I am a regular user of many libraries in the Stockton area, including Roseberry at Billingham,…read moreRoseworth, and Stockton Central, but I must say that Norton Library is by far my favourite. There's just something about the place; it has a great atmosphere. I've never been in at any time and found the place to be empty; there are always people in there browsing the large selection of books or reading the papers in the seating area in the middle. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and really know their stuff. The library is very child-friendly, with a great junior section at the far end, which my 7 year old daughter loves. We have spent many a happy hour in there browsing through the excellent collection of children's books. The only issue I have with this library is the entrance and exit doors, which are very stiff and heavy top open. I find it a struggle with a buggy so I'm sure for disabled visitors it must be almost impossible! I find this very strange in a council building, and hopefully they will get it sorted out with some automatic doors in the near future.

This is a very peaceful and relaxing environment (like most libraries) but it is the staff who lift…read moreit above the average. They are so helpful and accommodating. If you ask where a book is located, they will first see that it is in stock and then actually accompany you to the racks and pick it for you, showing you where there are others in the same category. They'll even point out any local events, talks, etc. that may be related to the book subject that you are enquiring about. Other libraries that I have been in have just said 'it's over there' but these people will really go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. A first-rate library.

I am a regular visitor to Stockton Central Library; I tend to pop in whenever I'm in the town…read morecentre. There is a large selection of books available downstairs, and computers for public use upstairs. Inside the entrance there is a cafe and a tourist information centre, along with public toilets, which I have always found to be clean. The staff are very friendly and helpful. There is a large selection of CDs and DVDs to loan, including some of the latest titles and some old classics. The only issue I have with the library is that the children's section is not as extensive as you would expect for a library of this size. I took my daughter in a few weeks ago to get some Roald Dahl books and they only actually had two, which I was quite shocked by as Roald Dahl books are normally in abundance in most other libraries I've visited! However they often have events, such as storytimes and craft activities for children, which are well-presented. I would recommend the library as they do have a large selection of adult's books available, including many reference books and books about the area's history.

As a kid we would always go here after swimming lessons on Saturday morning, so my main memories…read moreare of wet hair and kids books. The major differences between then and now are that they've got rid of the kids library (!) and moved it into the sacred and previously silent adults library (!) which is just plain annoying for everybody. Replacing the tickets and Doctor Who books are internet computers that you can get free for the first half hour (last time I was on, it may have changed now). A visitors centre has been built in the foyer in the space that was previously just a light well leading tothe central fish pond (I suspect the fish may be long dead.) There is a great selection of books, i went through a stage when everything I wanted to read just happened to be on the shelves somehow, from Alexander Trocchi to Hunter S Thompson's first British edition of Campaign Trail 72 (I nicked the frontispiece for a t-shirt, but he'd nicked it from an anti nixon poster so that was fine. The S stands for Stockton as if you didn't know.) which wasn't even meant to be on the shelves, having been relegated to stock. The little cafe is still there, and the toilets are much cleaner than they were, all male contact details having been removed.

Billingham library is a large, fully stocked library. There is a good range of reading material for…read moreall ages and for all interests as well as plenty of access to music and video loans. There is a good range of newer books as well as older classics. In fact if you are visiting it is best to bring a large shopping bag for your books as you will visit to loan one book and leave with ten others that interest you just as much. The library is conveniently located close to bus routes. The staff are pleasant, but the librarians on the front desk are quick to remind you if you have chosen too many books.