Library concerns
The average number of people visiting Perth and Kinross libraries has more than halved since before the pandemic.
And a review of Perth and Kinross libraries is being undertaken as return rates remain“low and slow”.
Culture Perth and Kinross’s Helen Smout told councillors the lower usage“remains a concern”.
Councillors on Perth and Kinross Council’s scrutiny committee were told Culture Perth and Kinross is looking at how people use libraries and how it can deliver services and activities in a different way.
At a virtual meeting, Helen Smout – chief executive of Culture Perth and Kinross – said library visits varied from site to site.
She said:“There is an average attendance of about 44 per cent from pre-pandemic numbers.
“That’s up from 33 per cent - the last time we reported to the committee - however it varies very much from venue to venue.
AK Bell Library sits at around 58 per cent, while Auchterarder Library sits at about 41 per cent.
“It remains a concern and we will be looking at the data and speaking to our customers to see if this is a pandemic impact from which there will be further bounce-back or indeed if it’s signs of a longer term change in customer behaviour.”
While the growth in e-lending has accelerated during the pandemic, Ms Smout said this was mainly for magazines and newspapers – with almost 90 per cent of book loans still being a physical book.
Culture Perth and Kinross has looked at ways of boosting income to “help offset some of the running costs and make the venues more sustainable”.
An online book shop has been launched and there are second-hand book sales in the region’s libraries.
Conservative Almond and Earn councillor David Illingworth asked what the consequences would be if library footfall does not recover.
Ms Smout said:“If we get to the stage where we are still not recovering then we do have to have a conversation with our communities about what is it they want and need and how can we deliver that differently.
“I think we can become quite fixated with libraries being a building but actually the building just houses a set of services and activities that can be delivered in many different ways.
“While the space does offer somewhere in a community to go and meet people or spend some time there are other ways we can engage with partners and work collaboratively in the community.”
As part of the library review, users are being asked what service they find“vital”and“nice to have”.
Conservative Strathmore councillor Colin Stewart asked how advanced talks were at co-locating services for shared use of buildings.
Ms Smout said:“It will be very different in each location because everyone is managing their developments in different ways but it’s very much at the forefront of our minds.”