Another small branch of Sutherland Shire Library, the Miranda Library is in the vicinity of Miranda…read moreWestfield. It is actually accessible from the car park that also services the Westfield, so parking is easy but entry is on the north bound side of the road, ie the side going towards the Kingsway, not away from it. If you are heading the wrong way just drive a couple of hundred metres down the road and there is a roundabout to get to the other side. There is a small reference section in the library with study desks and power points, where the HSC books and resources are. Despite being HSC time this area wasn't that busy, surprisingly. There are separate male and female toilets within the library as well, making long study days feasible.

Set within Cronulla Central, this library is the newest library in the Sutherland Shire and…read moretherefore has relatively new décor, new desks, facilities etcetera. The floor-to-ceiling window on the far side lets heaps of natural light pour in and over the study desks. There is a café which services the library so you can actually study, read the paper or watch TV while enjoying a coffee or snack and not leave the library. There is two hour free parking in the public car park, with four hours free if you go to the rooftop level. Toilets are located just outside the library near the community rooms and are cleaned regularly.

Sutherland Library has a massive collection of books, I think they stock up on all the titles that…read moreI never ever seem to find from my local library - like the titles of the second book of a series (sorry, it's such a pet peeve of mine). The unfortunate thing is that although they might have it, on the day I can actually get to Sutherland library, I can never find it. What I mean is it's usually checked out by the time I get there, or has gone mysteriously missing. So they have a great collection, if you can find what you're looking for. The catalogue system in use is really efficient and you can search quickly without hassle. I noticed that especially during HSC exam season, there is never a comfortable spot to sit and check out a book properly before you borrow it - all the seats are already taken. Also, the HSC corner tends to get noisy with all the students being unproductive and socialising so there's no point trying to get a seat there - they're all saved.

On a return visit to Sutherland library I discovered another section. It is on the entry level and…read moreis a casual lounge type area with flat screen TV on, tables and chairs and coffee machine. It is meant to be for meeting and chatting but during the day there were just people studying there. So a quiet place with desks, power points and you don't need to put your stuff in a locker. I'm sure the peace of the area is subject to change so be prepared to pack up and head upstairs if noisy people arrive.

Kogarah Library and Cultural centre just looks nice - it's a new building over two floors that…read morecaters for adults and children alike. They have a children's corner especially for the younger ones and designated computers for study time for students. A word of warning, around this time the HSC students are cramming through the doors - but good on them because this place offers some really good HSC workshops. Downstairs you can book out study rooms for groups and they're so high tech now that the rooms are even sound-proof. The fiction section is tucked away in the corner, but they have a big selection to choose from. You can always get them to order in from other libraries as well if they don't. Good thing about borrowing books is it's free to register (you need an adult to sign for children), and you can avoid late fines up to a limit of $20 before you're unable to borrow from them again (not that I encourage this). They also have an online catalogue you can check out before you head over to save you some time. Their renewal system works this way too, all you need to do is log on. They have a special room designated to find the history of the Kogarah area, right down to colonial times, which helps if you're trying to find relatives that far down the track. The staff here are pretty resourceful, the kind that don't make you feel like an idiot for asking them questions.

Hurstville library is the biggest in the St George area, and is by far the busiest. It is also a…read moremuseum and gallery, with art exhibitions both local and national. There's also local studies section, author talks are held and there is an abundance of kids and student activities on offer. While there are tables and chairs through the library, there is a dedicated quiet study room at the back of the library, with each deck having a handy power point for plugging in your laptop. You can usually find a seat with the exception of stuvac - the holidays leading up the HSC. There's two hour parking diagonally opposite the library but spaces are limited. At the back of the block there is also timed angle parking. If you are staying all day park a few streets away for free.

If you're looking for a light read or some last minute cramming and want to avoid that languorous…read moretrek to the city's State Library, Hurstville Library is definitely the place to go. Located just around the corner from Hurstville Westfield and train station, Hurstville Library is the biggest and best in its area offering a huge range of information and technology resources. Among its many features the library offers computer facilities, colour, black/white printing and photocopying (at a small price), a quiet study section, a not-so quiet study area perfect for group work and of course, free wi-fi connection for all you hard at work facebookers... And just to make sure that you're serious study sessions don't go awry, snack and drink vending machines and toilet amenities will ensure no study time is wasted around here. There's even a children's section for the little ones to give them a bit of a head start..or to keep them busy while you ponder among rows of Austen and Bronte classics. But just a heads up, steer clear circa October and November months if you want to avoid busy crowds of pre-HSC students claiming to 'study'..the only study you'll be doing is of the library's interior while you hopelessly search for a place to sit.

Tucked away behind the bank of shops on King Georges Road is South Hurstville library. Its quite…read moresmall with only four study desks, but during the day its usually quiet. There is two hour parking in the car park behind the library or unlimited parking in the surrounding streets. It's more easily accessible than neighbouring Hurstville library but due to its size resources are limited. If going for some peace and quiet check the website first, because there are morning classes/groups held there, including a Chinese friendship group where toddlers sing nursery rhymes, and English as a second language classes. But otherwise great community feel and ideal for people seeking these types of groups.

A small branch of Hurstville library is positioned on Forest Road, in front of parklands and sports…read morefields. There is plenty of free off street parking, under shady trees. The library offers several study desks next to a large floor-to-ceiling window, and a modest collection of books. There aren't any cafés nearby so byo food and snacks for that much needed study break. Although, Hurstville, Penshurst and Mortdale shops aren't too far away.