More now using library

THEY face the constant threat of closure as councils look to cut costs – but libraries are increasing in popularity among young people in Wales.

Research by the Carnegie UK Trust found that, despite the distractions of mobile phones and games consoles, more young people in Wales are using public libraries than they were five years ago.

The study found that more than half (51%) of all 15-24-year-olds now use public libraries in Wales, an increase of nine percentage points since 2011. Meanwhile more than half of 25-34-year-olds are also now using public libraries.

Overall, there has been a slight increase in public library use in Wales from 45% to 46% between 2011 and 2016. Across the other UK nations, Northern Ireland has also seen its library use go up, but there have been declines in England and Scotland.

Alongside the growth in library usage among young people in Wales, there has also been a significant jump in library use among households with pre-schoolers (up to four) and primaryaged children (five11).

The number of households with pre-schoolers using libraries has risen by seven percentage points to 55% and those with primary children by three percentage points to 59%.

Library use among both the most and least deprived socio-economic groups has also increased in Wales over the past five years.

These trends are good news for Welsh public libraries.