Albany Village Library — Attraction in Upper Harbour

I was at the Albany Library, intending to leave the library books on the table, when one of the librarian assistants asked me to put the books away, even though I'm a customer. It was quite frustrating. I consistently felt as though I was being closely observed by the staff. This was because I would use the non-fiction war books, which no one else seemed to read, as a support for my small easel to elevate it when I used my iPad, to support my neck.

One day, the manager suddenly appeared without a greeting or any courtesy, and handed me some rejection books while taking the books away from the easel. It was the strangest experience I've ever had. Eventually, I stopped going to that library because I constantly felt under surveillance by the staff, which was making me anxious.

To be honest, I believe that the staff at the Albany Library might be quite bored and lack sufficient tasks to occupy their time, leading them to focus on me...

3 stars – Good library but let down by basic amenities

Albany Library is small and cozy, with a practical floor plan that includes a children’s section, library computers, and a few seating areas. It’s well located next to a children’s park and a small reserve, which is a nice bonus for families.

However, parking is limited, and the lack of a public water fountain is a real downside. There used to be one, but it was never replaced after it broke. There is a fountain in the staff room, and while some staff members kindly offer to fill your bottle, others won’t—which is disappointing and inconsistent. This is the only library I’ve visited that doesn’t have a proper water fountain for public use.

Overall, it’s a good library and has potential to be great. I would gladly give it 5 stars if they addressed this basic need. Please bring back a...

Not the best library to study at unfortunately. The majority of the workbenches are located right beside the children’s area, which can get loud and make it difficult to concentrate.

The tables in general are quite low, and with no height adjustable chairs available, this can be hard on your back. If all the larger tables are in use, you may be reduced to a “single”, which is actually 1/4 of a full size (so there’s only space for a laptop, and no room for drink bottles or work books).

However, the staff are nice, and it is lovely being able to take breaks at the...