State Library Of New South Wales

Huge public library with free computers to access the Internet. Upstairs gallery often has interesting temporary exhibitions.

Beautiful interior and impressive architecture. A city institution. Shame about the Security staff who believe they work for the TSA. I've been to Heathrow post terrorism events and have had better treatment (not to make light of situation). You can understand the aims of airport security and the aviation laws however the staff at the library today couldn't cohesively explain the protocols or reason for the bag checks. She even said 'it saves time,' and I told her one would argue it would cost more time for the average visitor. I even suggested prevention of theft as an inadequate reason to feel like a suspect. Especially since they don't check the contents of your oversized items before they're secured in the (albeit reasonably priced) lockers anyway. Do they have infrared scanners, or is that coming out of next year's budget? Ladies, anything smaller than a laptop bag is OK (upon searching the contents), however bucket bags or shopping bags are not.
Snarkiness over. There is a popular cafe upon entry, a gift shop with what seems to be quality items and clean restroom facilities.
I am a regular at my local library and think I'll continue to go there instead. Whilst their Reference section is non-existent and they have barely-functioning wifi, you CAN take food and drink in, there are NO bag restrictions and your visit doesn't come with the feeling like you were an errant child. I think it would have been more palatable if it didn't feel like they were reprimanding you. Seems like a common theme in the reviews. Still, it's worth a visit. Just leave your nail clippers, aerosol cans and liquids over 100ml at home.

Have been here on and off for about one year. Never had unpleasant experience with the staff. The security could be strict but they are just doing their job. Now they have opened up the new wing's lower ground floor (so you don't have to put stuff away in locker) and it's great! Good quiet place to work and study.

Mitchell Library (the old majestically beautiful building) is connected to the new modern library building via tunnel at lower ground level, just pass the reading hall and glasshouse learning space. Bookmarks are free to grab!

I went to the library 2 days this week, one of them happened to be the first time i had been there. Signing up was fairly easy but then requesting the book was slightly confusing, i was confused by the process but eventually got the hang of it and requested my book. The lady informed me that i had a 45 minute wait until i recieved my book as there was only 2 staff members working? only 2 and it is a state library!? When my friend and I had returned we were walking down stairs to collect our book. My friend had her hand in her pocket and the man asked her what she was holding in her pocket as it appeared she was holding a gun or something?!!!! which she clearly wasn't! I then got my book which happened to be a very old book so i had to read in the special materials section.
The second day i returned, my book was there waiting for me and the staff in particular one lady were being very nice to us. The lady had mentioned to us that we perhaps shouldn't photocopy the book as it was very old and fragile (which we completely understood) so instead we were allowed to take pictures of it on our phones. The day went well until 10 minutes before we were about to leave when we started to take a few photos of some of the images in our books on our phones. This other lady walked past us and said in a really firm voice, "You should probably ask before taking pictures with that book!" and i replied with "We have, another lady gave us permission to take pictures with our phones" and she said, "Well the book is really old so you need to watch how you handle it!" By this point a few other people in the special materials section were looking at us as this lady had called attention to us. I then proceeded to stand up, return the book and leave! The lady then had the audacity to go and bother another fellow reader, which again brought attention to this poor man.
As well as that, throughout my experience the staff members at the service desk were obnoxiously loud which confused me as I thought I was in a library!!

Overall, nice interior and exterior design and most of the staff were kind however this lady really pushed my buttons.

Beautiful building. Great place to study or do work. Some Computers available for non locals to use, but not many so you may not get one.

Best place for intense study. Love their quietness. The silence place with many visitors. The visitors having a high self-control of not making noise. Love this place so much !!!

It is a nice and convenient place to enjoy reading and to spend time in completing written papers.

Modern, silent and efficient. You can really read and work over there. I was preparing to take an IELTS and I visited the facility a lot.