Official Statistics

Community and Engagement Survey 2025/26 - libraries: report

Updated 14 August 2026

Applies to England

This report summarises the key findings for the libraries sector in the Community and Engagement Survey (CES) for 2025/26.^{[footnote 1]} Reports for other sections within the CES are available on the annual web page. 

The CES asked about physical engagement with libraries, such as visiting a public library building or using another library outreach service, and digital engagement with libraries, such as using online catalogues or borrowing e-books and downloading audiobooks. The full list of included libraries activities and events we asked about in the CES are in Annex A.

The CES is representative of people aged 16 and over in England. For simplicity, we will sometimes refer just to “people” in our reporting.

For information on how to use and interpret these statistics see the note available on the supplementary documents page.^{[footnote 2]}

1. Key findings

1.1 Headline

36% of people aged 16+ and over in England engaged with libraries at least once in the last 12 months, a 5 percentage point increase from 2024/25 (31%).

31% of people aged 16+ engaged with the libraries physically at least once in the last 12 months, a 5 percentage point increase from 2024/25 (26%).

By local authority, there was a 33 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who physically engaged with libraries, from 48% in Richmond upon Thames to 14% in the City of London. 

18% of people aged 16+ engaged with the libraries digitally at least once in the last 12 months, a 2 percentage point increase from 2024/25 (16%).

By local authority, there was a 24 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who digitally engaged with libraries, from 33% in Oxford to 9% in Sunderland. If Oxford is excluded, there is a 20 percentage point difference, from 29% in Welwyn Hatfield to 9% in Sunderland.

1.2 Physical and digital engagement

As shown in Figure 1, of the 36% of people who engaged with the libraries, 13% engaged both physically and digitally, 18% of people engaged exclusively physically, while only 5% of people engaged exclusively digitally.

Figure 1: Physical and digital engagement with the libraries sector: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

1.3 Timeseries

As shown in Figure 2, overall engagement with libraries has increased steadily over time, rising from 21% in 2021/22 to 2023/24 (30%), to 31% in 2024/25 and peaking in 2025/26 (36%).

Breaking this down by physical and digital engagement over time, physical engagement with libraries has followed a similar trend to overall engagement, rising from 25% in 2023/24 to 31% in 2025/26. Digital engagement has risen more steadily. In 2025/26, 18% of people digitally engaged with libraries, a 6 percentage point increase from 2021/22 (12%).

Note: There are considerable changes in the confidence intervals between each year due to the sample size of the survey. Where the sample has been boosted, the confidence intervals will narrow to reflect higher confidence in the estimates.

Figure 2: Engagement with the libraries sector: England: 2021/22 to 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

1.4 Frequency of engagement

As shown in Figure 3, respondents who engaged with libraries were asked about the frequency of their engagement with libraries. Figure 3 shows that most people physically engaged with libraries less often than once a month but at least three to four times a year (35%). 27% of people reported digitally engaging with libraries less often than once a week but at least once a month, whilst 31% of people engaged digitally less often than once a month but at least three to four times a year.

Figure 3: Most frequent level of physical and digital engagement with libraries: England: 2025/26 (Base: people aged 16 and over who physically or digitally engaged with the libraries)

1.5 Forms of physical engagement

As shown in Figure 4, the most popular way to engage with libraries physically was by borrowing, browsing or returning books, newspapers, music, CDs, DVDs or audiobooks (58%).

Figure 4: Forms of physical engagement with the libraries sector: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

1.6 Forms of digital engagement

As shown in Figure 5, the most popular way to engage with libraries digitally was reserving or renewing a book or paying a fine (47%), borrowing digital and online resources (46%), and searching online catalogues or dictionaries or making an enquiry (42%).

Figure 5: Forms of digital engagement with the libraries sector: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

1.7 Barriers to engagement

As shown in Figure 6, respondents who did not engage with libraries were asked the barriers preventing them from engaging.For physical engagement, “I don’t need to use library services ” (33%) and “I’m not interested” (25%) were the most common barriers identified. For digital engagement, “No reason in particular” (28%)”, “I don’t need to use library services” (27%) and “I’m not interested” (25%) were the most common barriers identified. 

