If libraries give us power, then someone needs to stick 50p in the meter at Oldbury Library…read more It's not the staff, it's not even particularly the books because there's a broad and well-stocked amount of novels. It's just that the place lacks heart somehow. It's not what a real library should be. Just having books doesn't make a library any more than kicking a ball doesn't make me Lionel Messi (or even Lionel Richie). From the outside, it looks impressive. Well, that's not difficult in Oldbury - a town seemingly as devastated by ill-thought out redevelopment as the poor souls are by the cans of Special Brew they hang around the bus-stops clutching. The problem is that the library itself takes up approximately a quarter of the building it inhabits. The first time I ever walked in I quickly found myself thinking 'is this it?' Now let's be realistic, no-one's expecting Birmingham Central Library here - even the one that's shutting down. Well, I'm not anyway, but surely a town such as Oldbury deserves sufficient resources to be able to have more books than can fit in more than one fairly small room. Apart from the novels, the remaining shelves are filled up with random selections of books that often seem to be there to make up the numbers. It's as if by having a handful of music biographies and one or two sheet music books they can say 'we've got a varied music section'. One sad thing is the lack of human interaction. To get a book out at Oldbury, you're encouraged to use the self-service machine. If you're unfamiliar, this works exactly the same as the supermarket ones, only without unexpected items constantly turning up in the bagging area. In my experience, library staff can either be lovely human beings or self-important snobs. I couldn't tell you what the staff in Oldbury are like because I've never had chance to interact. This happens in libraries all over the West Midlands - it's almost as if a librarian's job is now to show you how to use the self-service machine so that you never have to speak to them again. I've got a book out from there at the second (a Paul Weller biography if you must know), maybe I should deliberately return it when it's overdue so I can see what the staff are like as I pay my 12p fine? One possible upside to Sandwell Libraries (of which Oldbury is one) is that one can get up to thirty books out at any one time. Now, I must say I've never tried reading thirty books in one month, but unless you own, or desire to need, a pair of very thick and strong spectacles and have an addiction to coffee or pro-plus; you're not going to want or be physically able to get through that amount of books. Even my housebound, bookworm Nan couldn't do that! If you think you could though, you'll love it - although you might burn out the self-service machine. It comes down to this: If you want to borrow the odd book to read here and there, Oldbury might have it and it'll probably a nice, neat modern copy. If you want somewhere you can lose yourself in, maybe sit and read or research or do your homework/coursework/housework/account fiddling, somewhere that's some kind of focus for the community; Oldbury isn't your best option. However flash the new building, it's like my fridge at the sec - there's not really much in there.

Bleakhouse Library is aptly named whatever you're view. If you dig it, you'd point to the obvious…read moreconnection to the Dickens classic. If you're not a fan, you could use the name in a more literal context. The truth, as is so often the case, is between the two. Bleakhouse is, like so many of the libraries round this way, very small. It is however stocked with plenty of modern copies of modern novels. You get the feeling all their dusty old tomes were flogged some time ago. The local history section has some interesting books, including the probably epic 'Excellence in Roll Forming: 75 Years of Metsec' whose hilarious anecdotes of roll forming shenanigans had me forming my own rolls on the floor as I fell around laughing like a madman. To calm myself down I could have sat in the garden. Sadly it was raining so I couldn't, but Bleakhouse is indeed the only library I've been to (and I'm the sort of person who goes to a lot of libraries) with a garden, seemingly decorated for and by local children (well, there is a primary school next door). At least the place was quiet like a proper library should be.

When Sandwell Libraries get it right, like they've done in West Bromwich, the results are pretty…read moregood. When they get it wrong, they get it very wrong and Blackheath Library is a regrettable testament to this. If there was ever a case of style over substance, this place is it. From the outside, it looks huge and modern. It stands out a mile from its much older High Street neighbours. Once you step inside though, like in the similarly designed Oldbury library, you find yourself thinking 'is this it?' The place isn't even half as big as the outside suggests. The DVD section amounts to one little stand and the book selection is more befitting of a smaller community library than the big library that Blackheath makes itself out to be. At least it's got wi-fi and a small table for one person to sit at and read/research.

