It is impossible to speak to a person since they have locked out all possibilities of speaking to…read moreanyone in the automated system. What they fail to understand is that sometimes you may actually need to if you are unable to visit the store or renew online or over the phone for whatever reason. This also does not help older people. I'm all in favour of using technology in all aspects of life but you need to have a backup and the ability to speak to someone when it's required. It seems staff also favour the approach I mention but Idea Store management and the council are hell bent on continuing this ridiculous and unreasonable policy of no human contact. The services at the branch are actually very good, my poor rating is to ensure that management wake up and see this.

Like the other IDEA STORES (read: libraries that have been branded as stores with funky colors and…read moreplastic bags for carrying your purchases...I mean books) but this one's got more suits and a few more couches. I dig the Learning Labs here, because they're a bit quieter (less kids in the Wharf) and the Internet connection is decent....although not as stellar as the Starbucks connection a few yards away. Go, read, learn, and ideate your brain out here.

As the closest library to my house, this is a decent library...I mean IDEA STORE. I'm still…read moredeciding whether the decision to re-brand the Tower Hamlet libraries was a clever move or a confused one. Anyway, they have a good selection of books at this location, some DVDs, some computers (but don't count on getting one unless you get there early and sign up in advance even earlier.) Not a great place to study (but apparently, a popular place to eat your lunch for lots of folk, which I think is odd) unless you can snag one of the Learning Labs when they're not being used for knitting classes and the like. I guess one benefit of the IDEA 'STORE' aspect is if you check out a bunch of books, they give you a bag like you've bought something, and for a minute you don't feel like a broke student but like you've just scored some Waterstone best sellers. (Then you reach into the bag and realize the 'New Mediterranean Cookbook' was actually new in 1993.) The best part though, is the online catalogue and the ability to request other books from other libraries to have them shipped to any location. Now that's a brilliant IDEA. Ok, for that I will bump up to 4 stars.

One of the newer Ideas stores in Tower Hamlets, plush and modern on entering, Chrisp St has a large…read morecomputer room on the ground floor, for library card holders to spend a free hour on the internet or word processing. Upstairs is a large collection of books, DVDs, and CDs, as well as free wi-fi access for those with laptops. There are long tables to study on, desks with power plugs for laptops, and the latest newspapers spread across the tables. Feel free to roam on your own because the staff don't use much effort to help you out.

Just your average Uni library…read more Bonuses: - open 24 hours - lots of electronic files accessible through your library account - large collection of DVD's (many foreign) - Macs and PC's to work on - group study rooms - silent study areas - eating is allowed downstairs Tips: - when entering, swipe in on the right hand turnstile - when exiting, swipe out on the left hand turnstile (the other two tend to reject your card several times!) - there are bathrooms in both stairwells, but the ones in the larger stairwell toward the back have taps for drinking water

it's pretty much fine. gets kind of crowded at times and the turnstiles you use to get in and out…read moreconstantly don't work which is really annoying. the security guys are rude. it's sick that it's open 24 hours though

A wonderful library space with a lot of useful books, in multiple languages as well (e.g Mandarin…read morefor example). It is worth getting a library card or coming for a visit just to check out the books or work in the space - it's the same building / door right next to the one to Canada Water station. It's right across from the mini lake by the station, so has pretty views. Sometimes there are children's events on the first floor of the library which involve singing and shouting, hard to concentrate in the rest of the library when that occurs. Three stars is mostly because the internet is unusable. It's unfortunate because otherwise the library would be a perfect space to work. The WiFi is unsecured but requires a pop up log in page to access. In the case you are able to get the log in page to load and enter your library card password log in after 30 minutes of waiting, you'll probably promptly get dropped off of it. There are various coffee shops and restaurants in London capable of hosting a WiFi connection that works for the same amount if not more people, why not this library?

The new Canada Water Library is amazing! Especially from the outside! My hubby and I think it looks…read morelike a Sand Crawler out of Star Wars, which gives it a big tick in our book and we hadn't even been inside yet! I was slightly disappointed that there wasn't a bigger fanfare about it opening (opened in November), but that might be because I don't read the local news! This library is really convenient, being right next to the tube station. It's also very well designed, with a coffee shop on the ground floor and some conference rooms/meeting rooms that can be rented out. The library seems to have a big range of books and it all feels very informal. On the upper floor, they have the special interest books, study areas and a lounging area with a great view of the pond. It's also a self-service library (like the Idea Stores in Tower Hamlets), which means (hooray!) no queuing! The variety of books seems wider than Idea Stores, which already appeals to me. I'm really happy to have a library which is so close to where I live!

