Large drop in people visiting libraries in Swindon
COVID is being blamed
New data appears to show a large drop in the number of people visiting Swindon's libraries, with behavioural changes during COVID being blamed.
As a result, Swindon Borough Council is now changing the way it does things to try and encourage more people to use their libraries.
In the year ending in March 2020 there were more than half a million personal visits to the five libraries, which lent 532,000 items and there were 16,758 e-loans, of things like digital audio books, e-books and e-magazines.
So far in 2022-23, which still has more than a month to run, personal visits have numbered 188,000, well under half the pre-pandemic total, with 224,000 items being borrowed. E-loans however have multiplied six-fold to 93,471 this year.
Councillor Ibitoye says, “In those two years more people started engaging with online services and they haven’t come back to the libraries in person- but they have been taking  e-books and magazines and audio books in much greater numbers.”
A new report by Sally Burnett the head of the council’s skills and education partnerships has proposed new way of working. One way the council might see increasing visitor numbers is through its face-to-face customer service functions being conducted at libraries rather than at Wat Tyler House.
Intended as a measure to make it easier for people who can’t or don’t access services or information online, by not requiring them to travel to the town centre, the devolution of services was agreed in December and started in January.
Ms Burnett’s report says, “The service delivery started on January 3 and therefore had only been running for two weeks at the time of writing this report. In week one there were a total of 40 enquiries and in week two, a total of 37.
“The majority of enquiries were in relation to blue badges, bus passes, council tax and housing benefit.”
Ms Burnett added: “The libraries are offering access to computers and easy to use touch screens so that residents can apply for services online, sign posting for queries and booked appointment where residents need additional support to complete an application.
“Library and information assistants are trained to provide information and signposting and deliver activities to support digital inclusion.”
The five council-run libraries are Central Library and branches at Highworth, North Swindon, Parks and West Swindon.