Figure 6: Barriers to engagement with the libraries sector: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2. Demographics: Who is engaging with libraries?

Demographic questions in the survey are voluntary and self-reported by the respondent.

2.1 Age

As shown in Figure 7, compared to the average for people in England (31%), people aged 16 to 19 (36%), 30 to 34 (32%), 35 to 39 (39%), 40 to 44 (39%), 45 to 49 (34%), 70 to 74 (33%) and 75 to 79 (33%) were more likely to physically engage with libraries. Compared to the average for people in England (31%), people aged 20 to 24 (27%), 25 to 29 (26%), 50 to 54 (26%), 55 to 59 (24%), 60 to 64 (26%) and 85 or over (23%) were less likely to physically engage with libraries.

As shown in Figure 7, people aged 16 to 19 (25%), 20 to 24 (21%), 35 to 39 (20%) and 40 to 44 (20%) were more likely to digitally engage with libraries compared to the average for people in England (18%). People aged 50 to 54 (15%), 55 to 59 (13%), 60 to 64 (13%), 65 to 69 (15%), 70 to 74 (17%), 75 to 79 (16%), 80 to 84 (13%) and 85 or over (10%) were less likely to digitally engage with libraries compared to the average for people in England (18%).

Figure 7: Physical engagement with the libraries sector, by age, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.2 Disability status

As shown in Figure 8, non-disabled people (32%) were more likely to physically engage with libraries than disabled people (30%).

As shown in Figure 8, non-disabled (18%) people were more likely to digitally engage with libraries than disabled people (17%).

Figure 8: Physical and digital engagement with the libraries sector, by disability status, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.3 Sex^{[footnote 3]}

As shown in Figure 9, females (35%) were more likely to physically engage with libraries than males (27%).

As shown in Figure 9, females (19%) were also more likely to digitally engage with libraries than males (16%).

Figure 9: Physical and digital engagement with the libraries sector, by sex, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.4 Gender Identity^{[footnote 4]}

As shown in Figure 10, people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth (42%) were more likely to physically engage with libraries than people whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (31%)

As shown in Figure 10, people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth (29%) were more likely to digitally engage with libraries than people whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (18%). 

Figure 10: Physical and digital engagement with the libraries sector, by gender identity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.5 Sexual Orientation^{[footnote 5]}

As shown in Figure 11, bisexual people (41%) and people from the “Other sexual orientation” classification (41%) were more likely to physically engage with libraries than gay or lesbian people (31%) and heterosexual or straight people (31%). 

As shown in Figure 11, people from the “Other sexual orientation” (36%) were more likely to digitally engage with the libraries than heterosexual or straight people (17%), gay or lesbian people (20%), and bisexual people (29%). 

Figure 11: Physical and digital engagement with the libraries sector, by sexual orientation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.6 Religion

As shown in Figure 12, compared with the average for people in England (31%), Buddhist people (45%), Hindu people (41%), Muslim people (38%), people from the Any other religion classification (38%), and Jewish people (37%) were more likely to physically engage with libraries. People who reported having no religion (29%) were less likely to physically engage with libraries compared with the average for people in England (31%).

As shown in Figure 12, compared with the average for people in England (18%), Buddhist people (32%), Hindu (29%), Jewish people (27%), Muslim people (27%), Sikh people (23%), and people from the Any other religion classification (21%) were more likely to digitally engage with libraries. Christian people (17%) and people who reported having no religion (16%) were less likely to digitally engage with libraries compared with the average for people in England (18%).

Figure 12: Physical and digital engagement with the libraries sector, by religion, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.7 Ethnicity

As shown in Figure 13, compared with the average for people in England (31%) people from the Arab (46%), Black African (44%), White and Black African (43%), Any other Black or African or Caribbean background (43%), White Gypsy or Irish Traveller (43%), Any other Mixed or multiple ethnic background (41%), White Irish (41%), Mixed White and Asian (39%), Chinese (39%), Indian (38%), any other ethnic group (37%), Any other Asian background (37%), Bangladeshi (37%), Pakistani (34%), and Any other White background (33%) ethnic groups were more likely to physically engage with libraries. Compared with the average for people in England (31%), people from the White British^{[footnote 6]} (29%) ethnic groups were less likely to physically engage with libraries.

