Library Facilities

Woman sitting at etable

Wi-Fi

All City of Ryde libraries provide free wireless internet access for customers. It can be connected to via any smart device that allows for wireless connection.

Make sure your Wi-Fi connection is on by viewing available network connections and selecting the correct network. The name will depend on which library you are using it from - for example, if you are at Ryde Library then the name of the network will be “Top Ryde Library”.

After you connect a browser window should appear with our terms and conditions of use, which you will need to read and accept. If the window does not automatically pop up, you can trigger it by opening a new browser and typing in any web address.

Public Computers

Public access computers are available to use for free at all City of Ryde Libraries for those with a valid Ryde Library Service membership. Non-library members are also allowed access within specific guidelines at the discretion of library staff.

You can also book computers up to one week in advance. Quick access computers are available for 30-minute sessions but cannot be booked in advance.

All public computers run on Windows 10 and come installed with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. Multiple USB and headphone ports are available for you to connect external devices.

Access to certain restricted sites has been removed, including all adult-oriented sites, gaming websites, newsgroups, chat rooms, and other sites deemed offensive by the Australian Film and Classification Board. If you are aware of any such sites that may have gotten past the filters set in place, please inform a library staff. We thank your vigilance in alerting us of these instances.

Photocopying and Printing

Photocopying and printing services are available at all City of Ryde Libraries for those with a valid Ryde Library Service membership. Non-library members are also allowed access within specific guidelines at the discretion of library staff. Follow these step-by-step instructions based on your printing needs.

There are different costs to photocopying and printing. For a complete list, please see our Library Fees and Charges page.

Credit can be added to your Library card through specific auto-loader machines which accept payment in coins, notes or credit card. These machines do not give change, though extra credit will stay on your card. For guest cards, any extra credit is forfeited after your session and will not be refunded.

Remote access printing is also available. Access Web Print and log in with your library membership to upload your file. Once it has been uploaded, print jobs can then be released through the printer at any of our five City of Ryde Library branches.

Please note that only certain file formats are supported, and file size limits apply. 

Scanning

Scanning services are available for free at all City of Ryde Libraries for those with a valid Ryde Library Service membership. Non-library members are also allowed access within specific guidelines at the discretion of library staff.

Specific computers also have scanners attached to them. Scans can be made in colour and then attached to an email or saved onto a USB drive. Instructions for use are available on the scanners themselves.

Due to high demand, we suggest you book a scanner computer. Alternatively, you can also scan using our photocopiers straight to email or USB drive.

Meeting Rooms

Meeting rooms are available for use during opening hours at Ryde Library and West Ryde Library. Please speak to staff in the library or phone (02) 9952 8352 for more information regarding the use and booking of meeting rooms.

Pope, Blaxland and Devlin Rooms (Ryde Library)
  • Pope Room can be booked for 1 - 4 people
  • Blaxland Room can be booked for 1 - 4 people
  • Devlin Room can be booked for 4 - 8 people

One person in the group must be a library member with an active library card to book a meeting room. Bookings can be made for up to 2 hours a day, and only one week in advance.

When your booking is due to start, please see a staff member at the front desk to verify your meeting room is ready. If you are more than 15 minutes late for your booking it is liable to be cancelled and made available for others to book.

These rooms may not be used for any commercial purposes, including private tutoring. Meeting rooms are available for quiet study in between bookings. We ask you to keep your volume moderate, as rooms are not soundproof.

Wallumetta Room (Ryde Library) and West Ryde Library Meeting Room

Both meeting rooms may occasionally be available for free use by not-for-profit community groups and Council sponsored events that are compatible with the Library’s educational role. Rooms may not be used for commercial purposes.

When applicable, Wallumetta Room can only be booked one week in advance with a minimum of 8 people required to book.

West Ryde Library Meeting Room is available for group bookings of 8— 20 people for up to 2 hours per day.

When not in use, these rooms are open for the public to use as a shared space for quiet individual study.

Please speak to a member of staff in the library or phone (02) 9952 8352 for information on bookings and availability.

The Hive Digital Media Lab (West Ryde Library)

The Hive offers the community free access to a large suite of creative software without the hefty cost of personal licensing.

Accessible on Windows PC, the service is offered from West Ryde Library and is free to all library members.

Design stunning graphics with Adobe Illustrator, edit photos with Adobe Photoshop, create your own website with Adobe Dreamweaver, or edit videos and create animation with a range of video design software – the possibilities are endless.

To learn more, please visit The Hive page.

Grand Piano (Ryde Library)

Ryde Library has a grand piano at the front of its stage area that is available for public use during specific hours of the day. A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed per day for play by pianists with an equivalent skill level of piano grade 5 or higher.

Please refrain from using the grand piano as a practice tool for scales.

Available times:

  • 12.00pm - 2.00pm
  • 3.00pm - 4.00pm
  • 6.00pm - 7.00pm

It is recommended that you see library staff before starting to ensure that there is no coinciding with library events.