Strathfield library at Homebush is a new architecturally designed building with glass windows and…read morehigh ceilings. Strathfield being an old suburb, I didn't expect the library to be modern. Clearly the council has recognised libraries being an important part of culture and have upgraded the place to the latest standards. The collection is quite extensive. They offer books, audiobooks (my favourite to take on long drives) movie dvd's, magazines, newspapers, and so much more. They offer books in other foreign languages too, to cater to the growing asian population in Sydney. Justice of Peace (JP) services are also offered in the library on wednesdays. The library offers various community incentives to use and take home. They provided a Car Accident Checksheet long back and more recently are offering a Home Power usage metre to borrow.

They have clean toilets. Lockers. Free wifi. Comfy couches and sitting nooks with plug areas for…read morelaptops and all your other gadgets. And they have books. Granted, it's a library that doesn't stock Terry Prachett (or maybe there wasn't any on the shelves, let's go with that shall we instead of my poor broken heart!) - and a library without Terry Prachett, to be honest, is no library to me. On the plus side, they have a huge area for children's books and entertainment. On the other side of the library is a place for adults. It's hushed tones and book peace was soul soothing. The way the adult area is set out is that they have the shelves with books in a U shape with the tables in the centre with power points and couches around the outside with small tables. Half of the U is dedicated to Fiction. The other half to Biology, Travel, Self Help, etc. The difference in this library is that they don't have different areas for different genres of books. And to be honest, I was expecting more books than what was on the shelf. Instead they have a fiction area that runs from A-Z and then they have wee stickers on the bottom of the spines of books to let you know if it's fantasy (dragon), romance (love heart), hot romance (love heart with horns), comedy (smiley face), family (family of 4 sticker), crime (Sherlock Holmes style hat and magnifier), horror (horror written in blood dripping writing) and more. And they don't mind you grabbing a book and kicking your shoes off to snuggle up in a couch to read a book you never thought you'd read in your life.

They have a good selection of books, magazines, CDs and DVDs, and they can get books that are not…read morecurrently available at West Ryde from the other Ryde libraries for you if you reserve them online. You can also extend your loans online, provided there are no reservations for the item. There are plenty of desks with power points and LAN outlets to allow you to plug in your laptop and do your work. There is also free wifi available but there is a limit of 500mb and I've found the speed to be slow, slower than my 4g connection on my mobile. There is a section for kids on one side of the library. They also have a volunteer JP service, not too sure of the date though, but this information can be easily found on their website. Patrons here are generally quiet though some talk on their phone.

This central library is very popular within the community. It is located in an excellent position…read moreat the Top Ryde Shopping Centre. There are a huge range of good quality books, in paper form or for the technology whiz through Ebooks . The staff run courses on how to use Ebooks and how to sign onto the services. There are large print books and many Talking Books...which I love during travelling. I drive my friends crazy with putting on the latest Mills and Boons talking book on. There are numerous DVDs for hire and a good selection of CDs. Come here during the day or later in the evening. Avoid this place straight after school as the local school's students come here in droves instead of going home. The library is over run by young students from 3.15pm until about 5pm. There are withdrawal rooms for group meetings or for a study group. This is an excellent library but pick your time to visit. There is also wheelchair / pram access via the lift.

Ryde Library recently opened in Top Ryde Shopping centre. I love being a member of Ryde libraries…read more Each branch has town merits. Eastwood is located just outside the train station, Gladesville is easily accessible from Victoria Road, and Ryde is conveniently located inside the shopping centre. You can borrow books from any of the 5 libraries and return it to another branch easily. Because the council boasts of 5 different libraries, the collection of books is pretty good and the waiting periods for popular books is short. Top Ryde Library is the newest library and it is definitely contemporary in style and design. Clean, open spaces with comfortable couches and lounges to browse through books or magazines, makes this library my favourite. Membership is free and you can borrow unto 25 items for 3 weeks. Although DVD's magazines and Fast Reads can be borrowed for a week only. Their self-service check-out counter makes borrowing items easy and quick. The JP service is available on Mondays 10 am - 12pm and Wednesdays 10am - 12pm.

Gladesville Library is one of the "satellite" libraries of the Ryde Library Service and it is a…read moregreat and convenient library adjacent to the Gladesville Victoria Road commercial strip. Staff are always helpful, borrowing is breeze with an automated machine and there is always a good range of books and research materials as well as computers, magazines and a decent children's section. But best of all are the online services this library network offers. Firstly, you can log from home (or anywhere) and search the catalog and order any book in the collection and have is delivered to one of the satellite libraries for free. You will go in a queue if it's a popular book. Extending the loan can also be done on-line. Secondly, the library offers Zinio (a world-wide service) where you can download the latest editions of popular Australia and and International magazines on to you iPad, computer or e-book reader and it's free! Will never have to buy Australian Gourmet again! Thirdly is the e-book collection that can also be downloaded on iPads, etc using the Overdrive app on your iPad. Although it's one of the smaller of the Ryde libraries it is a true local gem for bookworms!

You come around a corner through suburban streets and suddenly, on top of a little rise, is this…read more1830's home with gardens sweeping down to the creek. You half expect someone in an empire-waisted sprigged muslin number and parasol to come tripping out desperate to spot some soldiers. And, joy of joys, it was open! My Harris Park Heritage Walk experiment was not a complete failure then. The volunteers looked a little startled to see me and after a little confusion over the tickets (you can buy a joint one with Old Government House valid for a month for $13) I was appointed a guide (no self-guided wandering allowed) and off we went. Before I go on, I should mention entry to this National Trust-run site is $7 for adults, $5 for kids and concessions, $19 for a family. My guide had obviously imbibed a good amount of info in his tenure as a volunteer and I was regaled with tales of James Ruse, the ex-convict first 'given' this land (incidentally the first land grant in Australia) as an 'experiment' to see if some scruffy excon from Cornwall could actually grow some food. That he did, and was subsequently bought out by the Surgeon John Harris, who built the house you see today. And if the portraits inside are any indication, was a bit of a smug bastard. There's lots of info on the house and its residents (including renters up to the 1960s) and the period appropriate furnishings. The cellar is particularly creepy, once you negotiate the scarily steep steps, and houses a rubbing of Ruse's tombstone, which he carved himself no less. He was obviously proud of having 'sow'd the first grain' in the colony. Carved his own tombstone - next time you meet someone who thinks they're tough - well! I felt a little bad that I didn't let on to my guide earlier that I'm actually a historian, and the quick version probably would have been fine, but he seemed to be enjoying himself so much, I didn't want to spoil his fun.

From the owner: Australia’s first convict land grant and discover an extraordinary historical precinct in Western…read moreSydney. A starving colony. A journey up the river. One convict’s experiment in self-sufficiency. Standing on the lands of the Burramatta Dharug people, Experiment Farm Cottage is the fascinating site of Australia’s first convict land grant to James Ruse in 1789.