As shown in Figure 13, compared with the average for people in England (18%), people from the White Gypsy or Irish Traveller (56%), Arab (35%), White and Black African (32%), Black African (28%), Any other Asian background (26%), Chinese (26%), Indian (26%), White and Asian (25%), White Irish (25%), Pakistani (24%), Bangladeshi (24%), Any other Mixed or multiple ethnic background (23%), Any other White background (21%), and Any other ethnic group (21%) ethnic groups were more likely to digitally engage with libraries. Compared with the average for people in England (18%), people from the White British^{[footnote 6]} (15%) ethnic group were less likely to digitally engage with libraries.

Figure 13: Physical and digital engagement with the libraries sector, by ethnicity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.8 Socio-economic classification^{[footnote 7]}

As shown in Figure 14, people from the higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations classification (35%) were more likely to physically engage with libraries than people from the never worked and long-term unemployed classification (31%), the intermediate occupations classification (31%), and the routine and manual occupations classification (23%).

As shown in Figure 14, people from the higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations classification (20%) and the never worked and long-term unemployed classification (19%) were more likely to digitally engage with libraries compared to people from the intermediate occupations classification (16%) and the routine and manual occupations classifications (12%).

Figure 14: Physical and digital engagement with the libraries sector, by socio-economic classification, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.9 Index of Multiple Deprivation^{[footnote 8]}

As shown in Figure 15, people from the least deprived areas (10th decile, 35%) were more likely to physically engage with libraries compared to people from the most deprived areas (1st decile, 29%). 

As shown in Figure 15, people from the least deprived area (10th decile, 19%) were more likely to digitally engage with libraries compared to people from every other decile, including the least deprived area (1st decile, 18%).

Figure 15: Physical and digital engagement with the libraries sector, by Index of Multiple Deprivation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

3. Physical engagement with Libraries by ITL1 and LA area

3.1 Regional Differences^{[footnote 9]}

As shown in Figure 16, compared with the average for people in England (31%), people living in London (37%), East of England (32%), and the South East (32%) ITL1 areas were more likely to engage physically with libraries. People living in the South West (30%), West Midlands (28%), Yorkshire and The Humber (28%), East Midlands (27%), and the North East (26%) ITL1 areas were less likely to engage physically with libraries.

3.2 Local Authority Differences^{[footnote 10]}

By local authority, there was a 33 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who physically engaged with libraries, from 48% in Richmond upon Thames to 14% in the City of London. 

The proportion of people who engaged with libraries was in line with the England average in 157 (53%) local authorities, higher than the England average in 60 (20%) local authorities, and lower than the England average in 78 (26%) local authorities.

Figure 16: Physical engagement with the libraries sector by ITL1 and LA area: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

4. Digital engagement with Libraries by ITL1 and LA area

4.1 Regional Differences^{[footnote 9]}

As shown in Figure 17, compared with the average for people in England (18%), people living in London (22%), South East (19%), and East of England (19%) were more likely to engage with libraries digitally. People living in the West Midlands (16%), South West (16%), East Midlands (16%), and Yorkshire and The Humber (15%), and North East (12%) were less likely to engage with libraries digitally. 

4.2 Local Authority Differences^{[footnote 10]}

By local authority, there was a 24 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who digitally engaged with libraries, from 33% in Oxford to 9% in Sunderland. 

If Oxford is excluded^{[footnote 11]}, there is a 20 percentage point difference, from 29% in Welwyn Hatfield to 9% in Sunderland.

The proportion of people who engaged with libraries was in line with the England average in 193 (65%) local authorities, higher than the England average in 41 (14%) local authorities, and lower than the England average in 61 (21%) local authorities.

