03 September 2004
Book borrowing from Scottish libraries has plummeted by 30% in the past decade, according to new figures from the Scottish Executive.
Following a national trend, Scots borrowed an average of just 7.1 books a year in 2001/02, compared with 9.8 in 1995/96. The downturn is being attributed by library authorities to the concentration of expenditure on Internet investment rather than new books.
Local authorities have maintained total library spending at £88m a year, the figures show, but the funding available to buy books went down from £13.3m to £10m.
Lorraine Fannin, director of the Scottish Publishers' Association, said: 'There is a lack of will to recognise that books and reading are important. Libraries are an easy target in spending cuts.'
Elaine Fulton, director of the Scottish Libraries and Information Council, agreed that priorities had shifted. 'We aren't getting the books the public want on shelves, or in enough volume.'
PFsep2004
