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Top Libraries in Perth for Crammers – Locations, Hours, & More
Whoever believes libraries are a thing of the past clearly hasn’t stepped foot in one lately! Despite the rise of cafes and the abundance of information online, nothing beats the silence in libraries and the smell of books when we want to be extra productive.
Good thing for students and bookworms in the Greater Perth region: there are plenty of libraries for you to visit! And, of course, we’ve compiled a list of the best ones!
City of Perth Library
Location: 573 Hay St, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Website: https://www.perth.wa.gov.au/live-and-work/community-services-and-facilities/city-of-perth-library
Contact details: (08) 9461 3500
Operating hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Public holidays: Closed
Starting off the list is the City of Perth Library, which is probably the most well-known public library in Perth. This seven-level, 3,500-square-metre library boasts a diverse collection of books, newspapers, DVDs, and eResources.
The library has both fiction and nonfiction books to accommodate every visitor, whether they’re coming for academic study or a leisure read. Anyone with a library card can also borrow books, magazines, DVDs, and newspapers for three weeks.
The City of Perth Library also has several meeting and study rooms, an auditorium, and videoconferencing facilities. It’s also equipped with free Wi-Fi to help you access information quickly.
Pro Tip: If you’re a Perth resident who’s permanently or temporarily housebound, contact the library if you need to borrow anything. They’ll deliver it straight to your home free of charge!
State Library of Western Australia
Location: Perth Cultural Centre, 25 Francis St, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Website: http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/
Contact details: +61 8 9427 3111, [email protected]
Operating hours: Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Public holidays: Closed
Established in 1886, the State Library of Western Australia is one of the most iconic libraries in the whole state. It holds and preserves the state’s heritage materials, ensuring we have access to the most important documents of our region.
The library is home to over 1000 artworks from local WA artists, police gazettes, nearly 900 WA newspapers, close to 2000 fiction and nonfiction books from WA authors, over 13,500 WA films and videos, over 70,000 music sheets and scores, and a lot more!
While that’s amazing, the state library is more than just a place to read about the past; it’s also a spot to attend various events and activities. Think film festivals, exhibitions, story readings, workshops—you name it, they’ll probably host it.
Pro Tip: The library has a Justice of the Peace signing centre available every Monday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The JP can witness documents and certify copies of original documents for free and without prior bookings.
Victoria Park Library
From @lessenwithpeg
Location: 27 Sussex St, East Victoria Park, WA 6101, Australia
Website: http://www.victoriaparklibrary.wa.gov.au/
Contact details: (08) 9373 5500, [email protected]
Operating hours: Monday and Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday and Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday and Public holidays: Closed
Free and open to everyone, Victoria Park Library is one of the best spots to study in the Greater Perth region. With comfortable seating and a range of modern services, like computers, printers, and free Wi-Fi, it’s heaven for students preparing for their finals.
The library provides a wide range of resources, from books and audiobooks to movies and music. It’s particularly rich in archival materials for local history, so it’s the best place to go if you’re researching something about Victoria Park.
All Western Australia residents can become regular library members and enjoy various benefits, like access to the digital collection and borrowing 20 items at a time. If you’re a non-resident, you can also become a temporary member for 3 months.
Pro Tip: If the book you’re looking for isn’t available in the library, try submitting an interlibrary loan request. You can do this by emailing or calling them, talking to a staff member in person, or logging into the online catalogue.
Through the interlibrary loan request, they can try to find the book or item in the State Library and have it ready for you.
Ruth Faulkner Library
From @beyondallbounds
Location: Belmont Hub, 213 Wright St, Cloverdale, WA 6105, Australia
Website: https://www.belmont.wa.gov.au/discover/places-to-go/ruth-faulkner-library-and-belmont-museum
Contact details: 08 9477 7150, [email protected]
Operating hours: Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Public holidays: Closed
Just less than a 20-minute drive away from the CBD, Ruth Faulkner Library is the newest addition to Greater Perth’s long list of libraries to visit.
Housing an extensive collection of books spanning various genres, it’s a learning hub that caters to various visitors.
Beyond its collection of books, newspapers, magazines, and movies, the library is also equipped with a digital hub for your printing and computing needs. It has 16 public computers on top of the dedicated area for parents coming in with their kids.
Groups that want to hold meetings can also rent one of the library’s meeting rooms, all of which are equipped with Wi-Fi and digital screens. But if you’re alone and just want to study, you can visit the library’s lounge.
Pro Tip: Download and sign in to the Ruth Faulkner Library app. The app will give you a digital version of your membership card so you can enjoy the library’s services without having to bring your physical card all the time.
