This is a beautiful building, which you can't help noting is poorly used. The front part of the building is completely unexploited, as is the entire upstairs. What remains isn't particularly well utilised. The children's section (which is not separate) has a playbox, which encourages rowdy interaction and the librarians constantly talk in loud voices all day long, without any concern for the visitors who are hoping to find a quiet place to read, think or study. This seems to me a curious way of running a library - here silence is anything but a virtue.

One of my favourite London libraries, mainly because the staff there create such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. They also clearly have a genuine love for books, as well as a profound knowledge of their books that they are more than happy to share with visitors who might need help or advice. The children's library is particularly well stocked. On top of that it is a beautiful heritage building about to celebrate its centenary. During the pandemic it was threatened with closure, which if it had gone ahead would have been a tragic loss for the community in Bethnal Green. I remember the days when the children's library was a separate space, a better arrangement but one that had to end because of staffing cuts. People, if we want to keep our libraries as places where both visitors and ideas are welcome, we must use them - go there, chat to the librarians and take a book out, or two!

The Bethnal Green Library has been my saviour for many years . This Library is really special with easy access, when using public transport, entering into Bethnal Green Gardens next to Bethnal Green underground station. This Library has the greatest selection of books for any aged . This is impressive beautiful and magnificent building . Great members of staff . 10/10

The most noisy library that I have ever seen!! The staff is very disrespectful and noisy, such shame because the space is amazing. Does any one knows a number that can be called to complain about it?? It is a public library which means, we are paying their salaries, really don't think this right.

One of the best libraries in Tower Hamlets. We found great collection of books for adults and kids. Librarians are friendly and did their best to find books according to the interests. The Library is big and light. It has the required amenities for great time spending individually and with family or friends. Also this historical building is fabulous because of its internal decoration and almost 100 years of history.

A great piece of architecture to visit for non-tourist attractions. I enjoyed taking photos here and was amazed by how well it is kept. Books were well organised. It’s a spacious library, good for wheelchair and buggy. Met one of the lady in Cubitt Town library for a cover day, she passionately did a nursery rhyme session which I thought was AWESOME 🙌🏻 Thank you! My daughter liked it a lot. So for her, I travelled to Bethnal Green library to actually experience their rhyme time. A guy was doing the session that day and he was full of energy, got the kids to jump up, follow and move about Nice work guys! Everyone enjoyed it. I just want to say Thank you again!

Staff incompetent and unhelpful,called up to see if the scanning machine was working (earlier in the year) i was told yes no problems.When i got there lo and behold it was out of order.Mentioned to a staff member that i had called before hand ,not a hint of an apology for my inconvenience just a lot of attiude.Found the staff at Shoreditch library a breath of fresh air in comparison,with their Bethnal Green counterparts.

Great local library. Very helpful staff and they order in books for you from other libraries!

Does house books and has (limited) space to study and read but there are no rules on etiquette and respect to each other. Librarians support mums allowing their kids to scream instead of simply stepping outside and people taking calls etc. If you're looking to find a quiet space to study, read or chill this isn't the library for you.

It's such a classic community library, right by the park. Should be used more, but the librarians are SO noisy! Maybe that's why there aren't more people? I guess if more of us used it, they'd be busier and quieter,not talking about telly programmes quite so much. Ideastore, can you work at updating the opening hours on the Google page that comes up? Today you are updating computers and not open till Saturday 2nd January. If there are alterations to opening hours they've GOT to be updated on the main public platform. Go for it. You're meant to be our info gurus! Such a pity you don't do more marketing to the local area too - a great resource, even after the refurb and less space.

Nice little library for the area. Would be a great place to work on a laptop, except that there are no electrical outlets anywhere -- they should really just put in a few extension cords with power strips. Wifi is great though, and fast. I'd give it 4 stars except for the lack of outlets, and also that the children's area is just a sectioned-off area in the main room, so you'll need good headphones to get anything done.

Staff members are bit weird

Many thanks to the very helpful library assistant who took time to give us great directions - just as well as we were going in the wrong direction.

Very nice. Beautiful place.

Super noisy librarians, should show more respect for people coming to work in peace in a library.

Because it is close. On maintenance

It's a beautiful old library but the opening times from 10am in the morning is very late for most people. Also closed at random days is very inconvenient. I would say plan ahead if you are visiting

I don't usually go into the library myself but,the garden, park and surrounding areas have a great many things going on.I especially like walking around and sometimes feed not only the birds usually the pigeons but the squirrel's if it's the right time of day, the rest is history as the saying goes, enjoy yourself I dare you,buy some proper bird food from one of the large supermarket's and enjoy the frenzy of birds feeding and remember you caused it,why feed them? Because your a rebel 😂 and don't you know it 😜.

