This Carnegie library, housed in a prominent historic Grade 2 Listed building, sits grandly on the…read morejunction of Cathays Terrace, Fairoak Road, Whitchurch Road, and Crwys Road, alongside Cathays Cemetery. In total, Scotsman Andrew Carnegie - industrialist, businessman, entrepreneur and a major philanthropist - funded some 3,000 public libraries in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies, and Fiji. Cathays Library is one of them. Apart from its architectural value, the library offers a pretty good range of community library services including free WiFi, a children's area, 15 public PCs (book in advance as they're in high demand) and a 'Rhymetime' kids' session (held every Tuesday morning at 10.30am) including stories, crafts and rhymes for under 5s. You can, however, obviously find a far greater selection of books at Cardiff's main library. Local councillors also hold regular surgeries in the library on Saturday mornings from 11-12, for which you don't need an appointment - you can just turn up and quiz them on local issues.

God bless this library…read more For the student population of the Roath and Cathays areas of Cardiff, time is of the essence. Especially since you've spent the entire term drinking when you should've been studying, and now you have to five hours before your exam starts and you need to get several books. Sure, you could walk into town, but like I said, time is of the essence. Those extra twenty minutes could be the difference between a fail, and a slightly higher fail! This is why we love Cathays library. Roll out of bed, and roll through the door. Check out your books and be home in ten minutes time. I've seen students there in their pyjamas before. It is just the pinnacle of convenience. Granted, the selection isn't as impressive as the five storey book Mecca that's currently occupying a good couple of acres in the city centre, but that is a place that'd make an Alexandrian librarian whistle through his teeth and say "well, that sure is a lot of books", so I don't think I can take off points for that. After all, it's not really possible for two places to have all the books in the world ever, each.

This is a massive library full of nearly all of the books that you could ever want, from all genres…read moreof books, the good and the bad, the historical and the fantasy worlds to escape into. This new improved building is about four floors high or more, and it is a much more stylish facility than the last central library. It has taken a while to come into action, but it is finally here... ready and waiting... Well it has been for a while actually. You can take; up to twenty books out each time you do so and you can have them on loan for several weeks, you just need to keep renewing them either by phone or by going online. The staff are on board and are on the ball, very friendly and very helpful. You just have to be confident to ask them for help, they can't read your minds you know... There are plenty of computers accessible and plenty of screens to scan your books under and to take them back that way to. Great for all ages...

Defiantly one of the best libraries I have been too. Its really open and airy with great views over…read morethe city below. There is no stuffiness about this place at all. You're not going to get shushed by batty old librarians and the staff are really very helpful. Its so easy to get books out, reserve what you want and drop it back quickly. You can also borrow CD's and DVD's too. Its got free wi-fi throughout, loads of computers for the public to use and even a grand piano for you to practice on! Its also got plenty of drinks machines and places to relax. Its a real haven within the city.

Rumney library is unfortunately one of those buildings that resembles the crumbling 1970s…read morecomprehnsive schools that i attended as a child. Its dark, dingy and definitely in need of replacing. However, as a source of free books, a place to read and free internet access it is forgiven all its sins. The staff are lovely and always happy to help and its stock selection is pretty good and larger than several other branch libraries. One confusing feature to note is that there are different doors for in and out and the out door is pretty well hidden (its around the other side of the issue desk).

I have to agree with the other reviewer. We attend this library every week now as my daughter goes…read moreto their 'Rhyme Time' music and play session. Absolutely beautiful library, set in a great location and the friendliest, most welcoming staff I have met in a very long time. My daughter has become most fond of Claire who runs the Rhyme time group :)

This is my favourite library in the city! It was refurbished about a year or so ago and is now a…read morereally relaxing, welcoming place to go and read a book and choose your next selection of books. Its well placed too, there is a bus stop right outside which takes you into the centre of Cardiff or alternatively up to Llanishen. They have sections on fiction and non -fiction, DIY, cookery, biography and of course, my favourite, crime fiction. If a book which you would like to read has not come into the library yet, you can order it and it only takes a matter of days to arrive. Please support your local library - they cannot survive without our support.

