Idea Store - the future of urban libraries

The first of seven new 'Idea Stores' in Tower Hamlets has ushered in a new age for urban libraries and community learning in London.

Tower Hamlets residents and the council had agreed that local library facilities left a great deal to be desired, so in order to tackle the problem a new funding partnership was set up involving the Government Office for London's UK Online team as well as the New Opportunities Fund, Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the council. The big idea was to provide a high quality, modern library service with a greater range of facilities.

The result was the Idea Store, which combines a library, a learning centre and computer facilities with free Internet access. The Idea Store offers a warm and inviting environment featuring a bright colour scheme, comfy sofas and circular snugs for young children and parents. Workstations are seamlessly intermingled into the open plan space and moveable book units make browsing easier.

The Idea Store also has a cafe, modern baby changing facilities for mums and dads and a 'Sight and Sound' centre where you can borrow a wide range of music, video and DVD releases, including blockbuster smashes and Bollywood classics. The Idea Store is a hit with local residents with 845 new members joining in its first 4 weeks and loans going up by 65%. On average there are 25,000 visits per month and an improved take up of courses.

In addition to traditional library services, the Idea Store also offers over 900 'Lifelong Learning' courses to over 16s, enabling them to learn a new skill or unleash that hidden talent.

"It's modern and friendly and you get talking to so many people because of the layout", commented local resident Ms Worsley-Roberts, adding "I'm going to do an Internet course and I'm going to bring all my friends here. Honestly, I'm just amazed by it".

UK Online is a government initiative helping every person in Britain to make the most of the Internet, in both their business and private lives. In November 2002, Tony Blair announced that 6,000 UK online centres, including Idea Store, are now open ahead of target.

Working in partnership with the New Opportunities Fund, the UK Online team based at Government Office for London has now allocated £38m to 167 projects across the capital, ranging from small community groups to large charities and local authorities, with over 350 centres now open in London.

Further Information

For more information on other UK Online projects in London please contact Steve Mulloy, 020 7217 3323.