Sandwell Central Library is the biggest Libraries in the borough and boasts the largest and most…read morevaried range of stock in the local borough. It is a massive Library to say the least but there is definitely something for everyone at Sandwell Central Library. I have only been here on a small number of occasions and there were times where I did get lost in the Library. However I have enjoyed being here and it is a place where you certainly can get peace and quiet. The Learning Centre at the Library offers free public access to the internet via a large number of computers, study guides and careers information. So if you do need advice about getting on the job ladder, there will be staff at the Library who will be happy to help you out. The latest bestsellers, blockbusters and classic films on DVD, a variety of newspapers and magazines, local and family history books as well as books on CD are some of the items you will find. Sandwell Central Library is worth a visit and there are books for all ages and tastes.

this is a big libary with plenty of choice and internet connetions as wellread more

I quite like Smethwick library and the only reason i say quite like is because the staff can be…read moresuper scatty and less than helpful. As a library that's had a large refurb through the Big Lottery fund you can expect it to be a bit shinier than others. It was the first library in Sandwell to have a community cafe in it and it's pretty good. It's cheap for a cuppa and has local cafe sandwich fare to eat. The important thing to remember is that is ran by and for the local community. The best thing about the library isn't the books and the building itself isn't the most exciting or beautiful of old libraries but it has large meeting rooms that are free of charge for community groups and the voluntary sector to use. For this reason there is often a timetable full of stuff going on with some of it open to the public whilst others are for closed groups. If you are a regular hirer of the space though don't expect to be able to store anything there as there just isn't the room. As a library they have a large number of computers stations and a newspaper section as well as the books you'd expect to find.

Sorry Smethwick Library!! I owed them a couple of books and only recently gave them back. I didn't…read moremean to do this but I completely forgot about returning the books back to the library. The staff themselves actually really understood when I told them about my situation. I did have a huge bill to pay but I paid it, just so that I could go back to being on great terms with them. This library is also a hub for doing other things, like doing work in and they have other activities and reading groups which take place there. They have a large selection of books and facilities to use. However, out of all the community libraries I don't think this one is the best. It's not that spacious and I don't find it that welcoming as much as other community libraries. I always find it a little louder than some other libraries, so I don't spend much time in there because of that.

If libraries are to have any kind of shelf-life in the future, then West Bromwich is going about it…read moreroughly the right way. This library (the main one for the Sandwell district) was refurbished last summer and has definitely benefited from the changes. Once you're inside the tall, imposing old building, the layout is bright and spacious. There are plenty of places to sit, lots of newspapers dotted around, a couple of vending machines and of course lots of books. I had a browse through the fiction and biography sections and saw plenty of interesting titles both old and new. My only two complaints are that there is a television pumping out News 24, which is really distracting; not to mention needless. I know libraries aren't the havens of silence they once were, but seriously?! The other quibble is that the CDs, of which there are a decent amount, are in no order at all so if you wanted to look for anything specific to name or genre, you'd be screwed. So overall, good but just a few nuts to tighten.

Cannot fault this place. They have done well in todays world of Tory cuts to all our loved…read moreservices. It is a pleasant place to visit and I always find the staff going the extra mile to help both in the library itself and when I call them on the phone. Use it or lose it guys

A bright, spacious local library on Weoley Castle Square, Weoley Castle library offers books, DVD's…read moreand CD's to listen to and hire, plus a good range of local history and more. Based across two floors, the library offers a dozen or so Internet connected workstations for use by the public, but sadly doesn't offer Wi-Fi. Never the less, I find upstairs in the library a good place to sit quietly and get on with research and other work on my laptop. The staff are friendly and helpful, and there is often themed displays drawing attention to specific books. For instance, when The Hobbit movie was released the library had a section on JRR Tolkien including a collage of facts and artwork. As local libraries go, Weoley Castle Library is bright and modern and a welcome place to visit on Weoley Castle Square!

Weoley Castle Library doesn't provide much facilities in the areas that I am interested in but the…read moredo however provide books and access to information and novels of various genres and topics which I will happily get myself lost in. If they don't provide what you are looking for you can always ask and enquire with a member of staff about the books and items that are in your search criteria and they will pleasantly assist you with ordering the books from other libraries across Birmingham and they will notify and let you know when you can expect the arrival of your item and when to pick it up. The librarians, volunteer workers and members of staff are all very helpful, warming and inviting and they don't hesitate in any way to assist you and your local library experience.

One of several buildings in the area built between the wars, Thimblemill Library has an almost…read moreart-deco charm about it from the outside but inside is a thoroughly modern library. Regrettably, 'thoroughly modern' in this context isn't exactly a term of endearment. Like most libraries, Thimblemill is currently suffering from self-service syndrome and cutbacks. I can't help but wonder if the reason they sold off all of their small selection of CDs is because to hire one, you had to ask the staff for the CD? That's not a criticism of the staff, who have always been pleasant, friendly and helpful; more of a system which is dehumanising libraries as much as possible in order to well...I don't know? Bookwise, Thimblemill's got a fair few although when I looked under the poetry section, I found no poetry to speak of except maybe one or two Betjeman anthologies. One thing I do have to thank Thimblemill Library for is inducing me to buy a printer. Having previously used libraries to print off documents, I did the same when I moved to a Sandwell Libraries area only to find that they charge 15p per black and white sheet! As I was writing a short-story at the time, I didn't fancy paying £1.50 per draft and so invested in a cheap printer. So I suppose, Thimblemill Library gave me the tools to print for myself but lost itself a customer in the process. No wonder they flogged all them CDs...