This is a superb library in Newcastle, and I would recommend anyone to check it out. We arrived at…read moreabout 12:30 on Saturday, half an hour before closing time, but the staff were so welcoming and told us we were welcome to roam around the whole place, including on the balconies. I was surprised at how welcoming it all was, and was slightly worried it would be a bit too elitist for us lowly tourists to visit. I was wrong. It's a quiet place, but certainly not a silent library, and murmurs of chat were heard all around the interior. People were reading newspapers, drinking coffee, catching up with friends, and generally relaxing. It was a lovely atmosphere. The interior itself is gorgeous, with vast collections of old books, music scores, and more. Arranged over two levels, access to the balconies is by some spiral staircases, and they offer a nice view over the library. It's completely free (though you can donate or buy some memorabilia), so please pop in for a visit if you're in the area.

Listen, ever since I was a schoolboy, the Lit&Phil was a desirable and mysterious place where you…read morewere guaranteed to get set texts for O and A level exams - the public libraries were good, but your name was just put on a list. The only problem was that the Lit&Phil was a private library and you had to pay to be a member. That gave it a mysterious caché for a struggling schoolboy. Eventually, I could afford to buy my way in and my only regret was that I didn't do it sooner. If you like to work surrounded by stacks of books, this is the place. It has a long pedigree of prestigious past presidents including Armstrong and Stephenson whose ghosts greet you on the stone staircase as you come in. We get student visitors from the other universities' libraries. Because it's good to see young people in a library, I always ask them why they prefer to be in the Lit&Phil. They always say, "It is so much quieter!" In fact there is an even quieter space downstairs in the Reference Section - almost too quiet unless you appreciate pure silence. I could go on for ages about this "Club," about how it has a special room just for the ladies, the legendary little hatch where you get cups of tea or coffee, the staff who know everything, the musical, poetry and literary events that are part of its regular programme, but all I'll say is that if you want a social meeting place in the middle of town, a place you can work and have serious conversations, and are able to enjoy its in-built charm, then the Lit&Phil is the place for you.

Killingworth Library is located within the White Swan, a community centre in Killingworth…read more It's a nice, modern Library with friendly staff, Internet workstations, a good selection of books, a children's area and a number of community and special interest group activities to be found. I often visit, find a quiet spot, pop my earphones in and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi to get some work or research done. It's (as expected for a Library!) quiet and relaxing here. The Library also has a great selection of comic books and graphic novels for the more geeky learning amongst us. All in all, this is a lovely local Library and a credit to the staff and the local community.

Good Place for your child and you to read book also using internet, very clean, the place is modern…read moreand nice room very bright also homey. They have very fast computer for using internet also plenty computer to use it, but sometime if you can not find sit because all computer full you can reserve on the receptionist and they will be tell you which computer is available soon and that probably not longer than 30 minutes. And when you waiting for your turn, Gosforth Library have Spare 2 Computer Free user and you can use it for 15 minutes when you still on waiting list. For using computer you can use it up to 1 hour.

Gosforth library is absolutely great for the whole family. It has good range of books, plenty…read morepersonal computers with fast internet access, nice and helpful customer services. I am impressed with the self service machine that controls the books in and out. It is absolutely state of the art technology. This library is modern and well organised. The lighting and the layout of the place is nice. The problem with its internet access is it does not allow users to access Ebay which I think is not reasonable. Ebay is just a shopping site. It should be accessible. However, apart from that, This library is great.

