We took part in a walking tour of Liverpool with a wonderful guide and were lucky to have had an…read moreextended stop here in the Liverpool Central Library. What a gorgeous place with so much history! When you look at the building from the outside, you would never know, like many other sites in Liverpool, it was hit by firebombs during the blitz in 1941. Most of the inside had to be rebuilt with the exception of a couple well-preserved victorian-styled rooms. The damaged areas initially were rebuilt in a very uninviting way: having few windows, it was very dark so it was difficult to read the very books it held! The library had a make-over and re-opened in 2013 with lots of windows in a gorgeous, bright atrium with interesting Harry Potter-like stairways. We toured a special room which held extremely rare books including the The Birds of America by John James Audubon which is on display and features life-sized hand colored prints - one of the most expensive books in the world! We also toured the Picton Reading Room which was supposedly designed so that its unique acoustics can send a whisper echoing around the entire space. If I lived in Liverpool, I would be spending a lot of time at this library!

I've always loved this building ever since I moved to Liverpool in 1999 but since it's renovation…read morefrequenting this place has become even more of a pleasure. It's main central section (which is on four floors), bathed with light from the magnificent domed, glass roof above, is beautifully laid out and draws one in to look closer at the stacks and special displays. But the real delight (in my opinion) is to the right as you walk into the building, namely the Hornby Library, Oak Room (housing the famous and incredibly valuable Audubon's 19th 'Birds of America' illustrated book - well worth a look along with several other precious items in this area) and Picton Reading Room which is without doubt one of the most beautiful spaces in Liverpool. The children's library, housed underneath the Picton Reading Rooms, is also wonderful - a really great place to take your little ones for some cerebral stimulation. The icing on the cake of this stunning building however is the roof terrace on the fourth floor, accessible to everyone. The views are simply breathtaking, particularly on a sunny day. And the added bonus? There's a nice, spacious Costa coffee area to the left on the ground floor and a delightful outdoor terrace looking out over William Brown Street and St John's Garden's where you can read your chosen book and sip a very pleasant latte or cup of tea in the sunshine. Liverpool at its best? Without doubt.

Allerton Library is at the end of all the shops on Allerton Road. A busy little library that you…read morecan walk around in about 1 minute. Small it might be but 100% better than Childwall Library which has definitely seen better days. Allerton Library is modern (it isn't dated on the inside) and well equipped with a computer suite, tables to sit and work or discuss the challenges of the day at and as you would guess many many books. The library is very accessible with a long ramp up to the entrance. There is no waiting about to take your books out, as if you are registered, you can take them out via the self service machine. The opening hours are pretty good Monday to Wednesday, but go a bit down the pan on the remaining days. Longer opening hours on these days would be good, or maybe that is just me - I guess it cannot hope to be a 24hr tesco's.

I may have mentioned this before, but bookshops and libraries make me need the loo if I'm in there…read moretoo long. Something about the bookshelves just makes me wanna go.... Anyway, this is not aided, in the case of Allerton library, by the smallness of it and hence the additional feeling of claustrophobia. From the exterior the building looks shabby and practically abandoned. Inside, it's a little gloomy. Chances are, they've refurbished it since I last went in (at least 5 years ago) but there's a good chance they haven't. Having been somewhere I went to almost on a weekly basis as a kid, I can't imagine it being that inviting in its current state. Still, like I say, it might been brought up to date. Some of the books definitely needed replacing and a few extra staff wouldn't have been a problem. Despite all this, it's a nice enough place for small family outings, and less formidable than the huge main library in town.

I spent the majority of my degree inside these walls, (or so I'd have my tutors believe) and…read morealthough I loathed it, I did grow to feel affectionately towards it. So, the facts... It's been recently refurbished and had a good £20 million spent on it! There are seats for 600 readers and approx. 420 computers (not that you'd think it around exam time...good luck getting a PC unless you're early, that's all I'm saying!) They have loads of bookable private study rooms so that you won't be disturbed and a cafe downstairs to refuel and re-energise with a coffee. The staff are really friendly and exceptionally helpful. The special collections are amazing, have to use gloves to see the first editions and the have some real gems hidden away down there. The stacks down in the basement are rather scary I'm always scared that someone has followed me down and is going to wheel the shelves back together when I'm inside...luckily I'm still here! It's a great environment to study and they also have couches out in the more social and non-silent areas so that you can have group discussions or just a well-earned gossip with a mate! There must be more books than anyone can read in a lifetime in here, but so many great critical works. Get in on the best library for the Arts Ever.* *Possible exaggeration, but I love it! (Yes, I'm a bit of a geek.)

Having spent much of my degree time using the Harold Cohen Library, it was only in the last year or…read moreso, I began to use more of the Sydney Jones Library. Firstly, this was because the Sydney Jones wasn't suited for my subject course and secondly it was located further away from my department. Nevertheless, I preferred the Sydney Jones to the Harold Cohen as it was more spacious and more recently renovated and expanded, now even hosting a cafe. I liked their new computer suites in particular since there wasn't that crammed feel about it compared to the Harold Cohen. Plus, there are comfy sofas available to sit back and relax during a stressful day, usually with a friend or two. I miss it now! Full marks for Sydney Jones; the expansion of the library is really impressive.

What a beautiful old building; up the steps and inside it's a little musty and only a small room,…read morebut nevertheless it's dedicated to books of all genres. I noted the main sections were seemingly quite fitting to village life, from hobbies, to cookery and gardening. Anyone a fan of Delia? She features here plenty. They also had a great little history section and the fiction wound it's way around the outside of the room- lots of choice here but if you're a frequent visitor and a fast reader you may need to travel further afield to find something new!

