The new Library in Ryhope is really modern. It looks like a 'cool' building if you could ever class…read morea building as cool. There are two entrances one on Black road and one on ryhope road, so it is easy to get to. There are about 6 or 7 computers for you to use, you just have to check with the staff that they are free to use and not booked. It isn't the biggest library in Sunderland but it has a good range of books and a lovely childrens area that is brightly coloured and comfortable. If you find that the book you want isn't there, the staff are always willing to try to find it and order it in for you.

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.

Very nice and modern library in the centre of Newcastle, with a huge selection of books, a large…read moreamount of seating and study space, excellent views from the upper floors, and a nice café as well. This has everything I want in a library. The modern building is quite attractive and welcoming, with a very open and spacious lobby. There is a glass lift, which offers a pretty exciting ride to the upper floors, but also nice wide staircases. I realise I'm commenting on fairly irrelevant things for a library, but I enjoyed the overall feel of the place. As already mentioned, the views from the top are very nice, all the way over Newcastle. There are comfortable seats provided by the window, so you can relax with a book or newspaper and take in the view. The Laing Art Gallery is just across the street, and it was just a lucky coincidence that we saw its advertisement for a Leonardo exhibition from the library. Of course we had to go see that as well (review to follow). Before leaving the library, we tried the café, which is good value, comfortable, and serves good products. Worth a visit.

Libraries have had a hard time lately so it was great to visit Newcastle City Library and see that…read morelibraries are still something we can be proud of. Newcastle City Council really should be proud of this place, it seems to be a real community hub and the staff were justifiably proud of the place which provided not only space for an impressive collection of traditional library items but meeting and community areas, good quality retail stock and a rather nice cafe.

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 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.