ABSOLUTE TERRIBLE SERVICE!!!!…read more The librarian I first spoke to was extremely short with me and wouldn't help me at all and then when i complained about her to the senior librarian she just backed her up because they definately work hand in hand!. If you are local please go to the nearby Rowlands Gill library where staff are more what you would expect to find in the library i.e helpful. and don't treat you as if you are making baffling requests. At this central library you are made to feel that you are making unusual requests , requests that other libraries are happy to help with! I furthered my complaint but everything about this library seems to be a place working without any logic and at a pace of their own ! Very SLOW to me. Staff development definately needed if they are not to anger the public!! In responce to the replY I have had from the library of course I would try private sellers first when trying to buy an item....there was no private sellers selling it and it only came up on the internet that they had it. In regards to them saying " as discussed when you enquired "I was led to believe that there wouldnt be a problem initially by their Rowlands Gill library and as to their remark that this is in line with other libraries perhaps they can explain why on the one other occasion i have done this, this other library were friendly and i would even say delighted i was prepered to take some old material from them in order to have a donation from me for them to get some newer stock which their users would want more probably, considering the item in question had been UNUSED and UNTAKEN OUT FOR 2 YEARS!!!!!!! The library has responded to this Bad review missing out a lot of the points here to make them sound better to the public reading these reviews ...It rather sums up their whole UNHELPFUL ATTITUDE to me, although well done on them tracking this review down. Lets see if they spot the others!

This is the biggest library in gateshead. You can hire…read morebooks, cd's and dvd's.If they don't have the book you want you can check one of the reference computers and it will tell you if the library do stock it and ask if you want to reserve it for when it is returned. In the dvd section they have a request book that you can use to request new / old dvds and even boxsets then every month they look through and order a set amount and if it is yours that is chosen then they also give you a courtesy call so you can be the first to hire it. As well as all this they also have a reference library. On top of all this they also have numerous computers which you can use to access the internet free of charge, and even print things off for a small fee.

This is a large library.You'll find it opposite the police station at the High Street end of…read moreFerndale Avenue in Wallsend.It's housed in a very outdated looking 60s style building which looks pretty shabby by any standards. The library does have a good range of books and the staff will happily order any that are available in other libraraies in the borough. You can hire cds and dvds and there are the usual daily newspapers and magazines to read. Internet access is free too. The libraray may not look good but it does offer all you need and the staff are realy efficient.

South Shields central library is a large building situated around the corner from the main shoping…read morestreet and the Denmark centre. Recently they have installed large computing areas, only accessible if you have a membership card. This includes internet access for a maximum of two hours, but this is a free service provided by the council so you cannot grumble! There is a wide selection of educational, fiction, non fiction books available and if the book you want is unavailable, the staff are happy to reserve it or even order it in from other libraries in the borough. They also have a media library, where they stock new dvd releases. There is a 1-day service on newly released dvds and a 7-day service on ordinary/older releases. You have to pay for this service and must have a library membership card, but the prices are much lower than those of other rental shops and if you get a premiere dvd on a Saturday you can keep it over the weekend so you get an extra couple of days to watch it ;) Great library, best one in the area. Often quite busy during exam season as there are a lot of students from South Tyneside College that use it, but in general there are ample facilities available for everyone.

Central Library or the South Shields Library is located in the heart of the town centre and is used…read moreby quite a few people in South Tyneside. The stock of books is quite good and the facilities are very good as well. They also have a dedicated kids library where they have a range of children's books and also have about 5 machines in there where the kids can surf the web and play games online. They also have downstairs a library of DVD's and music CD's that members of the library can borrow using their library card. The library also has a quiet room which is mainly utilised by students and other people who are revising for exams and need peace and quite to study. They also have a nice range of reference books within this section.

This is a lovely small cosy library. My kids often visit here and love it, you are able to get 12…read morebooks out at a time and it is free to join, if you are an adult if you dont return your books on time you are fined a small fee, but kids are not charged. Computers are available and the staff are lovely and friendly.

Not an enourmous library, has a seperate room for childrens books and a couple of computers, also…read moreloans cd's, only gripe i would say is lack of parking as its right outside the Royal hospital and parking is always a nightmare

A small library with books for every taste. Despite its size, it can sufficiently accommodate the…read moreJesmond area and can be proven very useful to students. The library is very pleasant and provides the reader with all the necessary facilities. My intention of visit was not to borrow any books so I did not become a member and I cant provide you with further info about regarding the loan policy of the library. Their only disadvantage is that they have only one coin operated photocopy machine which makes you life a living nightmare when you want to photocopy more than a few pages.