Welcome to Idea Store

Search the Catalogue, renew and reserve items

Log in to your Idea Store account and discover our range of books, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and more. You can renew your books and reserve items for collection.

You can also renew items using our automated phone line 0333 370 4700. Press option 5 then option 1. Enter your card number without the D.

Children and families

Looking for fun and engaging activities for your little ones? Check out our exciting lineup of events and resources that cater tot he whole family.

From storytelling and arts and crafts to homework help and more, we've got something for everyone!

Idea Store Learning

With more than 900 courses to choose from, there is something for everyone from photography, languages, art & design, dance, ESOL, maths to fashion and digital skills.

Our aim is to help you to achieve your full potential. Whatever your ambitions, we can work together to help you achieve it through our courses.

Idea Store App is back!

We're pleased to announce that the Idea Store app is now back up and running.

With the Idea Store app you can:

access your membership account anytime, anywhere!
search the catalogue
renew your loans
place reservations
download eBooks and audiobooks
and so much more...

PLUS once you've downloaded the Idea Store app you don't need need to take your Idea Store card with you to take out books!

Exhibition: What We Have Become

Thursday 28 March – Saturday 1 June 2024

A group show by five visual artists, curated by Basil Olton at Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives

A new exhibition at Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives will showcase the work of five visual artists who are exploring the impact of local and colonial archives on personal and collective identity.

Tablet Lending Service

The Idea Store Service is piloting a tablet computer lending service over the next six months.

Residents of Tower Hamlets who are digitally excluded can borrow one of a limited number of tablet computers from Idea Store Whitechapel for up to 12 weeks in order to get online and improve their digital skills.