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.

Good size, friendly staff always willing to help. Only downside is its a bit out of the main town…read morein a bad area

This is a very convenient and well equipped library in the centre of Carrick…read more I will admit I am not a member and haven't been for a very long time. It was fun when I was younger to go and choose some books to borrow, however nowadays I tend to use my kindle more! My latest trip to the library was last year, to use their printer! I would imagine it is still a good choice for students needing reference books etc. Aside from the books, they have a suite of computers which can be used by the public, and they hold regular events throughout the month, such as junior reading, adult reading, adult colouring classes, silver surfers and DVD rental. The library is open until 8pm on Monday and Wednesday.

Great library, staff are very friendly and some of the most helpful I have dealt with( and I have…read morebeen in a few library's in my time). Great touch is the castle surround for the kids area, linking in with the local heritage. Plenty of computers for research or a game of candy crush. Wide variety of books( well it is a library) and all sections well stocked and labeled to help you find what your looking for. I also love that they have a little gallery and coffee section, great for sitting down and looking through the books you have chosen, or in our case getting the tree year old to pick just 9 from the 50 he had chosen. Just a note in case you haven't encountered it before most of these library's are now self service, with you checking out and returning your own books, works by barcode or some sort of magic that knows what books are in a pile of as many as 8 without even looking at them. Enjoy.

One of the oldest librarys in the north eastern area, staff are very friendly and cant do enough to…read morehelp you. they will order any books you ask for and will also do photocopying for a small fee. They now have computers out in the rear with net access for around £1, Listed building but very modern inside

Really nice library now with the bonus of having a computer suite and internet access for only a £1…read moreper hour. Not the biggest inside but any book you want will be ordered and you will get it the next day day. You can also hire cds and documentry dvds, staff are really nice and you can park right outside the door on the street or theres a car park at the back

We visited with grandkids who only wanted to run demonically around the grounds oblivious to Wu flu…read moreand its adverse impacts on life so we cheerfully obliged. Antrim castle and gardens are fabulous to see. Historically the castle was built by Sir Hugh Clotworthy and his son, Sir John Clotworthy, between 1610 and 1662. The name Clotworthy derived from Clotworthy near Wembworthy, Devon, England. As the surname suggests Sir Hugh and family weren't Irish natives, rather they gained land in Ireland in the Plantation of Ulster under the reign of James 1. Sir Hugh was a prominent politician during the Civil War. In 1660 he was created Baron Loughneugh (i.e. Lough Neagh) and Viscount Massereene in the Peerage of Ireland, with remainder to his son-in-law Sir John Skeffington, 4th Baronet, of Fisherwick, the husband of his daughter the Hon. Mary Clotworthy, and in default thereof to his heirs general. Plantation is another term for colonisation and some half a million acres of land was handed over to settlers (planters) by the king. The settlers were mostly from Southern Scotland. The colonists were required to be Protestant, English-speaking, and loyal to the king in short not Irish. Imagine today taking half a million acres of Alaska and gifting the land deeds to Canadians. Anyway, back to today, with the effects of plantation still ever present and the Ulster Scots language on the playground fixtures the gardens feature a 17th century Anglo Dutch water garden, one of only three in the British Isles. They are over 410 years old with beautiful features such as the Large Parterre, Her Ladyship's Pleasure Garden and Yew Tree Pond. Within the heart of the gardens is the unique Clotworthy House also created by Clotworthy descendants the Massereene family. So it's not just a house and garden on the shore of Lough Neagh it's living history and part of the political fabric of a complex, scarred divided statelet. If you want an hour or two of serenity you'll find it here unless of course you happen to get close to our grandkids.

I did not know that Antrim had a castle, motte, walls, and a fairly extensive park. The kept that…read moreone quiet! Or maybe I just wasn't listening... Either way, we just so happened to stumble across the grounds, having come out the High Street side of Castle Mall (ahhh, that explains the name!) and dandered over to an interesting looking gate lodge type building. There was nothing to suggest what this area was, so we took a walk down a path, under an over-pass (graffitied to the max), and appeared in an open green space. I noticed a sign, and went over to look. Reference was made to a motte (so, that's what the huge mound was in front of us...), walls (the gatelodge etc) and castle. Oooh! Where was this castle?! Well apparently all that remains of it is a wall tower, which is really a shame, as I had been hoping for a proper, full-sized castle. Oh well. Unfortunately, grey clouds were looming over us, and rain was threatening, so we didn't get much further. However, the gardens are meant to be lovely, with a canal, ponds and walks, and I would love to go back to explore these further, on a more pleasant day of course. There is also a major regeneration project ongoing within the grounds at the minute, and into next year, so I can't wait to see how it will look after the makeover.

Good local studies collection on the first floor. No public records per se, but lots of books to…read morehelp set the context for your family history. And the staff double teamed and help retrieve items of possible interest. Very impressive!

Carrickfergus Town Hall is a Grade B listed building which was built in 1779 and was originally the…read moretown's courthouse and gaol. It took on it's current use of Town Hall in 1935. The town hall hosts many events throughout the year, a diverse mix such as school poetry reading competitions, blood donation point, tea dances, charity sales, etc. The building itself is impressive and a focal point in the town centre, albeit not in as nice a way as it used to, given the fact that somone made the decision to paint it bright yellow!

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!!