In times of economic hardship people have less disposable income and thus tend to cut down on their luxury goods expenditure. The purchasing of books, DVDs, music, new technologies and branded groceries, alongside outings to the theatre, cinemas and football matches become less frequent as we all try to tighten our belts a little.
We’ve been speculating for a few months now that the latest credit crunch might have a positive impact on public library usage and we’re starting to see some real evidence of that. Recent news stories from America reveal that public library authorities in Santa Fe and Frederick County have enjoyed an increase in visitor numbers over the last 6-9 months. There’s also been a shift in how people have been interacting with their local libraries and the types of services that they’re accessing. Once again, the public library is emerging as a lifeline and invaluable resource for people trying to find new jobs, learn new skills or simply escape from the harsh realities of the recession by rediscovering the joy of reading…
Even a few of my friends who’ve always bought their books from Amazon and who had previously admitted to me that they’d rather browse the shelves of Borders than visit their local library have signed up for library memberships! Telling times indeed!
The Library of Digress 