Weoley Castle Square (or simply 'the square' if you live near here) is according to reliable…read moresources the worlds biggest traffic island. Yep, you read that right the worlds BIGGEST traffic island - isn't that amazing? So it isn't really a square - it's more of an oblong and it sits in the middle of a load of shops, the library and a couple of social clubs and churches. It also near to the Weoley Castle estate - which consists of nearly 3,000 homes some of which are looked after by Bournville Village Trust. Interesting fact - in 1935 the 10,000th council house in Birmingham was officially opened in Hopstone Road by the then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. This made Birmingham the first local authority in Britain to build 10,000 council properties - isn't that also pretty amazing? Weoley Castle has a bit of a dodgy reputation which I think is unfair. There are some surprisingly green places on the estate and whilst the shops here aren't ever going to sell artisan cheeses or 100s of varieties of avocado but they're cheap and mostly run by friendly staff and they sell useful things.

Hmmmm, the Castle Square... how can I put it... politely!…read more I grew up in Weoley Castle and the Square was smack bang in the middle of my walk to school so I had to pass through there every day, and I still sometimes go over there to visit old friends. It is a GIANT traffic island surrounded by shops, the shops are all cheap places ranging from car parts to grocery stores. It's not the prettiest of places but it's a good one-stop place if you live locally. Now, Weoley Castle has kind of a bad reputation and it is fairly well deserved if slightly exaggerated. It's not exactly the 'don't go out after dark' kind of place but I have had more than my fair share of trouble there. This might be because I was a youngster or because I was out there every day and night, but it's definitely not the place I would take a visitor to or that I would choose to go to if I wasn't visiting people I know. I have a soft spot for the Square purely out of nostalgia but it's not the sort of place I would recommend to anyone who wasn't a local.

Libraries are one of my favourite places and I pop into this little one any time I find myself in…read moreHarborne. It's at one end if the High Street but happily close to Waitrose so it works well for me. Because I'm used to the central library being my local, it feels I've stepped back in time to the sort of library I had at school when I step into Harborne. However, it does have everything you need as apart from fiction it has decent sections of most non-fiction genres and a few large print books too, CDs and newspapers. Sometimes I find a shelf of old books for sale and there is an array of information about the local area and great staff that help you out. Delightfully, you do have to still speak to staff as unlike central library, they haven't got the automated desks! The downside is they close at 5pm (except late night on Thursdays) but at least there is a library.

I can't get to this library as often as I used to go there before but when I did go there a few…read moretimes, I was a fan of the library. It's especially great for spending a couple of hours having a snoop through all the good reads and locking yourself into a great read. I'd advise you to leave a few hours spare to get the best experience as possible. It's got a brilliant children's library in there, so for those with children living in the Harborne area or close to the library then it's somewhere you should visit. There's all the useful equipment to help your children with homework and there are computer services for you to use. Like most libraries it does what it's meant to do. The librarians are friendly, they have some fantastic books and they offer events/workshops/activities within the community that are exciting and enjoyable for the whole family.

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*

Great Library! Large, spacious, very modern, easy to…read morenavigate, warm in the winter, selection of food and drinks in the cafe, interesting to wander around, easy to locate and great outside facade. It's a wonder that this place isn't more busy than it is!?

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

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.

As a proud lady librarian (or should that be librarian lady?) I have been to a lot of libraries -…read moreokay, so Quinton isn't quite up there with the splendour of New York Public Library - and yes, I am showing off here - but it's a lovely place never the less. Housed in a fairly bleak 60s building, the library is actually part of the Quinborne community centre - the centre itself is a pretty decent space and holds a bar and a number of rooms you can rent out. There's also a selection of events and dos held there - everything from bridge clubs to social get togethers for the elderly. The library itself includes collections for adults, children and teenagers (I was always very excited by the latter - especially as I started reading them before I was actually a teenager. Fifty Shades of Grey has nothing on some of those Judy Blume books!!) as well as large print and talking books. They also have a very decent music library. The staff are brilliant - there's a real sense of community spirit and somehow the place has a cosy air that makes you want to stay.

today my laptop has been crashed and as I need to research a couple of topics I was forced to go…read moreto the nearest library near my home which name is quinton library ,there was really friendly and helpful receptionist but it was look like a social area than library as every body speaks loudly,kids playing around ,and young people playing and chatting with lots of noise while they chatting together or ... So that I recomended you if you are going to use this library pls take ur headphone with your self to avoid this noisy place couse you are able to get more concentration in busy road than there :))))))

