There have been times when i've walked into Balsall Heath Library and been struck by a barriage of…read morenoise of screaming children. Since computers were introduced the place certainly changed, with these seeming to be the largest pull for the more exciteable element of the local young people. However on my recent return I found that noise levels were contained and perhaps visiting directly after school closing time is not advisable if you value a quiet Library. I for one love Libraries and books, so I am biased but I would champion this facility as one of the best in the area as a place to sit and browse aisles of books. Always popular with local people, the Library has seen cutbacks in it's opening hours recently but is amply staffed and busy when the doors are open.

As Birmingham Central Library closes its doors as we patiently wait for the birth of Birminghams…read morenew library I am constantly on the hunt for librarys that will provide me with the books and resources I need to support my studies. Tower Hill is small, friendly and local and good for families, however they are limited in the times they are open but try the best they can to meet your needs. There is an IT suite, access to a toilet and on road parking outside.

A great local library that has plenty of books in it. The staff are super helpful everytime you…read morevisit. They have a few computers with internet on, a photocopying machine and study area - so everything you would expect and want from a library. Its open everyday except on a Wednesday, and on Tuesday its open until 7pm.

Tucked away up one of the side streets that connect Stirchley and Bournville, Stirchley library is…read morefairly small, with a not-that-massive selection of books and a few internet ready computers. One of the only points of novelty I can find about it is that it seems to have exactly the same frontage as the Selly Oak library (now closed) a few miles up the road. There's not a grand deal to talk about, but here's a couple of points about it that may be of interest to you. A fairly large segment of the books seem to be large print, and the children's section definitely looks like the sort of place that would interest little kids. There's probably not a lot of reason to visit this library if you don't actually live in Stirchley. This is probably down to budgeting issues. However, if you do live in the area, I'm sure this library will forefill your expectations of a local library.

For some reason when I have walked past this library before I have always thought it was closed. It…read morejust does not seem obviously open, unless it is just me being oblivious to the world around me! Anyway, after discovering it was in fact open, I decided to go in and take a look around as I am an avid reader and I like going into libraries as they are usually quiet and have a good selection of books. I noticed there they were a few computers inside, which is always handy if you are out and about but need to check something online or need to use a computer. The library itself is fairly small and they did not seem to have a great selection of books, there were not many staff or indeed members of the public inside, which was a bit sad. Overall, it was a fairly basic library.

The Library of Birmingham is a really impressive building, it opened in 2013 and it remains rather…read moremodern, it is located on Broad Street and is next to the ICC it is now supported by a West Midlands Metro extension which now goes to the library as of the end of 2019. The outside of the building really is an amazing structure, and inside it is over multiple floors and remains pretty modern as well as a balcony overlooking on a large section of books which is pretty cool. It has a floor count of 10 and it does have some exhibits and different public areas over that. There is also a small shop and cafe, if you prefer branded coffee there is a Starbucks and Subway at the ICC next store, although the Starbucks is pretty expensive there. Being over so many floors is a little confusing but the staff at the reception seem friendly enough to help you where you need to go, the toilets are also well maintained especially compared to others around the city which can be pretty dire. A great library while in the centre of Birmingham, I have to be biased and I still prefer my local Manchester Central Library though which seems to have a more spacious working area and also some pretty cool exhibits. 4*

Well... what a breath of fresh air the new library is. It's the second day of opening today and was…read morepacked to the rafters - but it's easy to see why. There are 9 floors to explore, ranging from music and media right up to the Shakespeare floor (apparently built to look like his cottage in Stratford - but you need to book a tour and it was dead busy!). It is a visual treat! There are lots of art pieces to find hidden amongst the different floors and sections as well as two outdoor garden spaces. There are two coffee shops/resturants (one as you come in and one on the 3rd (overlooking the tremendous views). There is LOADS (and I mean loads) of free computers to use, which are completely free for library members. There are also work rooms, meeting rooms (to hire) and contemplation spaces. If you want to just sit down and have a read, there are different seating areas (ranging from "egg chairs" to normal sofa seats), but the best areas to sit on a nice day will be on the balcony areas. The Library has two urban gardens (lovingly tended to by locals who are being trained to look after the rugged plants and wildflowers). The one on the 3rd floor is impressive, but if you can drag yourself up to the 7th - that's really something to behold. There are a wide range of activities going on in the library (from theatre to comedy) between now and Christmas, so have a look on their website or pop in and collect some literature if you are out and about. I am literally blown away by the wonderfulness of our new library!

