The first one I visited is in the area of the city known as Bow, and was the first Idea Store to open, in 2002. It is located on Roman Road, a busy market street in the neighborhood. The library had previously been less conveniently located at the far end of the road, and interestingly, the building the Idea Store moved into is an addition to a public library building originally built in 1901 (http://exploringeastlondon.co.uk/Bow/Bow.htm).
This Idea Store appears to be heavily used and underfunded (what's new for public libraries?). While there were not a large number of patrons there on this weekday morning, there were people in every area, and unused spaces showed evidence of use. The front entry led into a very reasonably priced cafe, with library and classroom spaces on either side.
There was a career advisor employed by the council at a table near the entrance, offering career advice, job resources, resume assistance, etc. Her job involves outreach to the community, so she comes to the Idea Store once or twice a week.
This Idea Store appears to be heavily used and underfunded (what's new for public libraries?). While there were not a large number of patrons there on this weekday morning, there were people in every area, and unused spaces showed evidence of use. The front entry led into a very reasonably priced cafe, with library and classroom spaces on either side.
There was a career advisor employed by the council at a table near the entrance, offering career advice, job resources, resume assistance, etc. Her job involves outreach to the community, so she comes to the Idea Store once or twice a week.
The second Idea Store I visited is in Whitechapel, and is the largest of the four. The building is five stories high, each containing a different portion of the library collection, and all with program rooms and Internet computers. The cafe in this branch is on the top floor, and affords an excellent view of the area.
Every floor was in use during my visit - it seemed to be succeeding in its role as an all-purpose community gathering area. There was a class going on in one of the designated rooms, the computers were in use on every floor, several people were gathered in the cafe for lunch, chatting, watching the wide-screen TV, and reading. In fact, there were patrons reading quietly on every floor. It did seem to have a fairly small number of people in it, in relationship to the density and busyness of the surrounding neighborhood; but it was the middle of a weekday, so it was hard to judge. This branch, while appearing to have more money, also seemed underfunded, in that the number of books and staff members available, like Bow, did not seem to be proportionate to either the size of the building or the population of the neighborhood.
I have to say, I don't think much of the name 'Idea Store', but I like the concept behind it. These libraries, or I should say former libraries - the staff really don't call them libraries; I don't know whether this is by choice or coersion, but I have my suspicions, based on personal experience - are really trying to do something worthwhile for the urban neighborhoods in which they're located. I don't know enough about London to speak of the entire East End, but these two areas, at least, were clearly not affluent, and Whitechapel had a large immigrant population. They are trying to make themselves a safe, comfortable central gathering place for their communities.
Every floor was in use during my visit - it seemed to be succeeding in its role as an all-purpose community gathering area. There was a class going on in one of the designated rooms, the computers were in use on every floor, several people were gathered in the cafe for lunch, chatting, watching the wide-screen TV, and reading. In fact, there were patrons reading quietly on every floor. It did seem to have a fairly small number of people in it, in relationship to the density and busyness of the surrounding neighborhood; but it was the middle of a weekday, so it was hard to judge. This branch, while appearing to have more money, also seemed underfunded, in that the number of books and staff members available, like Bow, did not seem to be proportionate to either the size of the building or the population of the neighborhood.
I have to say, I don't think much of the name 'Idea Store', but I like the concept behind it. These libraries, or I should say former libraries - the staff really don't call them libraries; I don't know whether this is by choice or coersion, but I have my suspicions, based on personal experience - are really trying to do something worthwhile for the urban neighborhoods in which they're located. I don't know enough about London to speak of the entire East End, but these two areas, at least, were clearly not affluent, and Whitechapel had a large immigrant population. They are trying to make themselves a safe, comfortable central gathering place for their communities.
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