A magnificent and historic library - a wonderful place for scholars and other bookish people.read more

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.

I have been an active member of Highgate Library since January 1991…read more And that was when, Margaret Thatcher was still the British Prime Minister. I only live around the corner from this Camden library branch, which is Holly Lodge. And even up to this day, I will always use the services at Highgate Library, for hiring out DVDs, PC printing and the photo copy machine. And I even reserve books and DVD from Highgate Library. Highgate Library is literally right next door to Highgate Cemetery, the place of Karl Marx's tomb.

13. Stratford Library has some shortcomings and some positives. On the downside, it has garishly…read morepainted walls which don't lend it that tranquil library feel, and the entrance is horribly congested as the service desk gets in the way. But it is in a convenient location and you can access a variety of resources while there. Also, because of the multicultural demographics of the area, there are many titles in polish and Urdu, which is quite impressive. There is a large reference section, but I wasn't terribly blown away by the politics shelf, which is usually my first port of call. Unclear from staff how many books I'm allowed to take out. Kinda important guys.

The Grove E15 is not in Hackney.read more

As a history buff, avid reader, and past library fundraiser, there is no way I could skip a visit…read moreto the British Library. We enjoyed roaming the floors during an unexpected rain shower, and enjoyed all the historical tomes exhibited here. We did not sign up for cards, and therefor did not get to explore the rooms or stacks, but we did enjoy our walk around. During college (as a history major), it was frequently joked that you haven't really researched in a library if you haven't wound up making out in the stacks... well, after a day of research, I enjoyed some fun pictures and 'making out' with my husband, making this a thoroughly educational stop in our London adventure.

Would definitely recommend checking out the British library at least once! It's a beautiful…read morebuilding with a lot of bookd and exhibits, as well as a little coffee shop. If you plan on seeing any of the actual exhibits or checking out the areas that actually house the books, you'll need to sign up for one of their cards. I also can't really imagine getting much work or studying done here. It can be pretty difficult to find a seat and it's so loud and busy that you may be better off going somewhere else.

This university is TACKY at best. I wish I chose to evaluate more structured universities when…read moredeciding to further my education internationally. It has taken me over 5+ months to try and acquire my diploma that I paid for and was shipped to my university dorm address. Might I add, it was shipped over 13 months after I moved off of campus. The university is SLOPPY and has been since I attended. Why would a certificate ever be sent to a university dorm after a student has graduated. I have a graduated, walked the stage, and should have my certificate from here, I am pictures on the front page of the schools website currently and to be honest I would still say look at another university. I am 24 hours from losing the largest opportunity of my life thus far because the school I paid to attend has a sloppy system for dealing with alumni. MY DIPLOMA / CERTIFICATE deserves to be provided to me and it heartbreaking to sit here and have to save someone from making the mistake that I did. Nevertheless, let me save you some heart ache, DON'T ATTEND HERE.

A nice freindly local library, modernised a couple of years ago, so good access, disabled toilet…read more(kept locked, key on request) Lots of internet stations. decent amount of books. They always have a good display from local artists, both in the library and the attached Waltham Forest Direct office.

Not very big, but the staff are friendly, has an up to date electronic check in / out system for…read morebooks which can make things faster / easier & does seems to have a decent selection of new / recently released books on offer. Has a separate study area. What is a bonus is the fact you can sign up online & once registered fully can order books over the internet via their library catalogue & get them delivered to the Leytonstone branch (or others) for a fee of 60p per book. So when you see or read a review about a book that interests you - just look it up on their library website - reserve a copy, collect from the library when they notify you it's arrived, pay the 60p & save yourself a fortune in future book purchases!

This Library is in desperate need of some TLC (Tender Loving Care)!…read more The building itself is fantastic, it's famous amongst people that live near it, and if they were to ever convert it or knock it down there would be uproar. Inside you have computer and internet access (as most libraries do these days) and obviously Books and some CDs etc. The collection of books is poor. An example of this is that the most recent computer book they had there as How to use Windows 2000. This is most probably due to the local Idea Store (Canary Wharf) being given prority. The staff are really friendly and are experts on the world of books, they'll be more than happy to help you find something. You need a membership to borrow books, but it only takes around five minutes to fill in the form!

The Charing Cross Library is on the intersection between Covent Garden, Chinatown and Trafalgar…read moreSquare. It is part of the borough of Westminster and so open its residents, though you can request books for other libraries. The entrance to the building is quite discreet. The library itself is arranged across two floors. On the ground floor are books and DVDs. On the first floor are more books and the computers. The library has a decent fiction section and is notable for its large selection of Chinese language books. Charing Cross library is a small place but does a good job in trying to serve the interests of its community. It is worth visiting, particularly if you are looking for a Chinese language reading book.

This is my local library at work. What distinguishes this library from others is that it stocks a…read morehuge selection of books in Chinese. It also has a lot of manga/comic books, although these are in English and not in Chinese (unfortunately for me, because I am used to reading them in Chinese! Japanese translates better into Chinese than English!) There are two floors, a good selection of books, and they even sort the books into newly arrived, books you should read etc. near the door which I appreciate very much when I am just browsing for a new author. There are computer desks upstairs for use, and mainly reference books and language books there. Stocked downstairs are the Chinese books, Sci Fi/Fantasy/Crime and Children's books. The staff are quite nice and helpful in general, some staff can speak Chinese, of which I'm sure the Chinese community are very appreciative. The book reservation service is also very efficient. They sort it by name and stack the reserved books on a shelf so you can use the self check-out to borrow books. Yes, they have state of the art machines there, doesn't that make you just want to come and visit?