I joined the Mitchell Library last week (photo ID and a utility bill will do the trick) and look…read moreforward to availing of their PCs for free internet access, and maybe downloading a few ebooks to my tablet/ereader. I rather fancied some of the nicely presented salads and sandwiches coming out of the Mitchell's cafe, but as it wasn't lunch o'clock I didn't bite. Last year I attended a talk by AC Grayling in the comfortable and perfectly formed lecture theatre (part of the Aye Write Festival I think), and more recently was blown away by the George Wyllie Retrospective. The world could do with more George Wyllies! His sculptures, installations, art and poetry are enough to make a career curmudgeon smile. I think the exhibition is running for a few more months yet. Go there! If you have just half an hour to spare, do step into the permanent puppet exhibition to the right of the main reception desk. Some of those puppets are over a thousand years old and hail from all corners of the world. They don't seem to mind if you want to snap away and take photos. Would definitely recommend a visit to the Mitchell Library. Oh, and they have lots of books too.

Up there with the best that Glasgow has to offer on the arts and culture front…read more An awesome choice of books for leisure, academic facilities and IT on offer as well as various exhibitions held over the year. I was here today (25/06) for the Scotch Whisky Association's exhibition, which was first class. Detail on the making of and maturation of Scotland's various whiskies as well as the history of branding, advertising and marketing of the sweet stuff. Highly recommended AND it's free!

One of my regular library haunts which has a good selection of books as well as cds/dvds, the free…read morecomputers to use (if you have a library card), a cafe and a variety of groups meet here inc book & writers groups. Sadly there is no free Wi-Fi at the moment and the staff could be friendlier but they're just small points for me. More important and the reason why it doesn't have 5 stars, is because they only open one evening a week. A city centre library should be open a few more evenings so those of us who work can use it more often. I'm sure there must be a way of closing off the art gallery so this can happen. Anyhoo, it is worth a visit as the sections also include graphic novels, modern classics, lgbt literature and everything in between. They can also order in books from other libraries.

Armed with my new Glasgow library card, I ventured into this place…read more Computer access with my new card plus free wifi AND lots of books makes it a strong contender for a repeat purchase or three, particularly given its good location. It's quite busy during the day and has a good buzz about it, more like a cafe with books than a library with a cafe. Depending on what you're after, this will either be good or bad. A handy wee place I can see me going to alot over the summer.

It's around 1am on a Spring night in 2006, and at my study booth on the 5th floor, my pile of books…read moreand scribbled notes lies untouched. I'm not at my booth, and have hardly ever been there since I arrived six hours earlier. That's because I'm on the computers playing the infuriatingly addictive Blast Billiards, or reading the graffiti in the bogs, or I've bumped into someone I know in the break room, or I'm on wikipedia reading about dog intelligence, or I'm on the 12th floor, just looking out of the window. I've never felt more at home than late at night here at exam time, with only the security guards, insomniacs, and the odd last minute essay writer for company. I wish I was still allowed in.

To many University of Glasgow Students this building is going to be one of the most important. My…read moredegree was in physics, meaning that most of the course materials I needed were freely available online so I rarely had any real need for the library but every now and then I found myself there anyway. In recent years the library has been updated a lot and it's still going through updates. Current works mean a slightly awkward system of getting in and out of the building but if my experience tells me anything it's that patience will pay off soon enough. The cafe and snack areas are now really nice and those little study booths are ideal - they weren't always there. It's usually pretty easy to find everything you need here, whether that's a specific text, a computer, printer or scanner, or just a cup of coffee. If you're struggling there's always someone to point you in the right direction. There are spaces for group study and quiet or silent study to suit however you work best. This is also where the IT helpdesk is and I've never yet brought them a problem which they haven't solved in under 5 minutes (usually making me feel quite silly but certainly not intentionally). If you're a student at Glasgow, even if you don't technically need the library, I recommend going there to get some quiet work done every now and again. Incidentally, Glasgow University, Strathclyde University, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland all share libraries - so if you're at any of those institutes you can use this library.

The Glasgow Women's Library has moved around a lot in the last 25 years since it was first set up…read more It now has it's permanent premises in Bridgeton near the Eastern end of Glasgow Green. The building is lovely and perfect for housing a small library. It's a grass roots charitable organisation and the only one of it's kind in Scotland. As a lending library its focus is on women writers, feminism, the suffragette movement, LGBTQIA+ stories, and so on. However, it also has a carefully curated collection of artefacts and archive materials. It runs literacy programmes and works to improve adult education - empowering women is one of the key aims of the library and that empowerment is achieved through learning. They run a range of events all year round, from readings to walking tours. Most of this is done by volunteers although they do have a small number of permanent staff. Their opening hours are now a little longer than they used to be which makes it easier to visit (they open on Saturdays now and they open late on Thursdays). I've signed up for a library card, so I hope I'll get back soon.

Partick Library's building is absolutely gorgeous, and it stands out from the rest of the uniform…read moretenements along this stretch of Dumbarton Road. Inside, the library still has the decor of long forgotten days (the early nineties), but I quite like the fact it looks caught in a time warp! It doesn't have as much choice as neighbouring Hillhead, but it does offer a huge children's book section (complete with the cute wee chairs and tables for them!), and a good new releases section for adults. They have a score of computers placed in the room opposite, all with internet access if you have your library card. As is the case in all Glasgow libraries you can book a session online, or just turn up on the day and hope for the best. They're a great resource as you won't always have access to the net and it's free if you sign up for a card! I also appreciate the fact they isolate their PC's from the rest of the library as it can become mildly irritating hearing the tap-tap-tap a chorus of typing brings when you're trying to get through a book. Still a slightly old fashioned library but with enough commodities to keep you going. Tip about the internet though - if you're stopping by to use it, don't come during mid-afternoon as it is usually quite busy and you may be waiting a while. If you're really desperate to go online, go up to Hillhead or to Jasmin's coffee shop a few blocks down - they are about the only cafe I can think of now that still have PC's!

