Ealing Central Library

Great library. It’s improved immeasurably since it’s refit, and it has a great stock of books. The graphic novel section in particular is very good with a great selection of alternative titles as well as the usual suspects. The staff are helpful and there’s a nice atmosphere. There’s a fair few PCs too, and members can use the internet for free.

Ealing has an excellent library. It is big and caters for most requirements. Both the fiction and non-​fiction sections are comprehensive and with ample choice.
In addition to books it also has:
A section for books in other languages (I thought this was neat even though I did not speak any of the languages the had books on)
— Large children and young adult section
— Access to video and other media
Sometimes they are short-​staffed and there are long queues, but I have always found the staff friendly, competent and helpful

I don’t use the library very often these days. I used to go in for reference books but a lot of that information is now on the web. The library was refurbished earlier this year so I decided to go in and have a look around. It’s looking very bright and fresh, the extensive book collection is still there, and the CDs and DVDs, but there’s now a café at one end and lots of public computers. I’d forgotten that they have a magazine section that includes some popular titles amongst the obscure trade journals. They used to have old copies of newspapers like The Times on microfiche which I found very useful, I couldn’t see that section but it’s a big library so maybe I’ll find it next time.

Not many people join their local library. I joined the ealing library a couple of weeks ago. Its now in the Town Hall Annex because its usual place is being renovated and won’t be completed till the end of May. Its amazing the amount of books you can get there. I went in for a particular book but couldn’t find it but the librarian was really helpful she helped me look for it. She had quite a lot of people waiting for her help but she never rushed me, she just patiently helped me with my book. I can’t wait for it to be moved back to its usual space. She said there will be more books. The THAnnex is rather small so not all their books are on display. They also have a diary of events that is and will be going on in the library. So if you live locally in Ealing or in the borough go borrow a book or have a look whats going on in there. Not enough people actually make use of the library. You can books for your kids to read or DVD for them as well.