Very good if u want to go in and print something off…read more They have a 15 min use computer. 50p for A4 colour 20p for A4 black and white

This is what a real library should feel like, it's barely changed since I last visited as a kid…read moresome 20 years ago as a child - even the leaflets rack is in the same place and looks suspiciously like the same one! I love the large entrance as you walk in because it makes visiting the library feel like a proper special occasion, the check in/out counter is in keeping with the decor of the building and so is everything in the place. This has a lovely peaceful air inside, the acoustics of the building means it has a very hushed quality which takes me back to the days of the librarian who really would tell you to 'shhhhhhh!'. The selection of books is excellent, this library is bigger inside than it looks from the road and is literally crammed with bookshelves and racks. If I'm looking for a particular book I can usually find it, or if it's not available then reserving a copy is an easy process and they rarely take long to become available. I like the childrens area because it's fairly enclosed so I can safely leave my older girls' in there while I browse the adults books. Sometimes I'll let them watch the baby in there and show her some books, but she's a mummys girl and soon gets rid of the hushed atmosphere I was telling you about earlier when she notices I'm gone! The non fiction section is fantastic and I often find something to pique my interest; everything from books about American literature, a biography of Charles Darwin, introductions to knitting and cookery books are available. I find it a fascinating area of the library and if I happen to be in there without the kids then I'll pick something interesting and sit down to have a read - if it interests me then I'll book it out, if not it's five minutes wasted in a lovely environment.

Kings Norton Library is only a little library but facilitates a lot. They have a cute little…read morechildren's area with a wide variety of books for children to read, enjoy and learn from. The seating area within the children's space is fun, colourful and enticing for any child. The seats are really comfortable too! They also supply various computers for your use, a large mature reading section and a great supply of novels and informative reads for teenagers too. When Kings Norton Library was my local amenity, I would go here all the time to enjoy the peace and quiet they have to offer whist getting lost in a good novel. Come to think of it, I really miss going to Kings Norton Library and I will most likely go out of my way to venture there again soon.

Sandwell Central Library is the biggest Libraries in the borough and boasts the largest and most…read morevaried range of stock in the local borough. It is a massive Library to say the least but there is definitely something for everyone at Sandwell Central Library. I have only been here on a small number of occasions and there were times where I did get lost in the Library. However I have enjoyed being here and it is a place where you certainly can get peace and quiet. The Learning Centre at the Library offers free public access to the internet via a large number of computers, study guides and careers information. So if you do need advice about getting on the job ladder, there will be staff at the Library who will be happy to help you out. The latest bestsellers, blockbusters and classic films on DVD, a variety of newspapers and magazines, local and family history books as well as books on CD are some of the items you will find. Sandwell Central Library is worth a visit and there are books for all ages and tastes.

this is a big libary with plenty of choice and internet connetions as wellread more

Every town has a library and Solihull Central Library is the flagship for the borough. Over the…read moreyears the library has expanded in a variety of ways; they even have a theatre! They have information on events (mostly local), council services, education and work, business information and various local and family history. Unlike many other libraries that are local to Solihull, here they have a large amount of computers and a host of books on different subjects. There is pretty much a book for any subject and if there isn't then it's pretty easy to find out where to get the information you want. You can also rent DVDs and CDs. Librarians can be a bit boring and come across negatively and here some of them are no different. However, some of them are very friendly. They are all very helpful though and knowledgeable on everything within the building. I've been to the library theatre a few times and have really enjoyed the shows put on here. Before a show, or in general, I like to go to their cafe where they have some hot and cold snacks. The food can be eaten in or taken away. As the library is in a courtyard you can also enjoy the lovely water feature outside. This is definitely one of the best libraries I've been to in Birmingham.

Solihull Library is modern, spacious, bright, light and a provides a lovely space to read or ponder…read morein. With most of the usual library trappings (you know books, CDs, DVDs, internet) and some extras thrown in. Their local and family history department deserves special merit. They have an excellent children's library. Upstairs is also a public gallery with collections changing on a regular basis. Sadly, Solihull Library isn't what it used to be. They still have a fairly good stock of books and some CDs but the music library isn't what it used to be. There are plenty of DVDs but often they are just the modern rom-coms and nothing much else of note. Finding a member of staff to help you might be your biggest problem. If you are happy to stumble along without any assistance and use a self serve machine to issue and return your own books then this is probably the library for you.