National statistics

Taking Part 2019/20 - Libraries

Analysis of the Libraries questions in the Taking Part Survey

From:
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Published
16 September 2020

Applies to England

Documents

Libraries - Taking Part Survey 2019/20

HTML

Libraries

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 114 KB

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Details

Public library use covers any use of a public library service and is not restricted to visiting in person to borrow books. This includes going to the library to do printing, taking part in a reading group and using on-line library resources. A full list can be found in Annex C

This definition was changed in 2016/17. Results from earlier years are not directly comparable. Two measures of library participation are included in the survey: (i) use of a public library service for any purpose and (ii) use of a public library service in the respondent’s own time or voluntarily. The first measure, asked since 2016/17 includes use for employment or studying whilst the second, asked since 2005/06, does not.

Headline findings

  • 34% of adults have used a public library service for any purpose in the last 12 months, similar to previous years
  • 31% of adults have used a public library service voluntarily or in their own time, a decrease from 48% in 2005/6
  • 17% of adults had used online library services in the last 12 months
  • There were differences in the likelihood of having used library services with the demographic categories of age, ethnicity, region, gender and socio-economic status
Published 16 September 2020

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