The Ballarat Library located at Doveton Street, is a fantastic environment for all ages. They cater for a wide range of interests, and welcome folk to come in, and stay awhile, you can even eat your lunch on a comfy sofa - particularly good if you're trying to escape the bitter cold, or extreme hint.

Staffed by some of the nicest librarians I have encountered, they will assist you with your reference needs - they offer an ask the Librarian service for hard questions, or just tracking down books you've always wanted to read, but have forgotten the name of.

They are also a digital hub, so you can sign up for a range of mostly free courses, run by trainers, who will update your skills. There is wifi internet, as well as traditional internet access.

Best of all you can order books from all the libraries in Victoria using their internet site and pick them up in the holds section of the library - how convenient, and a great time saver for the busy parent.

The children's section is huge, and filled with all the great materials available for kids these days - books on cd, dvds, and a huge range of interesting books. Plus they run story times for children ranging from the babes in arms, to the pre-schoolers. As an added bonus they run a range of activities for children during school holidays.