The Whitechapel Library has been a vital source of education, political education and access to books in English, Yiddish and now Urdu and Bengali for thousands over the years since it opened in 1892. Famous users include the First World War poet Isaac Rosenberg, painter Mark Gertler, novelist Esther Kreitman (sister of Isaac Bashevis Singer), anarchist Rudolf Rocker and playwrights Bernard Kops and Arnold Wesker among many others. To mark its closure Lone Star Productions are making a series of oral history interviews and a film about the Library and its users. We are keen to hear from those who might be interested in being interviewed. Please contact: Susan Croft on 020 8802 6568 for further details or email Susan.Croft@btinternet.com
 
LONE * STAR PRODUCTIONS
Are you a long-term user of Whitechapel Library?
Do you have memories of what it was like 20, 40,  60 years ago?
Did you first discover books here?
Did you do your homework here as a child?
To mark the closure of the Library we are planning  to record in July a series of video interviews of users for an oral history project and a film to be  called 'University of the Ghetto'

If you would like to take part or would like us to contact you with further details please leave your name and contact information at the issue desk or go to www.susan.croft.btinternet.co.uk

"And being so hungry I fell on the feast" Whitechapel Library, Aldgate East (Bernard Kops)
 

Above is the entrance to Whitechapel library - the 'University of the Ghetto'.  A plaque commemorating the WW1 poet Isaac Rosenberg is attached to the wall.  Isaac Rosenberg - and many others - studied here.

photo courtesy of Phil Walker