Partick Library

Partick Library is the only West End library I’ve happened to be in. I always mean to go inside Hillhead but I’m always running errands and never seem to catch a break. Dumbarton is boring in this area so it’s always easy to find the time to pop in here. The selection is small but it’s adequate. The building is very inviting and I can’t help myself to be lured in and check out some books. The children’s area is quite nice and love how open it is. The natural light is really great as well. One of the clerks was a bit gruff with me but the other one was nice and helpful. I guess they balance each other out?

You really can’t miss this place as yo walk along Dumbarton road, unless of course your sauntering along with a burlap sack over your head, in which case it’s more likely you’ve been kidnapped and the fact that you didn’t see Partick library as you were hustled along by your captors is the least of your worries… Jesus guys, let’s get our priorities right, eh?
Soooooooooooooooooo, big ol library housed in a rather splendid old building offering all the moves and shakes that libraries do these days;
books: check, kids, adults, audio, blah
CD’s/DVDS; that’s a yes
PCs/​wifi; affirmative, a few and plentiful space for us laptop carriers.
So then, in all a nice facility manned by pleasant staff. Awesome.

Partick Library’s building is absolutely gorgeous, and it stands out from the rest of the uniform tenements along this stretch of Dumbarton Road.
Inside, the library still has the décor of long forgotten days (the early nineties), but I quite like the fact it looks caught in a time warp!
It doesn’t have as much choice as neighbouring Hillhead, but it does offer a huge children’s book section (complete with the cute wee chairs and tables for them!), and a good new releases section for adults.
They have a score of computers placed in the room opposite, all with internet access if you have your library card. As is the case in all Glasgow libraries you can book a session online, or just turn up on the day and hope for the best. They’re a great resource as you won’t always have access to the net and it’s free if you sign up for a card!
I also appreciate the fact they isolate their PC’s from the rest of the library as it can become mildly irritating hearing the tap-​tap-​tap a chorus of typing brings when you’re trying to get through a book.
Still a slightly old fashioned library but with enough commodities to keep you going. Tip about the internet though — if you’re stopping by to use it, don’t come during mid-​afternoon as it is usually quite busy and you may be waiting a while. If you’re really desperate to go online, go up to Hillhead or to Jasmin’s coffee shop a few blocks down — they are about the only café I can think of now that still have PC’s!

Housed in one of Partick’s most opulent buildings, this library is an extremely handy resource for locals and increasingly for students who wish to study outwith the university.
The selection of books is fairly comprehensive and staff work hard to keep things in order. What’s more, from experience, there is a distinct lack of the nippy sweeties prevelent in other council libraries working here; counter staff always seem happy to help and don’t read the riot act if you happen to bring a book back a day late.
For local mothers, the children’s room is a god’s send.

Only just got my Glasgow library card, which has served me well so far.
This place is decent, with a good selection of the books in a fairly large building that has free wifi as with all Glasgow libraries.
There are alot of audiobooks and childrens books as well.
While it pales in comparison to the likes of The Mitchell Library (everywhere does, by comparison) it’s a good wee library that is worth a visit and might turn up a surprise or two.

Partick Library has a great selection of books. If you are looking for something they don’t have, they will order it in. The librarians often put up themed displays such as «Booker Prize Nominations» or «Cult Classics.»
There used to be a really good selection of magazines but this has been curtailed lately. Probably because they were hard to keep in decent condition and got ratty after a few loans.
The children’s room is always busy, sometimes with local community groups. There is a large selection of books for youngsters to read which I like to see. It was in my local library where my love of reading was fostered.

The Partick Library has the good facilities you would expect of a local library, with a good selection of books of different genres; crime, history, art etc. There seems to be a particularly large section of romantic, even erotic novels though (!).
There is a very big separate area of childrens’ books. There is also a good selection of CDs and DVDs that can be rented out. I must point out too that the library caters very well for the disabled, with plenty audio books and films, plus lots of books in larger print.
Unfortunately, even though there is big notices inside and outside the library bragging about a WiFi internet connection, the WiFi in here is very troublesome. When you do finally find the right network, it requires a time-​consuming registration and logging-​on process, by which time you’ll be lucky if your laptop’s battery hasn’t run out. Furthermore, the reception is pretty poor most of the time, so the WiFi is a complete waste of time all in all.
The small amount of library computers require you to book to use one in advance instead of just turning up and logging on and I believe it is not possible to use one for more than an hour either.
A decent library that is let down by its poor computer service.

Partick Library is housed in a very pretty old building on Dumbarton Road.
It’s a good size for a local library — and boasts three large rooms inside. This includes the general library, the children’s library, and a large computer/​study area. It also has free wifi available for use by all visitors to the library. The girl behind the counter was really nice — and she got me sorted out with a Glasgow library card in less than five minutes.
If you want to use a computer for an hour or less, you can just head in and pick up a computer (provided you have your library card) otherwise, you can book one for a larger period of time — at no extra cost.
The children’s section is bright and airy, and seemed full with happy looking children. I must admit that I didn’t look too carefully at this bit — at 21, I think I’ve outgrown it a little.
The adults section is well stocked (again, for a small local library) and included DVD and CD sections. Obviously, all books are free to borrow but there is a cost of 80p per week for a CD and a couple of pounds for a DVD. Cheaper than Blockbuster, yes, but I’m not sure that you’d actually want to watch many of those on offer!
It seems like a nice little library with a good selection of books available for borrowing. However, if I was looking for somewhere to do some work, or even somewhere to get lost for an afternoon, I probably wouldn’t choose here. There are a few comfy chairs, yes, but no cosy corners to hid away in, and not really anywhere peaceful to work in.
If you’re after something a bit more, with a bigger selection of books, CDs and DVDs — then I’d suggest you visit Hillhead Library instead, which is on Byres Road and a lot bigger.

This is a great library with a large childrens area and a great selection of books and music.
The fiction section is large and books are updated regularly.
The staff are very helpful and friendly and the opening hours are good — they are open on Saturdays if you don’t have time to pop in during the week.
They have computers to surf the net and buy in the day’s newspapers for people to read as they relax in the library’s comfy chairs!

A decent sized library with a good selection of books and a large children’s area. it is a good bounce and rhymme club for parents and children.