank you to the Knight family for opening up your property for us to see, and to all those who have ensured over the years that this place is accessible to appreciate!

Just a short walk (five minutes) up a pretty country lane from Jane Austen's cottage in Chawton,…read moreyou will find a stately surprise in the form of a Tudor manor house, built in the 1500's. Chawton House and estate were owned by Jane's wealthy brother. She called it "The Great House". Today it is a working educational site (the Centre for the Study of Early Women's Writing, in partnership with the University of Southampton), yet is open to the public and a must-visit for Austen fans. Chawton House is one of the Knight estates inherited by Edward Austen, who was lucky enough to be adopted by rich relatives in need of an heir. He changed his surname from "Austen" to "Knight." The manor house interior has been beautifully restored. There is a church on the grounds (Jane's mother and sister are buried in the church yard) - and an attached farm. This grand house is probably where Jane spent a lot of time with family when she needed to get away from the cramped cottage. By the way, it's only recently that Chawton House been available for public tours; it has been a private facility for some 20 years. Happily we can now tour both the interior and the gardens. [Note: if you want to see one of the Pemberley-style estates Jane's brother inherited, go to the palatial Godmersham Park in Kent. Jane would have frequented this house, to visit her brother's family, as well. It's not quite Downton Abbey - but almost!] Finally, for Austenites, it's worth noting that Jane is buried inside Winchester Cathedral; and you can see the house where she died, not far from the Cathedral grounds. Winchester is only 15-20 miles from Chawton.

The volunteers are absolutely lovely, including the older woman and the young man however there's…read moreno clear way to make any community group booking. Was told one week we could make a booking of the community room and then the next week we were told that member of staff can no longer book the room and that we must contact someone else.

Lovely old library, which was under threat of closure some time ago, but fortunately remains! Is…read moresplit into two main sections, one for children and teenagers and the other for adults. Has a lot of character, but also has modern touches such as internet access. Staff here are very friendly and helpful - not long ago they were still issuing tickets for books rather than using barcodes on cards, but they have updated now and as the library never seems to be overly busy, you can be in and out fairly quickly. Main problem is parking as there doesn't seem to be any nearby, and on corner of busy road so difficult to be dropped off.

Over the years I've moved house a fair bit and, believing that they are an important part of the…read morecommunity, have always made full use of my local library, wherever I am. Highcliffe Library is, without doubt, the best library I have ever been a member of, which considering it is tiny, is pretty good going. The staff are friendly - nothing ever seems too much trouble for them - and kids are made to feel geniunely welcome, even when they're running up and down! The room at the back of the library is set aside for children's books and has been lovingly decorated with posters and pictures, with bean bags and cushions strewn on the floor to encourage even the most reluctant of young readers. For the real little ones, there's always a tub of crayons and colouring activities which change from week to week, and regular storytime sessions.

I have to say I think our library is rather excellent…read more It is over two floors, with the grown up section and reference library on the lower floor. It is roomy and light, with sofas for reading and various chairs scattered around. There is also the audio library, the DVD and CD section. Upstairs is the internet room, next to which is a 'chill zone' - there are magasines here and comfy sofas and seats with a small snack bar. Also here is the childrens library. It's rather noisy! There is a great selection of authors and titles. There are bean bags and small chairs. My daughter knows her way round the library like a pro, and I sometimes lose track of her. But all I have to do is sit down and wait, and I know I'll find her! There is an information point in the far corner of the reference section and in the foyer are various posters giving information about useful clubs, associations, groups and courses.

Poole's central library sits proudly above the bus station and dolphin centre and I the largest in…read morethe area. After recent overhauls and refurbishments the library is now spaciously set out with easy to understand and clearly marked sections. On the first floor is the main library with plenty of room to sit and read for a while as well as the CD and DVD are where for a small charge (and less than video stores) you can borrow movies and music albums. Up stairs is the children's library as well as the internet access room and a small café selling coffees and a few snacks. The staff here are great and always willing to help making visits always pleasurable, with plenty of choices.

So, I was sat in the library resting my back after a long day in A&E after some man made me go on…read morethe ride Turbo (the rollorcoster) on Brighton Palace Pier. Anyway, I had just purchased a Brand New back rest from the shop for £25, Well. I stole my Grandsons £50 note so it wasn't really my money. That's how I ended up on the pier as I used half the £50 there before. Back on subject, I was sat in the library when a Young Lassy Came in shouting: "A B C D E F G gummy bears are chasing me, One is red. One is blue. One is chewing up my shoe. Now i'm running for my life coz the red one of t a knife" I got so scared my False teeth dropped out!!! I got up rapidly, Screaming as I thought someone was coming in armed with a knife. As I stood up my back brace got stuck on the chair causing the chair to come with me, The next thing I knew I was being kicked out and I was screaming as they locked the doors saying "THE GUMMY BEAR WILL KILL ME, THE GUMMY BEAR WILL KILL MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" And they came out. I hoped they were coming to help, they took the chair back and even worse. MY BACK BRACE WENT WITH IT!!! Well, My grand daughters purse is next anyway...

There aren't that many inner city libraries that lay claim to being such stylish, well-stocked…read moresanctuaries of calm. A few years back when I first arrived in Brighton, the area where the library now stands was a waste ground I used to park my car when I went for a swim at Prince Regents. Now I look at its modernistic spangled lines and get a real hit from appreciating at the regeneration. Those funky ergonomic benches outside with the Blade Runner-blue lights seem to have stopped working but inside it's still very much a fresh proposition. Loads of desks to study, a decent world cinema DVD library, a quiet room to work in, plus a great kids play area and children's books section too at the back. The one problem is the acoustics - it would be a perfect space for theatre of music as it's so vast and high - as such if there's someone really noisy you all hear him.