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.

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.

This is the daddy of all the libraries in the Vale of Glamorgan, it's only a few years old (built…read morein 2007) but already blasts the opposition into oblivion. It's modern, fresh and inviting with a massive range of reference materials and fiction titles. A little birdy tells me that the local school had an influence on the design of the 'youth' areas so that explains the sofas, television and music station then. Barry library is a stand out for me because of the sheer volume and diversity of materials on offer, for example, I don't think Penarth would have a section for graphic novels. It also has been modernized to the point where there are self service stations to allow you to check in/out books at your convenience. There are several wifi hotspots so you can work on site or in the adjacent courtyard if registered for the service, if you don't have a laptop however there are a number of computers in the IT section which are available for use. This library has to be my favourite. I absolutely LOVE it.

This library has excellent facilities. It has recently re-opened after undergoing extensive…read morerefurbishment. The staff are all freshly trained and enthusiastic. The stock of books is extensive and there is also a good choice of cds and dvds. Best of all, there are now at least 50 computers with free internet access for library members. These faciities are especially important in a low income area like Barry. The library is very central being located in the main square of the town. This year, Barry has been designated a Reading Town. The library staff are being very proactive and lots of communty events to celebrate reading have been organised.

I have been a member of Newport library for a number of years and highly recommend people…read morejoining,not only is it free to join but you can rent out the usual books as well as DVDs and Cd's.They have several computers upstairs and you can use these for free,you sometimes have to wait but you can pre book in advance then stay online for up to two hours. The library staff are very nice and will kindly help with anything you need,including finding books,joining,late fees etc. There are some really comfortable sofas in the library which you can sit down and relax whilst reading the newspaper or a good book. In today's hard times joining a library is a good way to save money and Newport is one of the best.

This is quite a large modern-looking library situated above the Podium shopping centre in Bath…read more The library is in an attractive Bath Stone Building with large plate glass windows. The library also hosts events, for example local authors visiting to talk about their latest novels.

I've been disappointed with the choice of books here on a number of occasions. The study area is…read moregood but it's used by so many loud students that it makes it difficult to work here. The staff deal with it, but the students keep up their behaviour. It's frustrating. Lots of space and not many books. I hope they get lots of funding! I really like the staff here. :D I love the online renewal system.

When I was a child I was a little bit of a Matilda, in that I used to go to this library very…read moreregularly, and spend hours scouring the shelves for new books to devour. Situated in a classic old stone building, this library conforms to all those lovely ideals of what a library should be. There is a very wide selection of books, CDs and DVDs at this government branch library. They have an especially good children's section (from what I can remember!), and there are regular storytelling sessions for children. A couple of years ago, Canton Library suffered severely from fire-damage. Since then, the interior has been redecorated well, and new books have been brought in. So out of tragedy, comes a nice selection of slightly crisper books than there might have been otherwise. This is a beautiful old library to go and while away an afternoon in.

Canton Library is well-located in the heart of the busy shopping area along Cowbridge Road East,…read morenear the police station and not far from Chapter Arts Centre. Housed in a solid old building, the selection of books, CDs and DVDs isn't bad for a local library - but with Cardiff's central library only about a mile away I'd rather walk there and get tonnes more choice. It is pretty popular with local mums and their children during the daytime, however, because it's easy for them to walk to - and there's a story time and craft session every Tuesday afternoon. There's also an adult reading club that meets monthly, with set books to read and then discuss. There's no really convenient parking outside the library, but it's within a short walk of about four different car parks including the free one behind Chapter.

Bristol's biggest library, though that doesn't mean its huge, has all you would expect. They've got…read morebanks of computers (that get filled up with students from City of Bristol college), obscure local archives, and a comprehensive fiction section. Unexpected bonuses include a wonderful room for working in upstairs, with rows of wooden desks. Silence reigns in this part of the library, and if you need somewhere quiet to get some reading done in the middle of the city, you can go here without having to buy a cup of coffee. They also have a good sheet music section, and a range of CDs and DVDs on offer - no need to go and pay at Blockbusters. A say 'in this part of the library' because its not necessarily the quietest of places. Keen on enticing the entire community, the kids section usually has a toddler screaming. I don't say this critically, libraries are better places when they're a bit lively, but bear this in mind when visiting. There's plenty to choose from here, and they have a catalogue that links up to the rest of the area, so they can order stuff in for you. If you visit for the first time remember to take along a utility bill so they can let you borrow. Bristol Central Library offers everything you'd expect and a few things you wouldn't in a friendly, convivial setting.

The central library is located next to the cathedral on college green and has an extensive…read morecollection of information in a variety of sources. The downstairs houses most of the non fiction material, and also has a small cafe/eating area, where you are also allowed to eat your own food. Upstairs is the reference section and main computer hub. Make sure you book an computer from the host one or you won't be able to log in. The library is pretty large, but just accommodates the amount of people it is required to, and can get pretty busy during the day - I too have been one of those printing out CVs and clogging up the photocopier. The staff here are really friendly and accommodating - they'll help you find exactly what you need to. Don't be afraid to ask!

This library us great. they have baby group every month and the kids love it…read more they have a great selection of books and computers tou use too.

If you are a writer or book lover in Wales chances are you'll have come across Academi, the Welsh…read moreNational Literature Promotion Agency and Society for Authors. As a writer I find Academi and invaluable resource and support network. Academi has a face. This face is Peter Finch. A known name on the Cardiff performance scene and, for those who wish to know lots and lots about Cardiff, he is the writer of Real Cardiff 1,2 and 3. Three books about Cardiff. Feed your thirst for knowledge, get them all. Academi run all manner of events, courses, competitions, including the Cardiff International Poetry Competition, with the support of Cardiff Council and offering a First Prize of £5000, conferences, tours by authors, lectures, international exchanges, events for schools, readings, literary performances and festivals. They are also responsible for the National Poet of Wales project and the Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. They do all of the above thanks to dosh etc. from the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government. They also give out bursaries each year to allow writers time to write their next masterpiece, and they help the thriving literary scene within Cardiff and beyond by helping us raise the cash needed to run all out literary events and pay poets and things like that. They still haven't given me a first prize or a bursary, mind. But I'm young, I'm sure they'll be kind eventually :P