Information on Loughborough

Leicestershire libraries continue to improve

Posted on 11/05/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

11 May 2009

Leicestershire libraries continue to improve

It’s been a record year for Leicestershire’s libraries, new figures revealed today.

The County Council’s library service says that:

  • The number of visitors in 2008/9 has risen by 13 per cent, to 3,853,867
  • Issues of books rose by over three per cent in the  year to March, the fifth year of continual increases
  • 10,000 positive comments were made about the staff
  • More than 50% of the population used the service last year
  • More people than ever joined the library

Margaret Bellamy, Head of Library Services, said: “I’m delighted that people are recognising all that the service can offer and making our libraries a success.

“They’re great places to visit, especially if you want to save money, being welcoming and having a wide range of services, whether you want to borrow a book, hire a CD or DVD, surf the internet, research your family tree, take part in a local group or get advice on benefits.

“I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t been to a library for a while to check out their local branch.”

At a time when library services in some other parts of the country are cutting back, Leicestershire is revamping or rebuilding its libraries.

The latest examples of new libraries are at Oadby and Newbold Verdon and the latest re-vamp is at Barrow on Soar.  A new mobile library serving the villages in the south of the county will set out in June.

Leicestershire’s library service has:

  • 54 libraries
  • 6 mobile libraries
  • 412 computers
  • 23,000 DVDs to rent
  • 712,000 books to borrow

http://www.leics.gov.uk/libraries