Great staff.. books displayed really well..shows the staff there know what good knowledge they have. Great place to go

An excellent historical place to be around. The Write Festival 2022 is a great success.

Wide variety of books, comfortable study spaces and computer room. Extremely polite and knowledgeable staff; always willing to help. Altogether a pleasant experience. No need to update. Although the personnel has changed the staff still maintain a high level of professionalism.

Staff very noisy, just few tables and no wi-fi. There’s only one toilet and was smelling really bad.

Terribly noisy library.

Discovered this library completely by accident. It’s beautiful and I’ve fallen in love.

Terrible staff

A beautiful and wonderful building I found the librarians truly amazing and their prime time club is such a good idea It's steeped in so much history of which the staff can fully inform you off and it has the most stunning grounds around it followed up my a visit to one of the local coffee houses it makes for the perfect day !!! See for yourself

GOD BLESS YOU FOR GREAT MOMENTS&FRIENDLY PEOPLE FROM THEIR&ESPECIALLY FANS&SPONSORS WHO WAS HELPING ME INTO MAY*2017*ONE LOVELY SOCIAL WORKER LADY:MARTHA,SHE WAS HELPING ME,WHEN I WAS A LITTLE LOST&ALSO ESPECIALLY PROVIDENCE ROW TEAM.GRACIAS.SZIVBOL KOSZONOK MINDENT

(Translated by Google) I learned Russian for the sake of the library (Original) Я ради библиотеки я выучил Русский язык

Says it's open on here. But it isn't I've made a wasted journey it is most definitely CLOSED.

Wonderful old fashioned library.

A decent library with very friendly staff and free wifi. You will need some kind of an identification document and proof of address to get a library card. They are not very strict about the later. Cleanliness could be improved, the electricity plugs need thorough check. Some of them look quite dangerous.

Beautiful library, free entrance without registration.

Gorgeous building, great selection. However is now shut because the NHS are using it as a research centre.

5 out of 5. I love this place. Such a cool space to learn and relax. Thank you so much for a good experience. Keep the warm drinks going please.

Cute small library BUT NOISE IS A PROBLEM Libraries or study rooms at least should be in silence and not exhibition / kindergarten / people speaking on the phone.

I love quiet and authentic looking libraries and the Bethnal Green is exactly that. I also find the room with desks very useful for studies as it silent and not very busy at all. I used to enjoy going to the Whitechapel Idea Store but it was way too loud and crowded with hardly any work area.

Experienced a lot better, selection waning

Beautiful building

Used the library due to a power cut in my office. Building is quite old, smells of damp but the staff are very nice and helpful.

Happy little place to study/work :) very grateful for it whilst my wifi’s not working!

A proper library in an historic late Victorian building.

Came here on Monday at 12:00 only to see that the library is closed. There was no information on the internet or the library website to say that the library is closed. Absolutely ridiculous service. Might as well close the library down for good seeing as it is never open and they can’t even be bothered to put information online to say it is closed before people waste their time coming here.

I LOVE THIS LIBRARY - ABSOLUTELY LOVELY/BREATHTAKING/QUIET/BEAUTIFUL/CHILL/GOOD VIBES :)

A basic, community library. There's nothing particularly great about the range of books on offer, though, comparing it to that in the IDEA store in Whitechapel, it could be said to be relatively impressive. There's a large study area (read: place devoid of books) with desks, chairs and, if you're lucky, plugs for your laptop. Apparently, there is Free WiFi, but with special instructions for the choice of proxy, I couldn't get it to work. If you can't get it to work, you're out of luck: staff have been instructed not to provide any assistance. Still, they have a decent range of books (though they're not quite in the right order) and in my opinion, that's all that matters. Don't forget to check out the fish near the entrance.

Love it here! Friendly staff, close to the station. My favourite hub to do work n chill!

The staff are friendly and there are plenty of spaces to sit and work or read. The book selection is ok, not great, but staff can help you find what you need through the London inter-library loan system.

beautiful building and surrounding area; free wifi and never overly busy

Yeah look like library and have good interior design but very loudy( especially under 1 years child and mums live there) . I really dont understand is that nursery or library? It is frustration for self study but you can use for nursery(kindergarden)and loan books.

Nice spot however the librarians talk very loudly which detracts from the atmosphere.

Very small library with limited hours and selection relative to other Idea Stores. Beautiful old building.