Dick Institute

Impossible to add much else as it’s all been said by others before me! I just want to add my 5 stars because this is such a great place to visit again and again. There’s so much so see and of course, the exhibitions are superb. The building is beautiful too and set in attractive grounds, only a short walk from the town centre. The staff are always helpful and knowledgeable.

The Dick Institute is a pretty good library, with a childrens section, a young adults section, reference section, general fiction section and sections for different genres (crime, romance, science fiction and fantasy etc). It has a decent audio visual lending department as well (I used to use it a lot when I was a teenager). It also has several computers for library members to use. The main thing that sets it apart from just being a normal library is the fact that it has gallery space with regularly changing exhibitions at the back of the ground floor and a large museum upstairs. There is a good permanent natural history collection (with a massive whale jaw bone like an archway over one of the doors) and the museum has also played host to some really good travelling exhibitions.

The dick institute is a beautiful building just outside the main shopping centre of Kilmarnock. The main downside is the lack of parking but it is only a 5 minute walk from the town centre where there is ample parking available
There is a huge lending library section and also a separate childrens and teen library on the bottom floor of the building. Often there are activities arranged for children such as story time and teddy bears’ picnics. I particularly enjoyed the Miffy exhibition housed at the Dick institute last year. Currently there is a Walllace and Gromit exhibition on in the upstairs rooms of the Institute, which is well worth a visit
The staff are extremely helpful and friendly

Good base for lots of different things, library, dvd rentals, learning, museum, worth a visit.

The dick institute is huge. Everything happens there. Being a visitor to it, I was stunned with how amazing it is. Perfectly situated, although there is no real parking, which is not so good. But the whole building is magical.
There is a huge selection of books/​refrences, daily newspapers, and audiobooks. You can also access the internet from here which is a bonus, and there is telephones which you can use also.
I love going to the Dick when I visit Kilmarnock, and i’m always impressed by the attitude of the staff members there. They make the library a fun and interesting place to be. They are loaded with knowledge and advice, and are always willing to help weather it be to order in books, or help find anything needed they will do it for you, nothing is too much for the.
Like I mentioned it is not just a library there are galleries, and exhibitions which take place here too.
Anyone who is anyone should at one point visit the Dick Institute, they would most definately not be disappointed.

Well situated. Could do with better parking. It has everything you would expect from a library from books for reading/​reference. It also has a dept for borrowing dvd’s and cd’s and it also has internet facilities. Which have came in very handy in the past. The layout of the library is very good. And the membership is free. What more can you ask for. The prices of loaning books is also quite good. And the internet access is also free. And for tourists or people who do not have internet access at home. It can prove very handy. When you need to find certain information. The people inside the library are also very helpful. And are willing to assist you as much as they possibly can. There is also occasionally museum type displays on. Which can be quite interesting if you are into that sort of thing. If you enjoy reading books then why not join this library as you will not be disapointed at the services they offer.

This Library/​Museum has great reference facilities. They also have exhibitions of varoius types, ranging form chinese art, to dinosaurs. Great place to take the kids without them realising its all about learning.

The Dick Institute holds a special place in my childhood memories due to my Great Uncle Having been the caretaker/​janitor there for a number of years. The Dick as it is known locally is a magic place to visit for young and old alike. It has a massive library and museum. One of the highlights for me was the lions head enclosed in a glass cube it is huge!!! There is also a fantastic butterfly and moth collection which is incredible to see with all the vivid colours of the wings etc. The Dick Institute is definetely worth a visit if you ever get the chance.

The dick is a library and museum. Beautiful old building located just outside the centre of town. Wide range of different galleries on show and a fantastically stocked library. the biggest in kilmarnoc and probably east ayrshire