The Grove Library
Location: 1 Leake St, Peppermint Grove, WA 6011, Australia
Website: http://thegrovelibrary.net/
Contact details: 08 9286 8686, [email protected]
Operating hours: Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Grove Library aims to provide accessible library and learning services to Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove, and Mosman Park residents. However, the library goes above and beyond that by allowing every WA resident to apply for membership.
Library members have access to an extensive range of books, audiobooks, magazines, films, videos, DVDs, and music CDs. They can also borrow up to 20 items for 3 weeks or request certain books that are in other libraries.
The best part is the library also holds several events for kids to encourage them to come to the library even during school holidays. They have story times, writing competitions, exhibitions, and a lot more.
Pro Tip: Got a parent or grandparent who needs help learning modern technology? The Grove Library regularly holds free tech workshops for residents aged 50 and above, so register them on the library’s website!
South Perth Library
Location: Cnr South Tce & Sandgate St, South Perth WA 6151, Australia
Website: http://southperth.wa.gov.au/libraries
Contact details: 08 9474 0800, [email protected]
Operating hours: Monday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday to Thursday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday and Public holidays: Closed
Southies, you don’t have to drive all the way to the CBD for a spot in the city library! The South Perth Library houses the local history collection of South Perth, which contains a range of books, photos, maps, artworks, newspapers, cartographic materials, and more.
Aside from historical archives, the South Perth Library is also home to modern books, both fiction and nonfiction. Its particularly huge adult fiction collection is perfect for those who love immersing themselves in the world of fiction.
The highlight of the library? These books aren’t the only things you can borrow from them! You can also borrow engravers, multi-sensory time kits, well-being kits, and Powermates that can help you measure the power requirement of your appliance!
Pro Tip: If you’re a member of a book club, you can hire a book club set from the library and make it the new topic of your discussions. They have 38 sets, each with 10 copies of a book and a single copy of laminated discussion notes.
Cambridge Library
Location: 99 The Blvd, Floreat WA 6014, Australia
Website: https://library.cambridge.wa.gov.au/Home
Contact details: (08) 9383 8999, [email protected]
Operating hours: Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Public holiday: Closed
Another community library offering a conducive environment for residents to learn is Cambridge Library in Floreat. With loads of study spaces, meeting rooms, free Wi-Fi, and public computers, it’s hard not to be productive when visiting the library.
Cambridge Library boasts over 50,000 books, digital resources, DVDs, and jigsaws. From bestsellers to classics, fiction to nonfiction, the library’s shelves are stocked with something for everyone.
In addition to its extensive collection, the library also hosts a variety of workshops and programs throughout the year. They have events for all ages, from storytime for toddlers to tech support workshops for the older generation.
Pro Tip: If you’re planning to print some of your materials in the library, make sure to bring your card because they only accept EFTPOS payments. Printing and copying can range from $0.20 to $3 per page, depending on the paper size and colour.
City of Vincent Library
Location: 99 Loftus St, Leederville, WA 6007, Australia
Website: https://library.vincent.wa.gov.au/
Contact details: (08) 9273 6090, [email protected]
Operating hours: Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunday and Public holidays: Closed
Located in the heart of Leederville, the City of Vincent Library offers Greater Perth residents an accessible hub for learning. Equipped with a magnifier, ACROD parking bays, and audio hearing loops, the library can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone.
The library’s shelves hold tens of thousands of books, newspapers, magazines, Aboriginal studies, DVDs, music scores, and a lot more, all of which can be accessed and used by library members free of charge.
For those researching Vincent’s history, head to the library’s Local History Centre. It has a huge collection of photos, maps, books, memoirs, oral histories, and archival papers, which can give you invaluable information about the history of Vincent’s suburbs.
Pro Tip: If you need a particularly quiet place to study or read, visit the library from 12:30 to 2:30 PM on Wednesdays and 3 to 5 PM on Fridays. The library has quiet times during these time frames.
Riverton Library
From @intergrated.power
Location: Riverton Leisureplex, 67 Riley Road, Riverton, WA 6148, Australia
Website: https://www.canning.wa.gov.au/places-and-events/places-to-learn/canning-libraries
Contact details: 08 9231 0944
Operating hours: Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Public holiday: Closed
With its modern architecture and plenty of natural light, Riverton Library is easily one of the prettiest libraries in the region. Pair this up with an extensive range of books and quiet surroundings, and you’re in for a great study session!
If you get immersed in the book you’re reading, you can borrow it and 19 others for three weeks! You can just return it to the library after you’re done or drop it in the library’s 24/7 return chute near the car park.
In addition to its extensive book collection, the library also provides visitors with a range of technology that they may need. They have computers, printing facilities, 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing machines, and even game consoles!
Pro Tip: Libraries in the City of Canning, including Riverton Library, use the app Spydus Mobile to give their members 24/7 access to the libraries. The app can help you download and reserve books, so make sure to download it!