Okay, well I actually really like Penylan library. Whichever library you go to, however big or…read morevaried the collection of books, Cardiff libraries have an online book ordering service so you can just look up the book you want, order it, then when they call you can just pop in and collect it. As it is, Penylan's book collection isn't bad at all. In fact it's pretty good, given its size. Everything is in clearly marked sections and, as I said, if you can't find what you're looking for, you can ask one of the many helpful staff, or order it from home. The children's section is especially lovely, with bright coloured seats and pictures. I have often seen mothers sat reading books with their children here, which is a sight to warm any heart. The community centre offers a family friendly gym with Teen Fit courses for 14-16 year olds aiming to teach teenagers how to use the fitness suite "safely and effectively" (according to the brochure). There is also a wide variety of activities offered for people of all ages, from a Soccer School for 5-11 year olds to adult yoga classes, Soft Play for the under 5s to activities for the over 50s. There are also women only classes for any ladies who are a little self-conscious about wearing a leotard in front of the opposite sex. Penylan Library and Community Centre has so much to offer and no doubt will soon be offering even more. If you have any queries, the guys on reception are more than willing to discuss classes and courses with you.

A new and improved library? I'm actually not so sure about this place. I remember it in the old…read moredays and very much prefer it that way. Why can't things stay the same forever? Why does there always have to be change? Progress, progress, progress... is what they call it. I suppose they have to call it something, the world seems to have to name everything these days. Now the library has a sports complex attached to it; classes and courses to attend, computers to use and books to borrow. It only has so many books there and I find even less than last time, and I found the library's organisational system of books was tricky for me to understand. I found it took me ages to get into the right room in the library as to where the books where at all, and as to where the books that I wanted were difficult to find. However, in the end I did and so I know where to go in future. Others may find that they prefer the place this way. It is right by Penylan park and is near to Albany Rd and Wellfield RD.

The library in the heart of Grangetown, just off Penarth road serves it's community well. This is…read moreno Central library, but then Grangetown library has not had the huge cash injection that the new library has had. The library is open plan, but there are distinct sections. There is a beanbag area for parents and their kids to lounge and read books in Welsh or English. Unfortunately some of the books are a little dog-eared, although some are also brand new. At the other end of the spectrum there is seating provided for the older generation and those intent on serious reading, this area is sheltered by bookshelves behind the librarians desks. Grangetown library also offers a computer room with internet access, choose your times carefully (during school hours) if you want to use the computer in relative silence. As many libraries do these days Grangetown library runs a number of workshops including 'Tots time', 'Singing and art fun', 'Bookworms storytime' and 'Story and art fun for children'. For adults the library offers the 'Grange readers book club', which according to the library website is an: "Informal group meeting to chat about a selection of books over a cup of tea!" Library opening times are: Monday 9.00-1.00 2.00-7.00 Tuesday 9.00-1.00 2.00-6.00 Wednesday 9.00-1.00 2.00-6.00 Thursday 9.00-1.00 2.00-6.00 Friday 9.00-1.00 2.00-6.00 Saturday 9.00-1.00 2.00-5.30

Canolfan a Llyfrgell Star Centre and Library is an impressive, purpose built leisure centre and…read morelibrary complex situated on the main street in Splott. The library, (as with all of the libraries in Cardiff), is a focal hub for the local community, offering all kinds of activities and talks to inspire and educate. These events are often free of charge. Splott is considered to be a 'problem area' and suffers from high unemployment and the associated social problems of economic privation. A small number of the kids in Splott are responsible for some pretty anti-social behaviour. The authorities recognise the need to constructively engage the under sixteen's, and so the library is intended to be a place where children from all backgrounds and age groups can meet and have fun. The library has been recently refurbished, as have the sport and leisure facilities in the same complex. It has a wide range of books available for lending as well as providing access to the whole of the Cardiff Libraries collection. There's a new children's area that is packed with fun stuff, along with an extended IT facility that offers a range of computers along with full on-line services and access. The library holds weekly pre-school activities as well as half term events for school children. On Wednesday mornings they hold a story time and craft session at 10.30am. Weekly rhyme times are also available. An adult Reading Group meets on the last Wednesday of every month from 7.00pm - 8.00pm. Email: splottlibrary@cardiff.gov.uk How to get there: Bus Numbers: 11,12,13