Central Library Reviews Summary

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "Helpful knowledgeable staff, great resources and a brilliant children's library."
• "The staff are polite and helpful but if you don't need to ask any questions, you can lend or return books at the self service machines."
• "Friendly and helpful staff surrounded by a resource and wealth of knowledge."
• "The staff and volunteers are very helpful and knowledgeable, willing to help out and guide you in the right direction."
• "The staff are very accommodating and will assist you."
• "The staff were so helpful and polite. Helped me on computer and talked me through the full process of printing some important documents."
• "The staff are very friendly and helpful."

Cons:

• "The staff on the other hand can be hit and miss lol. Majority of them are friendly and helpful and have a smile, but you get a few that have forgotten there customer care training."
• "The gentleman who works there should be ashamed of himself speaking to young girls the way he did."
• "How rude are the cleaners at the library, telling my son and his friend to move away from the 1st floor computer area whilst they were revising."
• "They are set on avoiding interaction with some visitors at all costs."
• "They have not acknowledged him in any way and been so rude to myself."
• "I don't like the staff. They are stressed and unfriendly."
• "Rude members of staff."

Facilities and Resources

Pros:

• "Lots of books, lots of computers, the modern part looks like the main library in Los Angeles."
• "It is an incredible resource - thousands of book, excellent computer facilities, study space."
• "There are a lot of books on different languages, like Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Arabic, Japanese etc."
• "There’s a great collection of books covering interesting topics in detail, even shelves and shelves of music scores."
• "The library itself is vast, bright, open space books on probably any and every subject you could think of, computer access."
• "A wonderful library with an excellent range of specialist and general books."
• "Amazing library. Fabulous selection of books and beautiful architecture."

Cons:

• "Very disappointed that despite certain restrictions being lifted there is only one toilet permitted to be used."
• "Good place to work in, but how busy it is lets you down. Couldn't find one desk to work on at 12pm."
• "The personal hygiene of some of the visitors mean that you might have to swap seats."
• "Cold if you plan to stay longer then one hour."
• "Not the most new books."
• "Many books stolen or missing! Huge fancy building __FEW__ books."
• "The closing time is too early and the books are too few."

Architecture and Design

Pros:

• "The Picton Reading Room really took my breath away."
• "The quiet room is exceptionally beautiful."
• "Modern library in the heart of Liverpool."
• "The re-figuring has been done in a very modern and attractive way, with a four storey Atrium and a roof top viewing terrace."
• "The architecture is impressive."
• "The architecture is a mixture of old and modern so it’s eclectic in looks."
• "Beautiful huge library perfectly mixing the modern with the historical."

Cons:

• "The stairs are confusing."
• "Wanted to visit the viewing platform on the 4th floor today. Got into the lift, pressed the button, nothing happened."
• "It's a shame that the staff keep talking very loud between them, impolite. which makes it harder to do some reading or work."
• "The people who go are snobby as and think they are obliged to sit looking at family history on computers at 50 years of age while I’m trying to revise for exams."
• "Yet another example of a modern library - loud, garish and full of distractions."
• "I am very disappointed because visitors are allowed to visit in large numbers in the quiet study room disturbing everybody."
• "A rather officious lady asked what floor I wanted to get to and then snapped 'it's not open - you can't go there'."

Accessibility and Convenience

Pros:

• "Plenty of space to work and read."
• "There's a coffee shop in the ground floor should you get hungry."
• "The library is situated between the museum and the art gallery which both also have excellent facilities."
• "For visitors the library is a must visit."
• "There is a 24 hour book return slot outside the building."
• "Open till 8pm, has wi-fi, computers, coffee shop and plenty of toilets...very handy."
• "Access to all levels via escalators and lifts."

Cons:

• "The cafe downstairs is not open whenever I'm there (not sure if it's closed down forever)."
• "This wasn't open when we were there."
• "Abysmal, I've gone in to use the Internet and I was told that I only have 20 minutes."
• "Great place but truly disgracefully managed. Travelled from Chester on a Sunday to return books and both the library and return dump outside closed."
• "Policy of silence is rubbish."
• "Impressive library but let down by online borrowing service which is the most unuser friendly site ever."
• "The most beautiful library I have ever been to, especially the modern stairs going up in the middle of the library."