Customs House Library
Make the library your new lounge room, writes Rhiannon Elston
Relocated from Town Hall in 2005, the City of Sydney's principle library is not quite the dusty, silent bookworm haven you might expect.
While there is still a significant pile of literary and non-fiction works to be found upstairs, the lower level strives to appeal to a much wider audience. That's where you'll find all the latest magazines and a wide selection of local and international newspapers in a laid-back lounge room setting. Gone are the posture-correcting plastic chairs and musty dark corridors that smell a bit like grandma. In their wake are peek-a-boo art exhibitions as well as a warm, friendly atmosphere boasting lshings of Sydney history.
You'll also find they've embraced technology, with a bank of scanners, printers and internet-ready computers waiting for your arrival.
Custom House Library 31 Alfred St, Circular Quay 2001. (02 9242 8555) Mon-Fri 10am-7pm; Sat & Sun 11am-4pm.