40: Bookshop Or Library?

How did bookshops and libraries end up so different?

They used to be the same - you had to be quiet, they were full of thick boring books on high shelves you couldn’t reach. But then one changed and have started to become hubs of community – coffee shops, internet access, newspapers for sale, go to chat, read, learn and laugh. The other one…

Although I do see that at last Tower Hamlets have noticed bookshops are big business and have moved their library into town along with all the extras bookshops offer and called them ‘Inspire’ shops.