In the article “When is a library not a library? When is it an Idea Store?” Deyan Sudjic describes the Idea Store, a new type of British Library. The Idea Store is a concept that was formulated in Britain in the late 1990s.The thought was that the traditional British Library needed an overhaul due to a dramatic decrease in patronage. According to Sudjic the complaints were based on the remote location of libraries in general, their out of date image, and poor customer service. The Idea Store was presented as an idea to meet some of the demands set forth by the public. The core mission of the Idea Store was, according to the strategy plan, to improve health, employability, and lifelong learning. In other words, the Idea Store should help improve the quality of life in the community by providing computers, café, child care, free home delivery services, and educational classes. There are now six Idea Stores spread around London.
The idea of changing the library into a community center might not be revolutionary; however there is something with the concept of the Idea Store that fascinates me. It is a place for sharing ideas in the very wide meaning of the concept. The fact that the architecture is modern and inspirational of course adds to the allure of it. It manages to combine the new with the old. It provides top of the art technology and architecture while also offering services that will improve the well being in the community.
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