Chermside Library

This library is quite the surprise. I think rating a public library on its book collection is slightly unfair, as you can order in books across the whole Brisbane library network, but what you can’t order in is facilities and Chermside has them in spades.
There’s heaps of space and programs dedicated to parents and kids, and there’s also plenty of space for adults and adult education too. As Rhiannon says there’s even a couple of Xbox’s (although I assume you’d have to wait for hours and possibly push aside a child to get one).
Well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Having had to move to Brisbane
during those formative and painfully awkward teenage years,
I remember too well how much of a refuge this place had been for me.
Away from the oppressive 30+ degree summer days
and the reluctance to stay at home.
I came here to use the internet, hang out with my brother
and to devour mostly everything on the shelves.
What my brother loves most about this place is that
he could rent out the xBox and play in the game centre for hours.
(Which completely defeats the purpose of GOING to a library but whatevz.)
Like Matilda I would rapturously borrow books (Always reaching the 25 limit)
and spend many rainy afternoons perusing the stacks.
The sense of community in this library is great,
They regularly hold meetings for organisations as diverse
as the camera club to programmes for parents and kids.
Right next to the chermside pools
and a hop skip and a jump from Westfield shoppingtown,
Chermside library makes for a great place to visit.

This is a great community library that has a lot of events focussed for children and parents. They have regular weekly events including Children’s storytime, Toddler time and Crafty Kids.
The library also has a training area for adults, where they hold training sessions for Introduction to Computers, eBay: an introduction, Discover Email, Digital Photo Editing and more.
There are a number of meeting rooms which can be booked out for any type of meeting. There is a weekly meet up for people who want to play Boardgames on Friday nights, called Critical Mass, and I’ve seen a number of knitting and crotchet clubs meet up there.
These days libraries are more than just shelves of books. The Chermside library has about 20 or so computers that patrons can use at their leisure. The kid’s section is really interactive, with a space theme and educational games to play. There are also two XBOX 360’s available for anyone to play, as well as The Coffee Hub where you can sit back with a book or newspaper and have a coffee and cake.