Figure 17: Digital engagement with the libraries sector by ITL1 and LA area: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

5. Annex A

Physical engagement: 

Respondents were asked in which of these ways have you used public library services (not including paid work, school or college or structured academic activities): 

• visited a public library building or mobile library in-person in my leisure time 
• visited by a home library service 
• used another library outreach service (for example, attended a community event where the library staff or volunteers were present) 

Digital engagement:

Respondents were asked whether they had done any of the following things when accessing library services online (not including paid work, school or college or structured academic activities):  

• reserved or renewed books or paid a fine
• searched online catalogues or dictionaries or made an enquiry
• borrowed digital or online resources such as e-books, e-audio or e-magazines but without visiting the library
• viewed or participated in an online event or activity organised by the library
• checked information online about the library such as opening hours, available facilities or services offered
• accessed online services via library membership such as journals or family history sites
• accessed information about the library via social media 
• been supported by library staff over the phone 
• accessed some other library service online

1. The headline physical and digital libraries engagement estimates are based on data collection from April 2025 to March 2026 through the Participation Survey (April to September 2025) and the Community and Engagement Survey (October 2025 to March 2026). However the sample size is considerably larger for the latter 6 months through the Community and Engagement Survey and therefore the estimates are biased towards responses collected from October 2025 to March 2026. ↩

2. The majority of estimates in this report are rounded to the nearest whole number. As data are rounded, some changes may appear bigger or smaller than they are. The unrounded numbers are available in the corresponding data tables. ↩

3. This data is based on the respondent’s sex. The Community and Engagement Survey respondents were asked the question “What is your sex?”. The response options were ‘Male’, ‘Female’ and ‘Prefer not to Say’. This closely follows the ONS Census 2021 question for sex, where the target concept was certificated sex meaning a person’s sex at birth or as modified by a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), but has been slightly amended to include a ‘Prefer not to Say’ option as we do for all demographic questions in the Community and Engagement Survey. ↩

4. This data is based on the respondent’s gender identity. The Community and Engagement Survey respondents were asked the question ‘Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?. The response options were ‘Yes’, ‘No, type in gender identity’ or ‘Prefer not to say’. This closely follows the ONS Census 2021 question for England and Wales, but has been slightly amended to include a ‘Prefer not to Say’ option as we do for all demographic questions in the Community and Engagement Survey. It should be noted that in the Census 2021 data for England and Wales, patterns were identified that suggest that some respondents may not have interpreted the question as intended, notably those with lower levels of English language proficiency. Analysis of Scotland’s Census 2022, where the gender identity question was different, has added weight to this observation. More information can be found in the ONS sexual orientation and gender identity quality information report and the additional guidance and quality information for users of gender identity estimates from Census 2021 in England and Wales. Similar respondent error may have occurred during the data collection for these statistics so comparisons between subnational and other smaller group breakdowns should be considered with caution. ↩

5. Sexual orientation is an umbrella term covering sexual identity, attraction, and behaviour. For an individual respondent, these may not be the same. For example, someone in an opposite-sex relationship may also experience same-sex attraction, and vice versa. This means the statistics should be interpreted purely as showing how people responded to the question, rather than being about whom they are attracted to or their actual relationships. ↩

6. The White British ethnic group includes people from an English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British ethnic group. ↩ ↩²

7. This is a form of socio-economic classification based on the employment status and occupation of the respondent. ↩

8. The Index of Multiple Deprivation is a geographical measure which classifies the relative deprivation of an area. It combines seven indices to produce one overall measure for the area (rather than the individual). It takes into account income, employment, education, skills and training, health and disability, crime, barriers to housing and services, and living environment. For this commentary, the most and least deprived deciles have been compared. There may be some other significant differences between deciles in between which have not been commented on here. The analysis of the index of Multiple Deprivation was conducted using the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation. ↩

9. Data are also available by ITL2 area level and combined authority level in the corresponding data tables. ↩ ↩²

10. The 2025/26 Community and Engagement Survey includes over 175,000 responses, so confidence intervals are generally very narrow. Whilst this reflects a strength of the data, when highlighting differences, some local authorities may be shown to be above/below the England average, but are only a percentage point more or less than the average. There will be other local authorities who are much higher or lower than the England average, but will both be shown in the same shading within the map. ↩ ↩²

11. We have noted these where removing one single local authority makes a substantial difference to the reported range. ↩