Much-loved community libraries see huge surge in visitors

The city's 17 community libraries have seen book withdrawals soar by more than 600% in 2022, according to its latest annual report

On top of that their value during the pandemic and since as community hubs for socialising, community events, children's rhyme-times has prompted great praise from users, with 95% of survey respondents saying libraries make a difference in their lives.

Elliot King, Cabinet Member for Equalities, Human Rights and Culture, said: "Nobody in Swansea lives more than a couple of miles or so from their local library. And during the cost of living crisis they've become an ever more important community hub, loved by those who use them.

"In the last six months alone there were almost 332,000 visits, 20% up on the period before and book issues were up by 12%, with more than 401,000 books and other items borrowed.

"Libraries have always been about books, but there's so much more going on too. More than 33,000 people last year attending rhyme-times, Lego clubs, coding clubs and carer afternoons, not to mention their role in our Swansea Spaces warmer-winter initiative offering space, a chat, tea and coffee.

"Our libraries' success story is down to the brilliant staff who do such a great job making their venues such special places and the communities who support them."

Modern-day Agatha Christie novelist Richard Osman has become a firm favourite with book fans, topping the adult reading charts with The Bullet that Missed. Julia Donaldson's Room on the Broom and Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants have drawn top marks from enthusiastic younger readers.

And in feedback to the Welsh Government for its annual report on library services in Wales, almost 70% of Swansea survey respondents said they'd learned new skills and 65% had found information that helped boost their wellbeing or mental health.

Cllr King said: "It was very clear during the pandemic just how important the opportunities were that we put in place for people to continue to use library services.

"Visitors are telling us how being able to visit the library, meet people and getting support from our staff is helping boost their mental health and wellbeing. Our staff receive safeguarding training so they know what to look out for and can provide support to the vulnerable.

"And we're currently pioneering new ways to join, including joining schemes so that people who are effectively homeless can borrow books and other items and use our computers to do things like job and home-hunting."

To find out more about our library services and what they can offer you, please visit www.swansea.gov.uk/libraries