These fantastic photos take you on a whistle stop tour of community libraries around Leeds during the 1990s. They showcase how a generation of book lovers, researchers and school children depended on their local branch for learning. Each photo dates back to 1995 or 1996 just a few years after the dawn of a new era - the age of the Internet. These images help illustrate how these libraries were a social hub for many communities across the city from Pudsey and Farsley, Chapel Allerton and Oulton though to Methley and Swillington, Osmondthorpe and Hunslet. They are published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. They also run heritage blog The Secret Library Leeds, which provides a behind the scenes look at the Central Library and highlights from its special collections, including rare books hidden away in the stacks. READ MORE: Amazing photos of Leeds primary schools in the 1990s LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia

19. Scholes Library
Inside Scholes Branch Library on Station Road. Customers are browsing the fiction shelves around the walls. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

20. Swillington Library
Swillington Branch Library on Wakefield Road. The rear of terraced housing facing onto St. Mary's Avenue can be seen on the right. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

21. Swillington Library
Inside Swillington Branch Library on Wakefield Road. The counter is on the left with children's information books on the right. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

22. Methley Library
Inside Methley Branch Library on Savile Road. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

23. Oulton Library
Inside Oulton Branch Library on Oulton Lane at Woodlesford. This Library has since closed down. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

24. Chapel Allerton Library
Inside Chapel Allerton Library on Harrogate Road, showing the counter area to the right. Though some of the library's furniture has been modernised and carpets laid on the floor, the counter area still has a traditional look to it, in keeping with its origins which go back to 1904. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net


