Stones Corner library is probably the smallest library I've even been to. I visit a lot because…read moreit's across the road from where I work and I love me some reading. The small size of the library means there isn't a huge variety of books on offer BUT they more that compensate for this with their lovely staff, and the ability to just order whatever you want in anyway. I always have a book or two on hold. Sometimes there will be a good find in the fastback section - which you only borrow for 7 days and has to be returned to the library it was borrowed from. So my hot tip, if you haven't ordered something in, is to go looking there.

Small but good local library if you're looking for somewhere less busy and quiet to study…read more Ample off-street parking and situated close to public transport. Caters for a various genres of books especially children's books. ***Please note*** This library is only open on a part-time basis so refer to photos or council website for operating hours before visiting to avoid disappointment.

This library run circles around the Garden City BCC Library. For starters, it's a standalone…read morebuilding located on Seville Road so you can actually get some quiet time in here. It may not have as many physical books on the shelf as the Garden city library but I always make a habit of signing up to the library website and ordering the books to my library of choice anyway. Also, this is a great library for kids because there's a small park connected to it with basic climbing and swing equipment. For aspiring writers, the Writers of Seville Writer's Group meet here once a month every 1st and 2nd Saturday. It's free to attend but contact the library hpk@brisbane.qld.gov.au for more information. Last year they self published their anthology and the Holland park library even stocked it on their shelf. How cool and supportive is that?

Since the upgrade this is probably the best community facility in Brisbane…read more Staff are always happy to help and show you around. Love it

"Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul.The soul of the person who wrote it and of those…read morewho read it and lived and dreamed with it" - Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind. It's an enchanting feeling & sense of wonder, walking inside one of the biggest & oldest second hand book stores in Australia, Archives Fine Books. Located in Brisbane's CBD (40 Charlotte St), in the John Mills Himself heritage listed building. Every nook & cranny, every hallway, is lined & crowded with books; with that perfectly familiar old smell filling the air reminding you of the wonderland you have been transported to.Where stories & ideas have been captured on every topic possible; if you are looking for it, chances are, Archives Fine Books has it in store. The building itself was built in 1919 by Printer John Mills, & was used by US General MacArthur during World War 2. Archives Fine Books was established in 1985, but since 2008 has been the baby of owners Hamish Alcorn & Dawn Albinger. Speaking to Hamish, we love his passion & love for books as it is refreshingly infectious. Archives Fine Books is truly unique & special when you consider the challenges of surviving as a traditional bookstore, in an age of e-books & all things "digital". Archives Fine Books is also an antiquarian of sorts, as they acquire rare, unusual & collectible books. They've just recently taken hold of a true first edition of H.G. Wells "War of the Worlds", first published in 1898 by Heinemann & priced at $1500. It's easy to lose track of time at Archives Fine Books.You can spend hours looking at amazing collections you won't find anywhere else; a sanctuary for true book lovers, escaping the "noise" of the real world. Whilst we love Paris's historically famous & romantic Shakespeare & Co bookstore, & Porto's exquisite Livraria Lello (Portugal), in Brisbane's Archives Fine Books we have something that's truly wonderful, amazing, & close to our hearts. Go check them out, support local, to ensure the story of Archives Fine Books continues, and to keep the love of books alive!

I found first found Archive's through a friend, having sadly…read morelost the address (and also the name of the store) in the ghostly recesses of my mind I was over the moon of in finding it all over again. I love the other wordly-ness of this store, you can roam the long corridors and feel quite insignificant gazing up at the vast piles of literature. You can also geek over the abundant smell of old literature and spend whole days in perusing the large range of well worn and well loved books. Insider tip! Those with severe dust allergies are strongly recommended to bring a mask (..and perhaps a sandwich because your probably going to be there all day.)

I Got yelled for reading a scary book because since it was scary I was gasping out of fear and then…read moresome random person came up to me and said "Shut the fuck up" and I said "Why?" And the person said "Because you are being loud" I had enough and stormed out! Do not go here! The people are cockheads! The person also punched me But either way very good place! Best books in Queensland!

You can't beat the views at this massive architectural wonder on the north side of South Bank. No,…read moreyou can't check out books here, but this is the twenty-first century, and no one does that anyway. The library's intertwined levels boast exhibits on local history, ample study space and free wi-fi that hasn't given me trouble, and a variety of other useful services. It took a bit to figure out how to print and copy, but they have a screen with video instructions that walk you through it. A store and cafe are attached. On the lower level, a diverse set of charger cable hookups are provided, because that is what people use the library for these days. Auditoriums and a children's puppet theater attract visitors. The elevators, bathrooms, and water fountains all work and are reasonably clean. Art galleries, the science museum, buses, trains, and the attractions of South Bank are a walk away. It's public, so can the crowd get a tad sketchy? Sure. But this is Australia, where the person yelling at the vending machine will then apologize to you as you walk by. More likely, you'll see families for the events and yuppie student types studying away. The only thing I would really change are the hours. The sun comes up early here and most things in Brisbane open before 10 a.m.

