New children's library opens at Idea Store Canary Wharf

Cllr Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, and Cllr Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources, joined in a Summer of Fun story time session in the new children's library

Young children who attended a story time session were amongst the first visitors to celebrate the creation of a new children’s library at Idea Store Canary Wharf.  

Tower Hamlets Council and Canary Wharf Group are working in partnership, spending £1.4m on improving and increasing the learning offer for residents, at Idea Store Canary Wharf.  

The creation of a new children’s library separated from, and next to the main Idea Store is part of the overall investment. 

Attractive new features include additional space, new heating, cooling, air ventilation, lighting, and flooring. 

Cllr Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, and Cllr Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources, joined in a Summer of Fun story time session, where youngsters and adults including parents and carers, listened to lively stories and sang along to fun rhymes. 

Cllr Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “We’re pleased to work in partnership with Canary Wharf Group to give Idea Store Canary Wharf a makeover and expand services to better serve our community. The re-furbished Idea Store will boost learning opportunities in a brighter, more sustainable space. It was great to join young visitors in the brand-new children’s library which now has its own entrance and is more spacious and comfortable for everyone.” 

During the school summer holidays, Tower Hamlets Council hosted hundreds of free activities for children and young people across the borough as part of its Summer of Fun programme, including a host of Idea Store events and activities. 

Story time sessions are a popular with children under the age of five, with more than 10,158 visitors attending sessions at Idea Store Canary Wharf in the past year. 

In August, before the children’s library re-opened, 188 people attended three Story Time Up on the Roof sessions at Cross Rail Roof Garden Canary Wharf. 

Notes to Editors 

• Idea Stores are more than just a library or a place for learning. As well as library services, they offer a wide range of adult learning courses and an extensive activities and events programme. 

• Refurbishment works at Idea Store Canary Wharf are due to be completed by December 2025.