Not my favourite library. It seems empty. It’s like they don’t want to scare the Avondale residents with books so they put as less as possible in there. Come in and look at our nothingness, it seems to say. Maybe that’s going a bit far. But for me, there’s something about over packed book store and libraries, and the Avondale Library just doesn’t cut it. Certain sections seem to have lots of books, like the teen section. There is so much crap in there it’s scary. And thrillers. There are heaps of children’s books, which is good. Sorry but that’s the only good thing I can say about it really. Okay, I’ll turn a negative into a positive. It’s spacious. There’s lots of room to relax and read your books. Blah blah blah.
Eddie D.
Place rating: 3 Auckland, New Zealand
I used to live in Avondale and hated it, and that hatred extended to everything in Avondale or Avondale-related. If you’d asked me what I thought of Avondale library I would have said terrible. Now that I no longer live there my feelings have softened. And to my surprise, Avondale library is not nearly as bad as I remembered(re: imagined) it. When I went in recently I was impressed with the quality and quantity of the art and design sections — clearly someone who works here takes an interest. The fiction was more what you’d expect from a smaller suburban library, heavy on the thrillers and chick-lit, light on the post-modernism and lit-lit, but the non-fiction was a treasure trove. Avondale library, I take back anything bad I might have said about you in the past.
Rebecca S.
Place rating: 4 Auckland, New Zealand
Here’s some of the good things about the Avondale Library: it’s light and airy; it has access to all the many many books of the fantastic Auckland Library system; it has a display about local history and holds local publications for research purposes; it has homework sessions for children; it has free internet access and wi-fi; the librarians are friendly and don’t tell you off for getting fines; the children’s book section is inviting; there’s a JP service several times a week; and there’s a big free carpark right next door. The bad thing: I wish it were open on Sunday! That’s all.