A rise in visits to public libraries in the UK has been reported by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. There has been a corresponding rise in the amount of web sessions at libraries - in 2003 (the most recent date for the figures) there were 11.7 million. The availability of digital technologies such as broadband, SMS text messaging and wi-fi hotspots coincides with an increase in visits by over 18 million since 2002. With currently 32,000 computer terminals in UK libraries, funded by the People’s Network, the amount of web sessions and visits is set to increase further.
From a personal point of view, the increased availability of broadband has made the central library in Cardiff a more effective place for learning. The 4 pay-access PCs that frequently broke down are a distant memory - the library now boasts over 30 PCs, each offering free broadband access. An efficient online booking system manages access to users. The beauty of this particular scheme is that I can plan my library visit in advance, making a working visit more productive.
It is unfortunate that book lending has fallen, however. According to the Museums, Libraries and Arts Council, this could be due to poor stock management, as well as the increase in book sales. We are increasingly keen to purchase books, rather than borrow a dog-eared out-of-date impression from the dustier recesses of the library. The irony is that the very availability of broadband in libraries gives users an opportunity to buy books online, as well as enabling them to find information that they would otherwise require from a book or journal.
The increased availability of computers in libraries is encouraging more visitors to become IT literate, to make the most of the facilities. In return, libraries are providing more and more IT training sessions. To this end, could we soon be able to visit a paperless library?