Idea Store Whitechapel

Great «library» in whitechapel. Perfect for that afternoon in front of the laptop. Views from the 4^th floor are quite good as it oversees the city. There is a small coffeeshop as well, and altough not being the ultimate trendy place to go to, it does a good job in curing that coffee craving. Overall a great place for those looking to work or study.

A première vue, ce lieu passé un peu inaperçu. Pourtant, il peut être utile d’avoir connaissance de son existence. En effet, l’inscription à cette bibliothèque est gratuite (il suffit de présenter un justificatif de domicile pour s’y inscrire). Il est possible d’emprunter plusieurs livres, ainsi que des DVD. Il est également possible d’imprimer des documents et d’utiliser la connexion internet. Une cafeteria se trouve au dernier étage.
La carte idea store permet aussi d’accéder à des cours de danse, yoga, chant, photographie, cuisine… à des tarifs préférentiels

The best public library I’ve had a chance to use since I’m in London. A modern four floor building has much more to offer just than books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs and obviouslyinternet access. Despite its size it may seem small when it comes to the number of books in each section, but surprisingly, I always find there whatever book comes to mind.
The library has a small gallery space and study rooms and runs a lot of activities, like for example dance therapy. It’s also very convenient as you can extend the loans and book books online. The computerized system helps to save your time as instead of queuing to the counter you just pile up the books you want to lend or return on a machine and off you go.
If you are far from being a book warm, it’s still worth visiting for the 4^th floor café (relatively cheap) with a stunning view over Gherkin and the rest of the city.

It’s such a great community offering — library, internet café, various courses are on offer during school term. I hope they build more «idea stores» around London

The Idea Store is an amalgamation of a library /​bookstore /​book club, but one with free Internet, free books (hence, the «library» part), YOGA classes, activities for kids, DVDs, and free recycle /​compost bags.
You enter, show proof of address, and voila, in 2 minutes flat, you have an Idea store card (free again), and a password to browse the Internet.
Reading selection ranges from classic novels, beach reading, cooking, travel books, magazines, health books… you name it. You can check out a few books at a time for a few weeks each.
Yes, its crowded, but pleeeease… we want our kids in BOOKSTORES not on the streets, man!

When my flatmate and I first arrived in Shadwell/​Whitechapel, we were faced with many an uphill battle. Both out of work and in need of income we were engaged in what turned out to be a fruitless but frantic search for jobs. This, of course, requires much patience and a sturdy web connection. Alas, BT was giving us what I’ve now learned is a rather routine shakedown, and it was a couple of weeks before our flat was wireless.
Promptly, we found Idea Store Whitechapel. What is an Idea Store, you ask? You must not be from Tower Hamlets. Idea Store is basically a library on uppers, a lending institution augmented by classroom and meeting facilities, wifi throughout, an extensive computer network, and, at Idea Store Whitechapel at least, a wall-​of-​windows fourth floor café.
Our cynical assumption was that it was rebranded thus in order to make library going sexier to the locals. Consequently we sneered at its pro-​community attitude assuming more sinister and parochial motives. We soon discovered that there was no need to be hating. If a rebranding is what it takes to create a functional public service combining books, resources and lifelong learning such as this, then so be it. Call it whatever you want. Doris, for instance, or Sunset Beach.
Seriously, though, I love libraries. I’m not so big on ownership (you’re not likely to see many postings for me about shopping) but I’m very big on books and public resources. The very idea of receiving a volume that has passed through other hands thrills me, as does the handing of it back. The romance of the continuum of ideas is what makes library going important, and what makes the Idea Store’s initially cynical-​seeming rebranding rather apt: it is a store, or cache, of ideas, affording sharing and interchange, the backbone of any constructive society.

To be brutally honest, (this is probably a ridiculous forum to admit this) but I still have three books outstanding from this library although they stopped sending nasty letters two months ago. I haven’t left the area yet, but it may become a necessity in months to follow.
But enough of my unreliability to house perfectly laminated compendiums. This has a Gold Star from the UK Public Libraries Association, and deservedly so as the socially deprived borough needs a strong, educational institution to act as a testament to its improving community standards. It looks a bit odd though, within spitting distance of Whitechapel tube, with a walkway adjacent to Sainsbury’s and a glass, modern interior which makes me wish it was a little less hip and rather older and more leafed through.
It definitely caters for 21^st century needs with a wide range of stock including best-​selling books, CDs and DVDs. You can use the online catalogue to place reservations and renew loans. You can also book a computer and surf the net (note the huge demand for this) and take part in regular and new activities and events for all ages, with a large area on the third floor in multi-​variant languages for the diaspora of culture this area encapsulates.
Don’t try and nip off with a jumbo size encyclopedic reference book though, those electric gates and assertive security guards will stop you. A friend passed on this information. Promise.

Well, this is a classic New Labour presence in a random location. Towering above the food and Indian music stalls of Whitechapel Market with its green and blue glass panels, The Idea Store attempts to combine a library with a business centre, a café and an I.T. centre. I suppose, to its credit, it does all of them ok.
I always find the layout, with these weird blank parallel staircases going between floors, a bit confusing. And it never seems to have the book I’m looking for. Instead, there seem to be a lot of books about Girls Aloud. Then again, to its credit, the clientele here are as mixed as the people on the street outside.
It works, in the sense that it’s busy and the computers are always full. So it clearly satisfies the demand. But visiting here, I yearn for beautifully built, imposing Victorian libraries where you can find a quiet corner and nestle there with a book for the afternoon. I’ve been distubed a fair few times by really noisy school kids –here’s me complaining, that was me a couple of years ago. At least they’re in a library, well, sort of…

Ideastore Whitechapel is designed by David Adjaye. As fan of David Adjaye’s work, I was very much looking forward to visiting the lovely piece of architecture. I signed up for a ballet class in Idea Store Whitechapel and was very excited before the lesson last Saturday! It turned out to be quite a treat! Although the building is very modern and cladded with bright colours, it shows an incredible awareness of context, taking its inspiration from the vendor’s tents in the market adjacent to the building. The entrance of the building is welcoming; an overhang space extends out into the external, creating an in-​between space marking the way into the building!
The building consisted of 4 storeys of classrooms, studios, workshops and library. The studio I had my dance lessons in is on the 1^st floor. It’s a beginner’s lessons, good for new starters and refreshers. It’s a large studio space, great room and ambience. I love it! The lesson is 90mins per session! Love it!