Library staff are very helpful and patient. Print services are only 10p/sheet and it's very easy to…read moreprint. The place has no damage penalty for children books and there is a wide selection of books for babies and children covering all subjects such as cooking, caring for babies, songs, tales, etc. There is a very cute children play area inside the library where you can kill time while waiting for some of the children activities which take place at floor -1.

On 5th May 2009, Manor House Library was re-opened by the Mayor of Lewisham following extensive…read morerefurbishment. Well, I have to tell you that the refurbishment was well worth the wait. This Georgian mansion house that was once occupied by Lord Baring is now restored to its glory. The original features like the ornate plasterwork and fireplaces have been beautifully restored, making this library an extremely pleasant place to visit and use. The library itself is well-stocked with brand new books. There are loads of tables and chairs for quiet study and reading and there are 12 computers available for free Internet access. I found that the staff are all very helpful and friendly. I feel very lucky to be able to have this resource so locally to me.

At the risk of sounding like an a-hole, I'd have to say that most of the books in the library look…read moreas if they've just been bought at a boot sale (garage sale for you No. Americans). They've been "loved" like the Velveteen Rabbit and it shows. Also, the selection of books on hand is somewhat slim. Of course, that could easily be attributed to the fact that the library itself is housed in a fairly small building. Hackney Central Library this ain't! I'm not a huge book snob, but I'm never going to check out a book by Danielle Steel. Never. What did turn me on was the small section of books relating to local history. Also, it seems that those in need of computer terminals for CV writing and job searching and the like are well accommodated. Heck, in this day of library closures and libraries being run by volunteers, then I guess I should be happy, right?!

Cheerful banter and extremely cheap fruit and veg make this market a winner…read more Particularly at the moment with food costs rising Lewisham market's great pound-a-bowl system provides ample food at a fraction of the price of the average supermarket. You won't find Dick Van Dyke jaunting his way through here but there's much more soul in this market than you'll find in any major supermarket and that can make a real difference to your shopping experience. Lewisham may not be the prettiest place on earth but there's more to it than meets the eye!

I agree the fruit and veg I bought at this market (albeit once) was extremely good. And look out…read morefor the German sausage van, ohhh yummy !!

I love libraries, they usually are a very good reflection of the community. And this one is no…read moreexception. Peckham is a very vibrant neighbourhood and you can feel that in the library. It can be pretty busy out here, sometimes noisy. Contradictory for a library, isn't it? Well, that's the charm of Peckham Library, you find every kind of people here. And indeed, a lot of cultural content, which is what is library is here for initially. Whatever you fancy reading will be here: history, biographies, novels, Sci-Fim encyclopaedia, etc. Everything. Same thing for DVD, if you're of those who still uses them. They have poetry classes, reading classes for kids. And much more. Personally, the library is a good workspace for me, mainly because it give me direct material for what I do. And I can rest a bit with some great readings after work. In short, I love Peckham Library and it's a bit of an escape heaven for me :)

this library situated in peckham won an award for its architecture…read more there are many floors in the library and many area and sections for different use....council office is situated there, meeting rooms and much more....on the top floor lies the library, very large and with spectacular views.....seperate computer, children, adults area...many librarians on hand to help out....many desk areas and books, cds, dvds and refrerence area...even the toilets are spectacular...worth a visit

This is the newest library in Lewisham - situated in the Downham Leisure Centre. It's on 2 levels…read moreand is very modern - great range of books, a computer suite where you can use the internet for free. They have a free film club too which shows adult and children's films for free. It's situated right next to the Costa Coffee so you can get your book out and read with caffeine! There's been some vandalism which is such a shame - the Downham Estate is a rough neighbourhood but having such a brilliant resource right in the middle of it should be respected.

Downham Library has been opened for 2 years now is an innovative library. It's the first library I…read morehave seen that has self issue terminals, where you issue and return your own library books. Downham has always been known to be a rough area, but nevertheless it feels like the staff work hard to engage with the community and make it a place that the residents can call their own. As well there being a good selection of books, DVDs and CDs and talking books, there are always loads of fun craft activities for children and story-times for babies and tots. There are at least 15 computers available for internet access. It's free and easy join the library (just show at least one proof of ID) and anyone can join, i.e.you don't have to be a Lewisham resident to qualify.