Central Library

Bristol Central Library is a wonderful, wonderful place!
It’s housed in a beautiful building which is very encouraging. And it is full of great books, films and reference works. And the internet service is free to registered locals — and oversubscribed! These sessions are bookable in advance.

Situated by College Green, the central library is situated in an excellent location in a lovely Grade I listed building. It has a decent selection of fiction, craft and art books. There’s also a great range of World DVDs as well as other DVDs which are available to rent (which is chargeable). There are lots of spots where you can sit and read. When I was last in here some kids started running around and made some noise and were instantly hushed! A pleasure! I think its great that kids can use and enjoy libraries but it is frustrating when you are generally in a library to do some quiet reading, study or use the computers to get work done and some kids are running wild.
A decent library, if you are looking for something specific, you probably are better off finding it here if you don’t fancy waiting for it to be requested by your local library.

This is a public library other cities around the world should be jealous of; it’s a tourist attraction in its own right. It is a beautiful old building next to another beautiful old building (the cathedral). This grand old library isn’t quite as picturesque on the inside but it is useful.
They have a large selection of DVDs for you to rent and a huge selection of books. I am always being sent down here for work and they always have what I am looking for. They also offer a service called Fast Back, where you can rent the latest books for a one week (If you can actually read them that fast).
I use this library most for their internet and printing facilities; perfect for when your printer runs out of ink at home. I have never had to wait for a computer here, unlike some of the smaller libraries.
You can also renew your books online, which is great service.
Sssshhhh

This is an extensive library, housed in one of the most stunning buildings in Bristol. Situated right next to Bristol cathedral, this is like a cathedral of learning. The fiction section is extensive, including everything from classics to the latest bestsellers. The children’s section is also very comprehensive. However, the truly special heart of this library is the reference books. There is a large hall with shelves up all the walls, filled with very old and venerable books, many of which are directly concerned with the history of Bristol through hundreds of years. Because of this, you are likely to encounter many university history students, working on papers or dissertations, but don’t worry — they are as respectful of the library as anyone else, and noise is always kept to a minimum. In the refurbished, modern looking part of the library, there is a pleasant little café where you can get a cup of tea and a slice of cake, but woe betide you if you take food back to the bookshelves! The librarians have eyes like hawks, and won’t hesitate to chastise you in order to protect the precious books.

A wonderfully ornate library situated in the picturesque College Green, between the council offices and the Cathedral. OK, so it’s no New York Library but it’s got elements of that. Antique wooden desks with little lights, dusty old bound reference books and grand corridors with traditional works of art. The library has a good selection of books, which you would expect considering it is the main city library. It also lends music and DVDs and has computers with internet access to use as well as printers and photocopiers. It is a good place to go to find out what is going on in the area as there are notice boards with local events etc. The last time I went in they had an interesting and informative display on knitting and how it has developed over the years. I’m not a great knitting fan but I like to have a gander at well displayed exhibitions. It was like a library cum museum.

This is possibly the most beautiful library I have ever been to! College Green is right outside and Bristol Cathedral is next door — you couldn’t get more historic than this. The library itself was opened at the turn of the 20^th century and it smells soooo good! The ageing smell is made even better by the aroma of old books… mmmmmm old books *cue Homer Simpson style drooling*. Old books aside, the library also holds new books. Even if you just want to pop in to see the magnitude of the building, it is worthwhile.

Over on college green, next to the swanky Cathedral School and the Cathedral itself, the Central library is well situated for both students and the general public, enjoying such a prominent position in the centre. I’ve always been slightly confused as to the architecture of the building — I’ve never quite worked out whether it was purpose built as a library or adapted as one.
Either way, the library is large and well stocked, with an excellent old style study room on the first floor, complete with wooden desk library booths and high reaching book cupboards. On the other side of the same floor there’s a large computer room, with computers that you can access via a log in if you are a member of the library. There’s also a few computer points downstairs as well, so at busy periods you might be able to sneak a quiet space down here instead. On the ground floor is mostly the fiction section, with a few reference sections like art, humanities and music, to name a few. The staff are mostly helpful, if occasionally a little bit gruff in the over-​worked council worker type of way, but this is generally a good library for the centre of town.

The central library is located next to the cathedral on college green and has an extensive collection of information in a variety of sources. The downstairs houses most of the non fiction material, and also has a small café/​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!

Bristol’s biggest library, though that doesn’t mean its huge, has all you would expect. They’ve got banks 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.

A great library in a lovely location. I take the children here regularly and the childrens section is fantastic with great staff. We normally do this in the school holidays as they run some great activities for children up to around 11 years of age. They do things such as puppet shows, mask making and story telling with great children entertainers. These are free or a nominal fee of 50p per child which is brilliant! My son can normally use the computers undisturbed for an hour or so and everyone is happy. We normally combine a trip here with a sandwich on college green if the weather is nice and the children love this. Well worth a visit