East End libraries are bucking the national trend by increasing its opening hours to six days a week. Bethnal Green, Cubitt Town and Watney Market libraries will no longer be closed on Wednesdays from June 6. To tie in with the move the libraries will, along with Tower Hamlets’ Idea Stores, which already open on Wednesdays, launch a storytelling session every weekday from 10.30-11.15am from the same date.

Children under five and their families are invited to Storytime where staff will share rhymes and stories, and help families choose books to take home.

Bethnal Green Library is also making an old office room available for public use. It is getting a face lift to help accommodate the growing number of young visitors and their families using the library. The old children’s library will be used as a free internet space for adults.

The libraries and Idea stores are already open late until 8pm on Wednesdays.

To find out more visits www.ideastore.co.uk