Only just got my Glasgow library card, which has served me well so far…read more This place is decent, with a good selection of the books in a fairly large building that has free wifi as with all Glasgow libraries. There are alot of audiobooks and childrens books as well. While it pales in comparison to the likes of The Mitchell Library (everywhere does, by comparison) it's a good wee library that is worth a visit and might turn up a surprise or two.

Situated in a wonderful old building on St Georges Road. The Woodside library offers a good range…read moreof books, Cd's and DVDs for your lending purposes. A fair sized, light and airy building, with a wonderful dome skylight with massive chandelier, Woodside is a pleasant place to whittle away an hour so so perusing the wordy wears on offer. Ad to this an ample array of fairly new ish PCs open to public use and you find yourself with a good decent public library. In terms of staff on hand, everyone seems to be fairly helpful and cheery to boot so no complaints here!!!

This is a really good library run by Glasgow City Council. It has free internet access to members…read moreand allows you to take out all the usual books, dvds, cds etc. You can also return a book taken out of any GCC library here which is very convenient. The range of books is good and they should have something for everyone: they even have books in foreign languages for both children and adults. They have a good children's section and a small reference section. Although it is quite small, I would definitely say it is worth a look, especially as you live nearby. All you need to become a member and have access to all the Glasgow libraries, is proof of ID and address.

As libraries go this one is on par with most but nothing special. Found at the bottom of Maryhill…read moreRoad (after the big tesco, before the railway bridge) this old but nicely restored building (big old colums, moulding and a cracking skylight) is cosy, quiet and filled with a decent collection of reading material for all ages. As for other services, its DVD collection is maybe on the wee side, as is the CD collection, but hey its got books....if you want a DVD go to a DVD rental store!! The only down side for this place is the lack of Wifi, however this is made up for with a number of well maintained PC's available for use if you remember your library card. Must also make mention to the friendly and helpful staff who, by the looks of the customer review sheets on the main desk, make sure that all enquires and questions are answered in a nice manner....seems like this should be a given, but hey we have all had the STARE from other library staff when asking a "stupid" question.

Lovely little library, warm, bright and welcoming. I enjoyed spending some quality time there…read moretoday. It's a beautiful old building but has been very pleasantly and attractively modernised inside. I particularly liked all the pictures around the walls which reflect the industrial heritage of this very interesting district of Glasgow. There's a varied collection of books for adults and children, plus DVDs and CDs. There are computers and free internet for public use too, study spaces, a toilet (ask for key) and very helpful and friendly staff. Opening times: Monday 10am 5pm Tuesday 10am 8pm Wednesday 10am 5pm Thursday 1pm 8pm Friday 10am 5pm Saturday 10am 5pm Sunday Closed

The Saltire Centre is a modern and stylish library located on the Glasgow Caledonian University…read morecampus, near Buchanan Bus Station. It is also a public library, though if you do not have a student card you cannot take the books out of the library itself. Given the student population, there is not as many books as you might expect. It does have some you wont find elsewhere, including older ones and a good variety of academic journals. It has a speedy free wifi connection and a good cafe on level 0, with regular events ongoing in the building. It is also open 24 hours, seasonally. A great open plan environment that stimulates the senses and is always bustling with life. A great place to work, study and on occasion, play. When it is time to get down to some work, there are quiet floors that generate a more library-like feel. It is ALSO ideal if you are bursting for the toilet at Buchanan Bus Station and dont want to give them a billion pounds or whatever it is now to use their toilets. Power to the people.

If you have been a student at Caledonian in the last 5 years you will realise that the old library…read moreand the new library have no comparison to one another. The Saltire Centre, otherwise known as the new library is a wide expanse of computers and space, with books scattered throughout. The Saltire works so well in cold wintery Scotland because it joins most of the academic buildings, four in total can be navigated through this fine construction. I have heard a little on the architecture and the effect I think is achieved as a lively and yet calming environment to work individually and as a group. This is something that most universities do not have, instead it is silence as the traditional library is known. Well, I would say the Saltire with rather lax rules can be a bit too noisey and probably doesn't have enough computers for the student number. The cafe sells bananas for 25p though and scones with raisins which are often nice.

A good old fashioned Library, intent on offering books and learning and little else. Admirably…read morehesitant to change, the Langside Library is much the same inside and out - bar the selection of computers - as it was ten, fifteen, twenty years ago. The kids section is large and comprehensive, with all the favourites accounted for. However, special mention must go to the classics section which has a particularly extensive Dickens collection. Pretty much every newspaper is accounted for, as well as plenty of magazines and periodicals.

Conveniently located next to the hospital, Langside Library is a little more old fashioned than the…read morenew libraries that are springing up across Glasgow: even the book selection is dated, with the Mind Body and Spirit Section specialising in the Abrahamic religions and the graphic novel section a mere whimper. It isn't a great place for the specialist, unless it it is in crime novels or science fiction, where they have some idiosyncratic choices, and the CDs are mostly mainstream pop with a bit of classical. But the staff are very helpful and, while it might be a sad comment, it is peaceful and underused. Besides, they have a large section for kids, set away from the rest of the building, which keeps the atmosphere relaxed.