The staff are really friendly and helpful. They have quite a good range of books, DVDs and CDs for…read moreborrowing although I sometimes find that I have to order in books from other libraries in the area as their range of adult horror and sci-fi can be limited. The library in Brotton used to be a nice quiet place to go but since it moved into the college it's often noisy as students (teenagers) are also using it for research during the day.

I have been to this library a few times but have not gone back because the staff are not…read moreoverly-friendly and I always feel as though I am interrupting their conversation while I'm waiting for them to finish talking so that I can be served. They've never 'gone out of their way' to be helpful and just point out the general location when I've asked where a particular book is. When a particular book that I want is not in, they did not offer to reserve or order it in for me, just said that it wasn't in unlike other libraries that I have been too.

I have been using Berwick Hills Library for many years and totally disagree with the comments I…read moreread. The staff are very friendly and put their selves out to accomodate you. They always greet you with a smile and if they don't have the book you want they order it straight away. They show you where the books are that you want and tell you about local events coming up. I don't know why this woman has given them such a bad review, they certainly do not deserve it. Rita Craddy.

Billingham library is a large, fully stocked library. There is a good range of reading material for…read moreall ages and for all interests as well as plenty of access to music and video loans. There is a good range of newer books as well as older classics. In fact if you are visiting it is best to bring a large shopping bag for your books as you will visit to loan one book and leave with ten others that interest you just as much. The library is conveniently located close to bus routes. The staff are pleasant, but the librarians on the front desk are quick to remind you if you have chosen too many books.

Bedale library is an excellent library. It is not very big but has a huge range of books on offer…read more There is a lovely childrens area which is brightly decorated and appeals to children there are bean bags and little chairs as well as a computer and table and chair area for children who are doing homework. The library has a range of books for adults including a large selection of autobiographies, self help guides and story books. The library also includes a number of computers with internet access at a small price of around a pound per hour. The staff are very friendly and extremely helpful.

A small library with very helpful and friendly staff. It has good links to Sure Start. Children are…read morevery welcome. Staff are more than happy to help you look for books and will call other libraries and order in books for you. It has a few computers and daily news papers

Redcar Library is now tucked away behind the new leisure centre and is combined with the Redcar &…read moreCleveland Council offices. Everything is now on one floor but it seems like there are less books there now. And as the selection is more limited this means you may have to order in books from other libraries - this costs £1.50 per book! It took me a while to get used to the layout and finding the different sections of the library; the shelves aren't are well labelled as I'd like. There are toilets and a cafe. The toilets always seem very clean. I've never purchased anything from the cafe but you can smell coffee throughout the whole library! Very distracting! There's plenty of seating around although the lighting isn't great in some of the areas. It's on a motion sensor in some parts of the library so if you sit still for too long the lights will go off!! There are computers you can book but also free wifi. I've found the wifi connection to be stable and quite fast. The staff are always available to help and very friendly. The big reason it only gets three stars is due to being combined with the Council services - it's no longer a quiet place to read or study as there's the noise from the cafe and there are always people waiting around to see someone about their benefits (sometimes with young children who get very fed up of sitting around waiting). The Council's desks are dispersed throughout the library so wherever you're sat you can hear someone discussing their Housing Benefit being cut, not being able to afford Council Tax or, in one case, I heard someone trying to get support after leaving prison! Nothing seems to be kept confidential as it can be heard by everyone! Overall it's not the best library but it serves it's purpose.

I am a regular visitor to Stockton Central Library; I tend to pop in whenever I'm in the town…read morecentre. There is a large selection of books available downstairs, and computers for public use upstairs. Inside the entrance there is a cafe and a tourist information centre, along with public toilets, which I have always found to be clean. The staff are very friendly and helpful. There is a large selection of CDs and DVDs to loan, including some of the latest titles and some old classics. The only issue I have with the library is that the children's section is not as extensive as you would expect for a library of this size. I took my daughter in a few weeks ago to get some Roald Dahl books and they only actually had two, which I was quite shocked by as Roald Dahl books are normally in abundance in most other libraries I've visited! However they often have events, such as storytimes and craft activities for children, which are well-presented. I would recommend the library as they do have a large selection of adult's books available, including many reference books and books about the area's history.

As a kid we would always go here after swimming lessons on Saturday morning, so my main memories…read moreare of wet hair and kids books. The major differences between then and now are that they've got rid of the kids library (!) and moved it into the sacred and previously silent adults library (!) which is just plain annoying for everybody. Replacing the tickets and Doctor Who books are internet computers that you can get free for the first half hour (last time I was on, it may have changed now). A visitors centre has been built in the foyer in the space that was previously just a light well leading tothe central fish pond (I suspect the fish may be long dead.) There is a great selection of books, i went through a stage when everything I wanted to read just happened to be on the shelves somehow, from Alexander Trocchi to Hunter S Thompson's first British edition of Campaign Trail 72 (I nicked the frontispiece for a t-shirt, but he'd nicked it from an anti nixon poster so that was fine. The S stands for Stockton as if you didn't know.) which wasn't even meant to be on the shelves, having been relegated to stock. The little cafe is still there, and the toilets are much cleaner than they were, all male contact details having been removed.

Peterlee library is on the outskirts of peterlee town centre…read moreIt is inside of peterlee college so there is plenty parking spaces. This library is large with plenty of choice. There is a nice childrens section with reading corner and a very good computer area where you can go online or use the printer or copy machine. They have a good choice of audio books and cds for you to borrow and the prices are very good. This libary will be closing soon onto the new college site in peterlee.