Public library use

• In England, 30% of adults aged 16 and over used a public library service at least once in the previous 12 months. That’s around 13m adults, 27% of which brought a child to borrow, browse or return books (DCMS Participation Survey 2023/24)
• The most recent figures suggest around two-thirds of children aged 5-15 visit a library each year in England (DCMS Taking Part Survey 2019/20)
• In England the most popular activities to do in a library building are "browsing, borrowing, and returning reading and media materials" (60%) and taking a child to borrow, browse or return books (27%). This is followed by using free Wi-Fi, computer or printing facilities (23%) and using the library as a study space (19%) (DCMS Participation Survey 2023/24)

Libraries Connected is working with Arts Council England and other sector bodies to generate richer and more detailed data on how people use libraries.

The public library network

• There are around 3,000 public libraries (static and mobile) in England, most of which are run directly by local authorities (Arts Council England basic dataset 2023). Across the whole of the UK there are approximately 4,000.
• In England and Wales, approximately 78% of the population are within a 30-minute walk of a public library (Access to local amenities in England and Wales from the Office for National Statistics, Ordnance Survey, 2024).
• Across the UK, 87% of people know where their nearest public library is (poll conducted by Survation on behalf of Libraries Connected, 2024)

Public libraries are a statutory service

Libraries are a statutory service under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. All unitary, county and metropolitan borough councils must, by law, provide a "comprehensive and efficient" library service for everyone who lives, works or studies there. Under the Act, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for ensuring councils fulfil this duty. DCMS has published guidance on libraries as a statutory service.

How public libraries are funded

Local authorities are responsible for funding their library services. They do this primarily through the income they receive from government grants and business rates, which must also be used to fund many other activities and services. In recent years the amount received by councils from government has reduced significantly, while the demand for services - particularly adult social care, school transport and homelessness - has increased. This has left libraries particularly vulnerable to cuts, despite them being a statutory service, as councils struggle to balance their budgets.

Libraries may also receive funding for specific projects and capital expenses (eg new buildings or equipment) from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Arts Council England and a variety of other funding bodies. Many library services generate their own commercial income too, eg by running shops and cafes or delivering services on behalf of government or health agencies.

The funding crisis

• In total, net expenditure by local authorities on public libraries has fallen by almost half (47%) in real terms between 2009-10 and 2022-23, from £1.2 billion to £673 million in 2022-23 prices (DCMS analysis of LA revenue expenditure and financing, MHCLG)
• Since 2016, there has been a net loss of 183 static libraries in the UK that came under councils’ statutory services. Of those, 27 have moved from being entirely run by the council to being run by an independent community organisation (BBC Shared Data Unit)
• Across the UK 7% of libraries in the most deprived decile have been closed since 2016 compared to 3% of libraries in the least deprived (BBC Shared Data Unit)
• Around 2,276 FTE library posts have been lost across the UK since 2016 (BBC Shared Data Unit)