Penylan Library and Community Centre

Okay, well I actually really like Penylan library. Whichever library you go to, however big or varied the collection of books, Cardiff libraries have an online book ordering service so you can just look up the book you want, order it, then when they call you can just pop in and collect it. As it is, Penylan’s book collection isn’t bad at all. In fact it’s pretty good, given its size. Everything is in clearly marked sections and, as I said, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can ask one of the many helpful staff, or order it from home.
The children’s section is especially lovely, with bright coloured seats and pictures. I have often seen mothers sat reading books with their children here, which is a sight to warm any heart.
The community centre offers a family friendly gym with Teen Fit courses for 14 – 16 year olds aiming to teach teenagers how to use the fitness suite «safely and effectively» (according to the brochure). There is also a wide variety of activities offered for people of all ages, from a Soccer School for 5 – 11 year olds to adult yoga classes, Soft Play for the under 5s to activities for the over 50s. There are also women only classes for any ladies who are a little self-​conscious about wearing a leotard in front of the opposite sex.
Penylan Library and Community Centre has so much to offer and no doubt will soon be offering even more. If you have any queries, the guys on reception are more than willing to discuss classes and courses with you.

Sat on the corner of Wellfield Road and Ninian Road is the new and improved Penylan Library, now with Added Community Centre! Unfortunately, the community centre seems to add very little to the library that it didn’t already have. Now there’s just a lot more screaming kids racing around, pinwheeling off trees like some deranged, flesh-​toned game of pinball. It can be quite irksome for the dedicated library go-​er.
The library itself hasn’t changed much either. Sure there’s a brand spanking new building, and they have machines to allow you to check books out earlier and whatnot, but ultimately, it’s a place where you go to get books and that facility hasn’t grown much at all. Penylan was never the greatest library; the selection was always a bit too small and the staff always seemed to have an air of «OUTSIDER! COME TO TAKE THE BOOKS! THE PRECIOUS BOOKS!» about them. Sadly, both these problems remain. But at least you know they spent lots of money making it look pretty!

A new and improved library? I’m actually not so sure about this place. I remember it in the old days and very much prefer it that way. Why can’t things stay the same forever? Why does there always have to be change?
Progress, progress, progress… is what they call it. I suppose they have to call it something, the world seems to have to name everything these days.
Now the library has a sports complex attached to it; classes and courses to attend, computers to use and books to borrow. It only has so many books there and I find even less than last time, and I found the library’s organisational system of books was tricky for me to understand.
I found it took me ages to get into the right room in the library as to where the books where at all, and as to where the books that I wanted were difficult to find. However, in the end I did and so I know where to go in future. Others may find that they prefer the place this way.
It is right by Penylan park and is near to Albany Rd and Wellfield RD.

I’ve only been to the trixter bike spin classes here and they are fantastic. The room is huge and they have about 15 bikes to use. the bikes are top quality brand new trixter bikes whihc have moveable handlebars so that you can pump your arms too. Much like a normal spin class but with mountain type bikes. The instructor is great and has a well thought out class and is really encouraging. The centre seems reallyclean and teh staff are friendly.