Helpful staff and good selection of books! old building with lots of history and great information…read moreof the history of woolton

I lived on Stratford Road a fifteen minute walk from Garston Library. In 1963 I was 13 and was able…read moreto move from the junior to the senior library. The first book I borrowed there was Nancy Wake by Russell Braddon. It had no dust jacket, just a black cover with the title and author on the spine. Later when I was 15 I borrowed Three Lives for Mississippi by William Bradford Hughie. Reading this book changed my life in so many ways. I have a lot to be thankful to that library for.

wonderful helpful service from the lovely Nick today. I…read moreneeded a lot of help with logging on the computer and accessing the printer. Nothing was to much for him. I went back to him time and again to ask questions and he was very generous with his help and time always happy and cheerful. Thank you so much Nick you are an asset to Garston library .

I used to live opposite this library, and although I've only been in it once, my flatmate was in…read morehere all the time and loves it. Though small, it has a good selection of sections (try saying that when you're drunk!) and, I'm told, a fantastically well-stocked graphic novel section. I've also been reliably told that out of every book picked up in the 'Suggested Reading' section, my flatmate has never read a bad one and thinks it's faultless. I just like the fact that you have a suggested reading part to a library, as if you walk into a massive room filled with books and not know what you want to read so much so that you need to go to a specific part of the library to look at suggestions. Surely that's as daft as the 'suggested serving' pictures on the front of food packaging?

Childwall Library is pretty ok and I think the staff are doing a good job. It is a little tired to…read moresay the least, but cute in a funny sort of way. If you compare it to Allerton Library not too far down the road, it makes it look even worse. However, despite what it looks like, it serves the community well and does have a purpose, with a computer suite and a good selection of books. A small plea to Liverpool Council to hurry up with the modernisation of the building... There is a good bit of parking so you don't need to worry about fighting off neighbours to find a place to park.

From the exterior, Old Swan Library certainly doesn't look like a library with it's Victorian black…read moreand white features. It was only when I noticed its sign that I realised. Well, this library is definitely one of the smallest I've ever visited but has quite a modern look about it, featuring free Internet access as well as an adequate variety of books to suit all ages. This library is well laid out, there are bright lights, several tables and a couple of helpful staff at the reception. There's not much more to it than that I suppose, although one thing which struck my attention was the amount of north west tourist leaflets on the front desk. At one point, it felt like I was in a tourist information centre! Old Swan Library is a pleasant place for a relaxing read or study but because of its size, it doesn't offer a huge range of resources but I guess it doesn't necessarily have to if you're not looking for anything in specific.

As a local teacher in Old Swan, I cannot praise Old Swan library highly enough for all of the work…read morethat they do with our local school children. I recently took my class of Year 3s to the library where we were given a wonderful session on research and each child was presented with a library ticket. Reading is such a wonderful gift to be given in life and my pupils were enthused and delighted with their library tickets and by meeting the friendly and helpful librarians. A substantial number of children have returned to the library to complete research for a recent topic. This is a wonderful library with first class staff who are a real asset to our local community. Well done Old Swan library!

How lucky am I to have this as my local library?! It really is completely charming. Yes, ok, maybe…read morethe selection available isn't as amazing as bigger libraries but for a small, community library I think it's pretty damn good actually. The layout of the interior of this gorgeous faux Tudor building is simple and tidy and because of it's relatively small size, browsing the whole collection isn't overwhelming. The last time I went in to find a book for the latest gathering of the book club I'm a member of there was a lovely display of literary classics (by coincidence that was our book club theme that month). Although I wasn't able to take out either of the books I had planned to because they were already out (hardly surprising with them being classics!) I was able to take out two other great books that fitted the bill. Add to this that the friendly and incredibly helpful woman behind the desk told me about the great Book Club borrowing facility they have there - 20 copies of dozens of great titles for book clubs that want to sign up. I think we will! This place is such a little gem and with it being so close to Lark Lane and Sefton Park it's a gorgeous little stop off on a nice day after a leisurely stroll...or even better, pop in, pick up a book then ensconce yourself either in one of the lovely bars on Lark Lane or on a blanket in the park and get reading!

I was at the library yesterday, it was my first time being there. The ambience and warmth of the…read morestaff was breath taking. Really loved the arrangement of the children's section. Thumbs up guys!!! Steve .O

Walton Library is not the biggest of libraries but still hosts a wide range of books to suit all…read morebackgrounds including children's books too. It has free access to computers with internet access where you can spend limited time on PC's before you must log in once again. The library itself has had a new facelift and the ergonomics of the layout are much better than many years ago. The building can easily be accessed for wheelchairs as there is an outdoor ramp and car parking is available on the side street for public use. Overall, this is a decent and peaceful library as you can hardly hear any outdoor traffic because of its soundproof windows. Make sure you make the most out its resources.

I used to live practically around the corner from Walton Library, so even though it's not the best…read morelibrary around, I did visit it frequently for the sake of convenience. They do have a fairly sizeable children's section, a usually quiet reading area, computers for Internet use, and an interesting section of local history books. They also tend to regularly have a trolley of books for sale, which was another main attraction for me. I managed to get a Jeeves and Wooster omnibus for 50 pence, as I recall, as well as several other great finds. The books are on a self-check-out system, the first I'd ever seen, though I'm sure this is becoming more common. Usually the system works, but on occasion it causes problems and you'll need to go to the desk. All of the libraries in the Liverpool system are connected, so if you can't find what you want at one, you can have books ordered in on loan from other libraries around the city. Also, if you live in Liverpool, library cards are free for any library in the city.