Public libraries for the people

60 per cent of women visited a public library in the last year, compared with only 35 per cent of men. Persons in the age group 16-24 are the most frequent users of the libraries.

 

 

Well over half of all visitors to public libraries borrow fictional books such as novels, poetry and crime. This also applies to technical or textbooks and hobby literature. 40 per cent borrowed books aimed at children and juveniles, and a third borrowed videos and DVDs. 64 per cent of women borrow novels, while less than 50 per cent of men do the same.

Most textbooks among youngsters

Almost two thirds of visitors to public libraries in the youngest age group (16-24) borrow technical or textbooks and hobby literature, and are the most eager to borrow books in these categories. Visitors in the age group 25-44 mainly borrow audio books, music, videos and DVDs from the library. The youngest and oldest visitors borrow most novels, while the 24-44 age group most frequently borrow books aimed at children and juveniles.

Many read newspapers

37 per cent spent their time in the library reading newspapers, comics, magazines and journals, and a third of all visitors use the libraries’ reference books, encyclopaedias and databases. A small number read case documents of the state, county and local government, and slightly more than a third visit exhibitions in public libraries.

Persons between 16 and 24 are the main users of reference books, encyclopaedias and databases. As would be expected, it is the youngest visitors that have used the library most often for doing their homework, studying and group work. Almost half of the visitors in this age group have used a public library for this purpose.

Almost three quarters of library visitors have received help from staff to find specific books, especially women and users in the age group 16-44. Library personnel also recommended good books to thirty-nine per cent of library visitors.

Satisfied with public libraries

A total of 93 per cent agree completely or partly that libraries have a large and varied selection of relevant books. In addition, 57 per cent of users are either in complete or partial agreement that libraries have a good offer with regard to medias other than books, such as films and music. 88 per cent find library staff competent and 92 per cent perceive the library premises as nice.

The vast majority prefer to visit the library in the afternoon or evening on weekdays, while three out of four would like to go to the library on a Saturday. More than half would also visit the library on Sundays if it was open.

 

 

Stable users

The number of library visits has remained extremely stable since 1998. A third of the population have visited a public library in the last three months, the same figure as in 1998. For the year as a whole, 48 per cent visited a library, and in 1998 the corresponding figure was 47 per cent. The figure for those who have never visited a public library has fallen slightly since 1998, from 6 to 4 per cent.

The number of women who visit public libraries has increased slightly since 1998. In 1998, the proportion of female visitors was 55 per cent, in 2005 the number was 60 per cent. In comparison, the proportion of male visitors has fallen, from 26 per cent in 1998 to 22 per cent in 2005.

The use of libraries has fallen slightly for the 16-24 age group, while it has gone up for the other groups. But the most frequent library visitors are still the youngest group, closely followed by those between 25 and 44 years old.