By Lucy Phillips
13 May 2010
Fewer people are visiting libraries in person but use of their internet services has surged, according to the annual CIPFA libraries survey.
Physical visits to UK libraries in 2008/09 decreased by 1.1% from the previous year. This was part of a continual decline that has seen drop-ins go down by almost 15% over the past 15 years.
But use of web services to order and reserve books or pay fines increased by 49% over the same period. Online services were used almost 114 million times, up from 76 million the previous year. The Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library was the most popular library in Britain, with 1.5 million visits and 1.1 million books issued.
CIPFA operations director Julian Mund said: ‘While many are now making use of online services, it’s clear that libraries remain as popular and relevant as ever.’
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council chief executive Roy Clare added: ‘Local government is facing very tough budget choices, but many councils are developing their library services in modern ways.’
13 May 2010
Fewer people are visiting libraries in person but use of their internet services has surged, according to the annual CIPFA libraries survey.
Physical visits to UK libraries in 2008/09 decreased by 1.1% from the previous year. This was part of a continual decline that has seen drop-ins go down by almost 15% over the past 15 years.
But use of web services to order and reserve books or pay fines increased by 49% over the same period. Online services were used almost 114 million times, up from 76 million the previous year. The Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library was the most popular library in Britain, with 1.5 million visits and 1.1 million books issued.
CIPFA operations director Julian Mund said: ‘While many are now making use of online services, it’s clear that libraries remain as popular and relevant as ever.’
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council chief executive Roy Clare added: ‘Local government is facing very tough budget choices, but many councils are developing their library services in modern ways.’
