Charing Cross Library in London

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comments 5

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  卜媛

  :: 29 July 2017 11:36:36

  It's lots of Chinese books there although they are not very good but the amount gives me familiarity.

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  Wladimir Albuja

  :: 19 May 2017 09:18:15

  I came here for first time to study. I think there's not enough space. Anyway, reference library is just around the corner. This library has Chinese Culture influences. It's great!

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  Intentionally Blank

  :: 02 February 2017 23:12:54

  There are some brilliant books here. Especially travel related & some history books. Well done. I know the library is small , and in a prime location with space at a premium, but there is a lack of any study tables for book-work or writing. The number of homeless people that 'use' the library is huge.They take up the few number of chairs. Perhaps that is partly why the library has so few study/areas and chairs in the first place. Yes some of the homeless people do smell. They generally appear to keep out of the way and try and 'melt' into the library and try not to stand out. None of the homeless people that I have seen there , on the four times I have been there , have been reading anything. A little surprising as there are some brilliant books there.(so much so I joined the library). I did find it a touch strange seeing homeless people not reading, but playing on mobile phones; some smart. Week after week I see the same man blocking my library section that use on the chair in that area. All he does is talk on the phone or play games on his phone-blocking my book use and being an audible nuisance. . It is a fine line I think the staff do well considering, and obviously to a degree do 'tolerate' the homeless people. I suppose it would be cruel to turf them out of a public area. But they are hindering those of us that do actually want to study and read, and do pay the library for books and purchases etc. A touch frustrating; but I have let that go. I have also seen notices saying watch your belongings due to a recent spate of thefts from the library. I also have observed the staff taking rudeness and sheer stupidity from ignorant and arrogant so called ''customers' (not the homeless people). So in light of what I have observed , I think the library staff have been tolerant and understanding to others, so I do not like them see them taking rudeness from arrogant customers. I nearly stepped in on one occasion; to put down such a 'customer', and I would not have been particularly polite to him A section of working tables on the ground floor near the reception counter may be a way forward, and in some of the nooks and crannies. The upstairs travel section, I think is large enough to just take some individual small study desks and one end or t'other. Use the library or lost it. & is the a better way to help alleviate the homeless problem without being too cruel to the homeless people? More study desks please. 3 star rating....as some brilliant books; let down by lack of study areas. (I have been impartial and have not factored in the homeless hang out people into this rating....as that is not the fault of the library, and they may be considered to be classist if they tried to remove those people. However perhaps a library redesign would help more people to study , and slightly offset the homeless problems. They are a semi social care provider in this way. Westminster is a rich council/borough/area. So they should be in a position to partly improve the library situation.

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  Xx1SAGE

  :: 11 January 2017 12:46:31

  I don't recomend students to study here. The library in general is decent but once you go up to the computer room to study it's a mess. There are a lot of homeless people who stay here and take up spaces to sleep and the stink. If you want to study, do it at home at your own comfort.

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  Karolina Gontarz

  :: 18 October 2016 19:43:21

  In the heart of London between theatres, galleries, restaurants and pubs there is the library. And why not. Small but useful and important to the local community... I think it's the only English library with the sign above entrence in chinese. Being so close to Soho of course, yes. And from what I could see they do stock newspapers and books in chinese, too.