Bangor Library has had a recent transformation, I remember this library for its tiny plastic…read moremulticoloured tables and chairs and its vast collection of Spot the Dog books, a literary classic. Now Bangor Library has an air of sophistication it is no longer a run down shabby building that would not look out of place in the 50's it is a modern hub of activity with all the mod cons. From the front on Hamilton Road Bangor library looks similar to how it did when I got my first library card but they have stretched the library out the back and despite its old face it now has a body of a supermodel. It is equipped with the latest computer equipment, including scanners, printers, and photocopying facilities. But it still has a prized collection of books, DVD's (no more VHS) and CD ROMs that can be taken from the library as long as you are a member. The staff in the library are also great and I get the feeling they are proud of their new building, it is well maintained and stocked. The staff are also very helpful, while completing University coursework they helped me find relevant books and journals from the libraries vast collection. For this I owe them big!

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.

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.

During a hot afternoon spent walking about the city a stop off to use a library such as the one on…read morethe Shankill Road is very welcome. It's old fashioned in style, built by the Belfast Corporation in the late 1920s. The library is on an upper floor, approached by quite steep steps and stairs although there is also a lift. On a hot day the room is airy and bright thanks to high ceilings and big windows, some of which are old fashioned stained glass, and there is an old parquet floor. Like most local libraries it has a large supply of fiction books, a children's section and DVDs. There are plenty of computer terminals, always very handy for free internet access and enough people about to prove that as ever, libraries are an invaluable resource in the community.

I have been a member of this library since i was a child and i have seen many changes in those…read moreyears, i have always enjoyed going to this library as i find the staff there very friendly and helpful. my son and daughter who are now both adults are also members of the library and have been since childhood. i hope that this and all the other libraries continue for many years to come as i find that they are a vital part of a child's education. Many Thanks to all the staff in Shankill Library for your help over the years Arlene McVeigh

Love this library, staff so friendly and helpful, which can not always be said for a library…read more They have a great kids section which is where we concentrated on and a lovely big alphabet rug. First class right in the town with all the normal services.

Ooh! A new Library! Yay! Geek that I am, I love finding me a lovely new library to lose hours of my…read morelife while I bury my head amongst all those wonderful books. Well, having an hour to waste recently in Larne I thought I'd take myself in here and see what they had on offer. Well, wasn't I impressed! The library is spacious, very well laid out and the staff were helpful and polite. When I called in there was a 'mother & baby' group on where the kids were being sang songs, played guitar and told stories. Awk now isn't that sweet! I was here looking for a photography book and handily the sections were all clearly marked out and easy to find. It wasn't long before I picked my selection and happily made my way toward to check out desk where the librarian talked to me about my choices and recommended another for me to have a look at. I love friendly personal customer service and I certainly got it here. Great library; lots of stock, helpful staff and well laid out.

Attended here for a work course. It's well signposted off the main road and has ample free car…read moreparking. It's set in lush surrounds. Once you get through the signing in its a bit of a maze to get to the conference rooms on the ground floor. There Isa subsidised canteen-we never tried it but did have a cup of coffee. Then after the session it was home time!!

Relocation is in the pipeline for PRONI which is due to move to new premises in the Titanic Quarter…read morein 2011 and the present site in Balmoral Avenue will be closed this autumn to prepare. Therefore, you will not have much time left to make use of the current site of the Public Records Office, which contains church records, valuation books, school records, street directories on paper and microfiche. I have also researched the significant Northern Ireland photo archive held here, as well as ordnance survey maps from 1903 and around 1880. The maps are fascinating for anyone interested in a certain town, village or townland as the detail includes every last shed and cottage. Various families of substance in the province have deposited their records here too. You do need time on your hands when visiting the Public Records Office, however, for the process of looking up and waiting for the staff to extract the documents from the store requires some consultation and forethought. There is a reading room too with stimulating books of local historical interest accessible on the shelves. In the main staff are eager and willing to help you find family history records or other documentary evidence that you seek and I've found my three or four visits rewarding, though of course, you need to like this sort of thing.

Unfortunately, the public records office will be largely inaccessible until about May 2011, as it…read moremoves to the Titanic Quarter. But the place has millions of records, a few of which apparently date back to the 13th century! Most of the people who would use the PRO are people attempting to trace family histories, trawling through a mind-boggling array of records to try and unearth their origins. The great thing about this place is that it's free if you're going to do your own research. I think your best bet is to go to the Ulster Historical Foundation (see my review) and pay for an initial bit of research to be done, then head down to the PRO, armed with your new information, and begin your search from there. You should be able to find out plenty about your family history here, with some records being so old that they have to be held in controlled conditions. I'm looking forward to the opening of the new office in the Titanic Quarter before summer 2011

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.