It’s too quiet in the libraries...

5:28pm Wednesday 20th December 2006

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VISITS to York's main library have fallen by more than seven per cent this year, as part of a city-wide drop, according to new figures.

But council bosses say attendances are increasing, and claim they are on course to beat last year's total Statistics released by City of York Council under the Freedom of Information Act show that in the first six months of the current financial year, York's 15 libraries recorded 440,732 visits - down from 456,235 during the same period last year; a fall of 3.4 per cent.

The drop has been most pronounced at the Central Library in Museum Street, where visits have fallen by 100 a day.

The new figures buck a previous trend, which saw visits rise by ten per cent between 2004 and 2005.

But council leader Steve Galloway disputed the figures, and said that, far from declining, library visits were increasing.

Coun Galloway said: "I am pleased with the continued high levels of service being provided by staff in York's libraries. They have shown a determination and professional approach to modernising the services that they offer in a world where computers now dominate both information and leisure activities. The increasing use of our libraries confirms their success."

Coun Galloway said the first seven months of 2006/07 had seen 2,811 library visits per 1,000 residents, against a target of 2,450, and said they were on course to hit their year's target of 4,900. A report to the council executive last year said libraries needed to boost visit numbers by 8,000 a week - equivalent to 35,000 a month - to meet national standards.

The report, by scrutiny officer Barbara Boyce, said steps needed to be taken to meet national standards, including boosting visitors, opening longer, and increasing stock.

She wrote: "The need to improve buildings is fundamental. A plan is needed to replace and refurbish buildings, especially the Central Library."

According to the newly-released statistics the Central Library recorded 45,573 visits in April 2005, but 37,390 in April 2006.

There were drops of more than 2,000 each month from April to August, and a drop of 1,200 in September.

In September, the last month covered by the figures, year-on-year visit numbers were down in ten of the city's 15 libraries, including the mobile library. The ones which did see an increase were Copmanthorpe, Dunnington, Fulford, Haxby and Strensall.