Offering a quiet, pleasantly spacious environment and a much broader range of books than its…read moreBoldmere, Kingstanding and Perry Common equivalents, this friendly public library is, in my opinion, one of the best in North Birmingham. The atmosphere inside is very relaxed, the staff are very helpful and the library's children's section is impressively large. A wide selection of large-print books and CDs are available (you don't see this often in a library!) and the genre-categorised aisles are wide and easy to browse. IT facilities aren't exactly brilliant and you're likely to have to wait around a while to gain access to one of the few computers dotted around, but state-of-the-art self-service machines cut down queues a s staff are very friendly.

I have always been able to go to the library and get both help and information whenever it was…read moreneeded the staff are so helpful and friendly and always do their very best to help and advise. Erdington would be a much deprived place without the library.

I'm a real bookworm so was pleased when I realised my new house was so close to the excellent…read moreNorthfield Library. It's recently been refurbished and is now better than ever. The childrens section is wonderful; really bright and cheerful and really encourages the kids' to pick a book off the shelf and sit down for a read. There is a good choice of books for the children and plenty of board books for younger children and babies, my seventeen month old daughter loves to have a flick through the box of baby books - she makes a real mess with them all over the floor but the lovely librarians don't care about that at all. The adults books are well organised and the entire layout of the library 'makes sense', if you see what I mean. Books are arranged well in subcategory and alphabetical order as you would expect and there are little wire racks of paperbacks dotted around the floor so you can have a browse of these as you're going round. The library is completely accessible to everyone and there is a lift for disabled visitors and families with prams if they need to get to the upper floor. There are loads of computers for visitors to access the internet, and you can also borrow CD-Roms as well as music CDs and DVDs. I think this is one of the best libraries in Birmingham. They have activities which are well publicised in the library and also in the local press, ones I have bought my children to recently were story times and a teddy bears picnic. My mum also came to a talk by a local author recently and she said it was superb.

Good local Libary. Helpful staff. Staff are knowledge-able about most book releases/or topics.read more

Often you search the Library catalogue to find that the book your after is neither held by your…read morelocal library or even in the central library and you are faced with the challenge of travelling further a field to find that source of reference or rare novel. With Acocks Green Library I was happy to find that although the Library building was from the grey era of Birminghams Architectural history there had been great efforts made to add some colour and decoration with some commissioned art and the work chosen was bright and enhanced both the exterior and interior of the building. Approaching the front desk the Library is split into two, with the childrens section on the left and the adult sectoion on the right, computers were located towords the front and there was a quiet hum of activity which was pleasant without being distracting. Acocks Green Library doesn't have the scope of the Central Library or the charm of some of Birminghams more antiquated public buildings but does take pride in it's appearance both inside and out and is a plea sure to partake in.

I love their selection of CDs! They have a wide variety of music and classics from metal such as…read morethe band Black Sabbath to movie soundtracks. I was a bit gutted to find there was a small price of a pound to pay and you can only hire them for about two weeks, but that's a bargin. They don't have a large study area and it was as if they put desks in between the book shelves as a substitute, but they had enough room for the children's section. In fact about a third of the library was taken up by the children's section, which I think is unfair. On the other hand I can't complain about their selection of books as they cover all the basic academic subjects and have a good selection of fictional books. They also provide old computers; you know the ones that look like they belong in the seventies? I guess these are useful though otherwise they wouldn't be there. So you could say Hall Green Library has everything you'd expect in a library.

The Codsall Library is really good for children visiting, especially in the school holidays and…read morehalf terms as there are always activities happening to entertain them but in a nice and educational manner. There is plenty to keep the children occupied in the codsall library, as well as a designated children's area, there is places for them to read quietly with their parents. The adult book section is really good and they have a really expansive range of books, novels and also graphic novels which is a big advantage. The staff are really great, well educated on the library and the surrounding area of Codsall so they can always help you with any enquiry.