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The Hackney Central Library was opened  in 1908. It shut in the 1990s and in 1999 a new library opened in Town Hall Square, on the other side of Mare Street . In 2000 the old Library building was refurbished as the Ocean music venue which closed in 2004. From the : "Picturehouse Cinemas has acquired the council-owned Hackney Ocean, which collapsed with money troubles. The Mare Street venue had a poor reputation after several violent incidents, including up to 150 youths pelting police with bricks and bottles after an under-18s party in 2004." In about 2011 it became the Hackney Picturehouse cinema.

This old Central Library building is often confused with the Hackney Methodist Central Hall which is the next door building to the north (left in our photo), opened 1925. Both buildings are now branded as the Hackney Picturehouse cinema.

If you are interested in the stone used to face this building see .

In our photo the man in the loud checked jacket is walking in front of the Library foundation stone. The man on his own in the very restrained dark jacket is just about to walk past the Mellow plaque.