Library loans down by sixth
loans: The Harris Library
The number of loans from Preston’s biggest library has dropped over the last three years.
The amount of items issued from the Harris Library in Preston city centre has decreased from 314,339 in 2008-09 to 267,907 in 2010-11, a dip of almost 15%, according to figures published through a Freedom of Information request to Lancashire County Council.
The library lends a range of CDs, DVDs and language materials as well as books.
Younger readers are the only age group in which the number of loans saw an increase over the last year.
Five to nine-year-old library users borrowed 255 more items than in 2009-10.
Lending has remained most popular among the 35 to 44-year-old age group across each of the last three years, with bookworms in that age bracket checking out 39,774 items last year.
Twenty to 24-year-olds borrowed fewer items than other adult visitors in the last 12 months, taking out 11,651 loans.
Meanwhile, the library remains the most popular with people living within the Town Centre ward.
More than 45,173 loans were made to city centre residents last year, followed by 21,869 in the Riversway ward and 20,824 in the St Matthews ward.
People from the Preston Rural East and North wards checked out the fewest items.
The council has rolled out a multi-million pound investment programme called Regenerate in community libraries in need of refurbishment since 2008.
No-one at the Harris Library was available yesterday for comment on the figures.
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
16edaleave
Monday, January 9, 2012 at 09:59 AMI have very fond memories of using the reference library from 195358. All my studying was done there....our house was too small for me to have space to study. The staff at the Harris are responsible for my academic success. I left Preston in 1965 never to return except recently to do family history. Using the Harris 's catalogue on line I knew which books and documents I wanted. The staff disappeared into the Archives but returned empty handed. After consultation with other colleagues and another attempt left them empty handed. It was just as well I had other places to visit in Wigan, Chorley, Manchester and Blackpool. Otherwise my 100 mile visit would have been wasted. The staff at all the libraries varied greatly with Preston being amongst the worst. The car park recommended on line was filthydirty and the same goes for your public toilets. Do you really wonder why book borrowing is down? Take a visit to Blackpool Local History Library and compare this old building and facilities and staff with Preston's.
realworldman
Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 01:48 PMWe can retain libraries when demand for them is falling, but we are closing local police stations when crime is rising. Clearly the world changes, but do our local political leaders have the right priorities? What does it actually cost to lend a book for free in terms of the cost of library buildings, maitenance, staff costs and book purchases? It would probably be cheaper to ask James Askews the Preston booksellers to run an online lending service, sending out books on loan with a pre-paid envelope for their return. That could make a real saving and provide a more effective service.
Frenchwoody
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 01:30 PMThe bookstock on display has been weeded and dumbed down in recent years. We need a new large central library in Preston - preferably in a new building - merging the inaccessible collections in Bowran Street store, the Harris's reserve stocks and the Community History collection (which is now managed by the Museums, Records & Heritage Service). The management of libraries in Lancashire has been negative and weak: a new ambitious vision is needed.
Preston lass
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 12:17 PMIs it true that when the Harris library was modernised some years ago the wrong bookshelves were installed, instead of taller ones which would have held more books? Many books which should be on the shelves are held at the library HQ and now have to be reserved with the 60p fee. Why can't the public go there to collect books if they don't mind the walk? The only thing wrong with the Harris library is that it's not large enough.
preston's best
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 04:43 AMyes ive found tha they have removed much of their books. a few years back you coukdd go into the library and you had lots of books. An aduts section and a childrens section. but then i dont know why on earth they decided to reduce the number of books there. they took away half the books and then made the childrens section bigger. no wonder the childrens borrowing numbers has soared. they also need to revamp some of the boring gap fillers they got in the musuem.
Edwina
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 01:22 AMIt seems that libraries are being deliberately run down so that people will stop using them thus giving an excuse to close them. Books wanted are frequently unavailable. It costs 60p to reserve them and the wait can be months. They then have to be returned within 3 weeks because someone else wants them. You will be fined if late returning or forget to renew. It can be a hassle getting to the library. Often the book wanted is £4.99 at Amazon delivered to your door. Libraries can and should modernise. They are one of our few public spaces.
lovepreston
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 08:50 PMI like to go to the Harris library as it is a beautiful building and we like to look around the museum too. However, i find that the children section at my local Fulwood library has a much wider selection particularly for pre school children. Perhaps they need an influx of new books to attract more borrowers.
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