Cathays Library

Great library :) fully stocked (plus they can order stuff in). I come here often to print. The staff are super friendly and the building itself is stunning! not to mention its also open on Saturday :)

Tempting as it is to use my powers of exaggeration to persuade people from Splott, Grangetown and Riverside that this place is bigger and more architecturally exquisite than its central counterpart, I certainly wouldn’t recommend this library if you live more than fifteen minutes away.
However, as a local service it provides all you need in moments of need, such as when your computer breaks down exactly an hour before a form’s deadline for submission (of course, this situation is merely hypothetical!).
If you need to use the internet, the staff here are always keen to help you get up and running. I’ve seen them provide numerous tips for the less computer savvy, which is always good to know but unlikely to be relevant to you, dear reader, providing you’ve got this far.
A delightful distraction to any work that should be done here, or any forms that urgently need filling, is watching people struggle with the etiquette of waiting for a toilet to make itself available. Another time filler involves joining in the unnecessarily long queues for the facilities here. The doors here are surprisingly heavy and it normally leads to a repetitive pattern of customers lingering nervously before going back to their seats a little confused. Hours of entertainment.
URBAN CHALLENGE: Point out an empty toilet cubicle to a stranger

God bless this library.
For the student population of the Roath and Cathays areas of Cardiff, time is of the essence. Especially since you’ve spent the entire term drinking when you should’ve been studying, and now you have to five hours before your exam starts and you need to get several books. Sure, you could walk into town, but like I said, time is of the essence. Those extra twenty minutes could be the difference between a fail, and a slightly higher fail!
This is why we love Cathays library. Roll out of bed, and roll through the door. Check out your books and be home in ten minutes time. I’ve seen students there in their pyjamas before. It is just the pinnacle of convenience.
Granted, the selection isn’t as impressive as the five storey book Mecca that’s currently occupying a good couple of acres in the city centre, but that is a place that’d make an Alexandrian librarian whistle through his teeth and say «well, that sure is a lot of books», so I don’t think I can take off points for that. After all, it’s not really possible for two places to have all the books in the world ever, each.

This Carnegie library, housed in a prominent historic Grade 2 Listed building, sits grandly on the junction of Cathays Terrace, Fairoak Road, Whitchurch Road, and Crwys Road, alongside Cathays Cemetery.
In total, Scotsman Andrew Carnegie — industrialist, businessman, entrepreneur and a major philanthropist — funded some 3,000 public libraries in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies, and Fiji. Cathays Library is one of them.
Apart from its architectural value, the library offers a pretty good range of community library services including free WiFi, a children’s area, 15 public PCs (book in advance as they’re in high demand) and a ‘Rhymetime’ kids’ session (held every Tuesday morning at 10.30am) including stories, crafts and rhymes for under 5s. You can, however, obviously find a far greater selection of books at Cardiff’s main library.
Local councillors also hold regular surgeries in the library on Saturday mornings from 11 – 12, for which you don’t need an appointment — you can just turn up and quiz them on local issues.

I am willing to be corrected on this review because this library is in the middle of being revamped. I am obviously assuming that once it reopens it will be able to provide a lot more for my (parents’) (tax) money.
Anyway, until that point — there is nothing wrong with this library at all. I mean, it has books. A lot of books. The problem is, though, that the new library in town can provide everything you need. It’s hard for this library to compete (presumably why it’s been shut down to be redone).
The only thing that this library can offer is the building, which is quite beautiful. When I was first looking for the library I walked past it, actually, because I thought that this building was a church.

Such a nice building from the outside I did think it was a shame when I went in and lots of the orginal features had been stripped out. I thought it was rather large but yet very empty. There is not a huge amount of books in here but there are a number of computers you can use to access the internet. You can also pick up your green and white recycling bags which is really convinent for those living locally.
For a local library they have a reasonable selection of mainstream books — lots of ‘chick-​lit’ and crime thrillers. Good amount of books in large text too. Staff are very helpful.

As libraries go this is a pretty nice one. Unlike most libraries which look like a crumbling 1970s comprehensive it is located in a truly beautiful old building which makes reading all the more pleasant. Staff very helpful and polite at all times and its a nice change for any students at the uni who are sick of the ASSL.