Brisbane Square Library is one of the most impressive libraries I've had the pleasure to visit. A…read morewonderful selection of modern books and good lighting make it a regular stop. It's a popular stop for students studying, for good reason. It can be challenging to find seating from mid morning to mid afternoon, worth it if you can find it.

The Brisbane Square Library is not far from its prettier cousin, the State Library across the…read moreriver. Nonetheless, it has its own virtues. Ample meeting rooms are available for reservations, and people use them. This one actually has old-fashioned stuff you can check out. And it's got a great row of seats with power outlets that look out over the river. English conversation groups, cooking classes, and live music have been among the events during my time spent there. Their hours are even a bit weaker than the State Library's (which aren't amazing to begin with). I've had slightly less luck with the wi-fi, the bathrooms are less ample and clean, and in general it's just a notch down from the gold standard. But it's still pretty nice.

While this isn't a huge library, it is a nice place to read and relax, away from the heat and busy…read moreroads outside the premises. The library boasts all the privileges that are part of the Brisbane City Council libraries, but only on a smaller scale. This place hasn't a huge selection of books but you can order anything on the B.C.C. library catalogue. There are a variety if literary genres but it's a sweeping overview. If looking for more specific research guides the University of Queensland's libraries are some of the best in the southern hemisphere. But Annerley Library is a nice place just to read and study if you have the books in hand. There are also a number of computer facilities available, including Wi-Fi. Parking is also easily found on the streets surrounding (with the exception of Ipswich Road). And the building itself is also gorgeous.

Terrible. Staff are sloppy and slow to help. Some time after I started to use the computers,…read moresomeone put fairly loud music on in the background. I requested of staff that I be provided with noise-cancelling headphones as it was impossible for me to hear the audio on my computer, with the background noise. The staff advised that no noise-cancelling headphones were availalble, even though in previous times I had requested the acquisition of such by The Edge and I had used them there a few times previously. One of the staff members said he would try to get the background music turned down, but he didnt do this and I had no choice but to stop my work and leave The Edge with my work incomplete. Also, when booking a computer for the digital media lab, I was advised that there was a workshop in the lab and that all the computers were unavailable. I was then told that there were two left. I booked one for three hours. When I accessed the lab, I found that all but one of the computers were actually not being used at all. This is clearly unfair.

The Edge is such a great and versatile space for the community. Anyone can come by here and use the…read moreinternet, book a meeting space, or study. In addition to that, you can borrow a laptop charger if you forgot yours or plug your phone into a charging station. The view is incredible as well! You can look over the river and check out what's going on in the city with a plethora of flyers, brochures, and publications to keep you reading for days. If you get hungry while working or doing your thang, you can grab a snack or drink at their cafe. The staff were very friendly to me when I needed help and I think it's a great place when you need to change up your scenery.

I've been accused of being a nerd for as long as I can remember, and I've always denied the charge…read more Waxing lyrical about my local Brisbane City Council library is not going to help my case I know, but my local library has provided me with so many hours of entertainment that it would be wrong not to laud its merits. The library has a terrible reputation that it's a place of silent contemplation. Being quiet is associated with study and from that, people deduce it's not a place to go to have fun or be social. This is wrong! I don't know any place where you have to be quieter than the movies but everyone expects the cinema to be lots of fun. Sure, there are silent reading areas within the library but there are group areas as well. It even has an X-box set up in the young adults' area with a huge range of games and controllers for group play. The work/reading area is ideally situated being far enough from the group activities as to not be distracting. This is a perfect arrangement for people like me who usually work from home but like to seek refuge from the summer heat by working in the library. There are plenty of individual tables to set up my laptop and utilize their fast, free wifi. After a morning's work I can duck into Garden City to grab a coffee and a cheap lunch at the food court. The library also hosts regular events for a range of users such as book clubs, training sessions and author talks which you can find out about through the Brisbane City Council website. The December events are: Story time for children (English and Mandarin for older children) Computer literacy classes Babies, books and rhymes (for mums and toddlers) The details can be found here: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/Whats-on/library-events/index.htm So instead of seeking refuge from the summer heat at the beach, community pool or cinema, give the Garden City library a go.