Best food in Belfast so far. Linen Hall breakfast is fantastic, vegetarian Linen Hall breakfast is…read moreevery bit as good. Poached egg on avocado toast with walnuts and feta highly recommended. Service quick and friendly. Atmosphere absolutely beautiful and a library to boot. Prices lower than many others of lesser quality and ambience. Don't pass up this Belfast gem.

The Linen Hall library is plonked inbetween two banks which for something steeped in so much…read morehistory, it was somewhat a surprise (borderline disappointment) to actually find out where this place was located. I love books, bookshops, librarys, words, dictionaries, the old 'shift+f7' shortcut on word, but there is just too many flaws with this place to make it five stars. Yes it has the history, yes it has a proper traditional uneven floors and some books which you know if you tried to sell you could probably get a holiday out of it. But... and I don't strive to be controversial, the entire library and the entire experience is ruined by the coffee shop. It is an old-fashioned library set in the heart of Belfast's city centre. The Library is tiny compared to Queen's Library and simply cannot compete for the depth of knowledge or academic texts. But what is has is character. So why, please tell me, would you take this terrific library and stick a chain coffee store in the middle of it. If you step outside and throw a book, you will probably hit a coffee shop. Don't stick one in the middle of the blooming library. It's not necessary, it's trying to capitalise on the experience of going to the library and if it were to be taken out, you could put in a few squishy, coffee smelling sofas and a couple of newspapers to read. The library has character, it has history, it has a proper library atmosphere. It should not have a chain coffee shop (even though it is a NI coffee shop) in the middle of it. Let it be a library. Don't try and make money out of it.

Good local studies collection on the first floor. No public records per se, but lots of books to…read morehelp set the context for your family history. And the staff double teamed and help retrieve items of possible interest. Very impressive!

Close to work, so that's a bonus. Opens until 8 o'clock on a Thursday evening. Parking can prove…read moreto be a challenge. But nice and bright space to work. Free WiFi and a good few sockets to charge up your phone. If you get bored you can always look out the window and stare at the lagan. #ThroatPunch to anyone who chitters in the library.

I like this library, and have used it a lot as I always seem to end up living around the Ormeau…read moreRoad end of the city when it's time to look for a new place. Their noticeboard is huge and is packed with info about community groups and events, and they have a really decent children's section for those of us who like to be nostalgic by rereading Just William and Billy Bunter. The fiction section is of a decent size too, although some of the non-fiction categories could be a little bigger I think. The best part of this library for me is the big reading tables right by the window, perfect for browsing over one of the newspapers on offer and watching the world go by.

An excellent library (but pity it doesn't have parking facilities). The childrens area is a good…read moresize and very well stocked, albeit the seating for accompanying parents sometimes isn't adequate and a bench or two more would be helpful. Computers available in this area too and a couple of desks to sit and read at (or sometimes colour in). Upstairs is the main library, with more computers (and there are computers for the adults downstairs too), served well by stairs and a lift. There are toilets on site, but you need to ask for a key. A Local Studies section is a great boon to folk wanting to do some research and the staff are very knowledgeable and approachable in relation to the subject. If you are in a hurry, there is a self service section downstairs where you can scan through your books without waiting for a librarian to do it.

The public library service has moved to Pat's Brae in Ballymena town centre. The closest carparking…read moreis available at the Tower Centre. It is now situated in a large two-storey building and has photocopying, computing and archive facilities. Library users may now borrow both books and audio/video materials. The Education and Library Board still own the building at Demesne Avenue but it now only contains the Teacher's collection, Schools Library Service and Historical Research departments.

Belfast Central Library is a great institution. One of the first libraries opened in Ireland, it…read morestill provides the general public with innumerable services and facilities. There's a lovely cafe on the ground floor selling coffee, tea, hot chocolate etc. and after you've refreshed yourself you can make use of the free computer and Internet facilities which are available for use throughout the building. The top floor houses the only dedicated Music Library in Northern Ireland, which is a great service and costs a small amount to rent out the Cd's. The Library also houses a number of special collections including archives, extremely old books (i.e. printed before 1500AD!), Irish Language manuscripts, literary manuscripts, maps, postcards, photographs, theatre and cinema collections. It also holds the F. J Bigger Library and Archive (a practising solicitor whose chief interest was Irish antiquities, he devoted his life to the study of Irish archaeology and Ulster history.) The building also houses a fine collection of maps, both contemporary and antiquarian. There's also the 'Theatre Collection' which consists of three thousand Irish theatre programmes. It's quite a comprehensive historical collection (the newspaper reviews, posters and programmes date from 1821 onwards!) In the Library there are various facilities available for use including public lifts, public toilets, meeting rooms, exhibition Space, a fax service and photocopiers. Call in to the alluring old building and check out some of these helpful services. The staff are hospitable and the building is a beautiful example of Victorian Belfast. N.B. The Library are currently carrying out some renovations and at the moment the outer facade of the building can't be seen (such a pity!) hopefully this will be completed soon though!

Although it is a fine resource I have mixed feelings about Belfast Central Library, having spent…read moremany hours in the Irish studies section researching local history. Just about anything in that line that you might need is available like other large formal libraries there is a system of requesting a book that staff will go and get for you. Mostly that worked fine but there were occasions when staff members really didn't seem willing to help and it creates a bad impression and puts me off using the library unless I'm really desperate. There are other libraries in the city with a much more welcoming atmosphere. On the other hand the opening hours are useful if you need to come here after work and there plenty of computer terminals for access to library members, with quite a good lending section on the ground floor and a useful coffee shop downstairs.

This is a pretty nice libary with a good range of books for both adults and children. Nice childs…read moresection. The building is really nice and the library is nice and clean the staff are also very helpful.

An excellent little library on the Carnmoney Road in Glengormley…read more It really is fantastically well stocked - I've taken notions for books and popped in to see, on the off chance, if they're there and they always have been to date. I often think that being a librarian would be my dream job, but after talking to, and dealing with, the staff here, I'm not sure that I'd have either the patience or knowledge to last. The internet access is spot-on, there are nice wee tables where you can sit in glorious, glorious peace and quiet to enjoy your selections. The best bit, should you have children - the kids' section is outstanding. Large, varied. I found my eldest, after a school outing, reading James & The Giant Peach from Glengormley Library and I nearly wept. Well done, library staff. Having rattled off all that praise, though - I haven't been in a couple of months because I am disorganised and owe them twenty quid for something I'd forgotten I had!

This is a small but excellently stocked library for its size. The staff here are possibly the…read morenicest people I've ever met. I came recently enquiring about a photography book and they practically bent over backwards to help me find what I was looking for. I love the warm, friendly feel in this library. There's also a great children's section. Everything is really well laid out and in a sensible order, unlike other libraries I've been to. There's internet access, you can sit and chill out while you browse through the books. If you need anything the staff really will go out of their way to help which is really nice. I know some librarians who think people who disrupt their routine should near enough be shot... its nothing like that in here. On their 'to read' range they have a great selection of books. Now I don't know who chooses these but sometimes I think they re reading my mind, its freaky! If you're from around here and haven't been in then I strongly recommend taking a look in. You never know what you might stumble across.