Clapton Library

I think it’s imperative that you join your local library, wherever you are in the world, and this so happens to be mine. It’s small but cosy and you get to know the staff (there are only three full time and they’re super friendly). They have large tables for you to sit quietly working or reading the paper and a good selection of fiction, particularly African American. Although this library is about a quarter of the size of Stoke Newington’s main library on Church Street, and one of the smallest in Hackney it has a nice community feel. They also have four computers that, if you’re a member of Hackney libraries, you can use for free for up to an hour a day and being a smaller branch they’re NEVER busy so you can nearly always walk in and straight on line.