To ask you how to encourage more people to use the library?

[LibraryLibrary]

My local library wants and needs to attract more users. It's set up a group of volunteers to brainstorm ideas. Predictably, the volunteers are mostly drawn from the people who already use and value the library, which I think is limiting our ideas. Can you help with any suggestions, based on what the library you go to does well? Or based on what you'd like your local library to do? And what do you think puts people off from using the library?
A bit of info on our library: It's in a small to medium-sized town which is socially quite mixed. It's close to several schools (primary and secondary) and to a supermarket. It has parking, but the car park is sometimes full. It has a large open space, plus a couple of meeting rooms.
Among other things, it would be good to hear what you think about opening hours. When would you like your local library to be open? And if the library has to have an annual 2 week shut-down period, to save on costs, when would you prefer that period to be?
Thanks!

Do you mean actually entering the doors or using the services?

I want use my library audiobook download service, but to do so I have to go and pick up my library card from the library desk, which means I haven't got there yet, even though I signed up for the card 6 months ago.

That's 6 months of using fucking audible instead of my library, because I'm disabled and haven't had the energy to walk there yet 🤷

Why the hell do I have to physically pick up a card? Why can't I just fully register online?

I suspect by the time I get there it will have expired and I'll have to do it all over again..

School involvement is important. You say it’s close to many primary schools so inviting them for trips and encouraging the children to sign up will help. Also contacting the schools to encourage the children to take part in the summer reading challenge. Groups like Lego or board games always go down well at my local library. Making it as inviting as possible given low budgets too.

We could learn a lot from libraries in the US. They have teenage rooms with adult colouring and games consoles. Teens will hang out there after school. Also, communal jigsaw, book sales and events for kids.

My local library is brilliant, I am in there every week. It runs a small book prize chosen by a panel of readers. You could do a prize for local history or something relevant to the local community.

I use a coffee shop to write in most weekends. I never even thought about using the library instead. Just looked and it’s closed for refurb.
Don’t know what would get me back to a library. I’ve probably not been to one since I switched to a kindle. But I’m thinking.

@MsWilmottsGhost this might sound patronising so apologies if it does - but have you actually spoken to staff to say why you can't physically collect your card?
I expect it could be posted to you or someone collects for you.

Actually reading this thread, have a box of noise-cancelling headphones at the front desk that people can borrow (with disposable covers for hygiene)!

Ours is volunteer run now. There was a consultation, and frankly I think the council was deliberately misleading about the benefits - sure they can now apply for voluntary sector funding, but that is highly competitive and generally for new services or projects. Not that it mattered, I'm sure the decision had already been made and the consultation was just to tick a box.

No not patronizing 😊

The website says I need to pick it up from the desk. I do intend to do so but life gets in the way. I have to make a special trip to do so, as it is local it is too close to justify the drive, but further than I can normally walk.

If they can post it why not just say so on the website?

Disabled life is full of shit like this - maybe it can be done but it is extra effort and yet another barrier and hoop for me to jump through, and all the extra effort is exhausting and I am already exhausted 🤷

Plus being a quiet space like libraries used to be.

That's how I feel. I avoid the smaller, more local libraries because I go to a library to read or work in relative peace and quiet and not to have to listen to Ring a Ring o' Rosie, Lego Club or whatever clap along the toddler group are having that day.

My city's larger libraries are more of a commute but have more separation in their space so I can coorie myself away from all the noisy activities.

For me to use my local library more, it would need a proper variety of books. I went to redo my card recently in an effort to support the library/ get back into reading, but I found almost no books I wanted to read. It's a small library, granted, but the entire fiction section was taken up with murder mystery / small town romance easy read type stuff, books I'd generally associate with people my gran's age. No proper classics, no Booker prize stuff, nothing I could really get my teeth into and nothing written for a younger adult audience (there's some YA stuff but that's for teens really and in the children's section). I suspect this is based on borrower numbers, however you have to pay for interlibrary loans, so it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Even at 50p for an interlibrary loan, I'm not likely to request something when I can pick up a penguin classic from the charity shop for the same price, and, crucially, browse my options before I do so.
I do use the online stuff occasionally, BorrowBox etc and there's a graphic novels site you get access to, but I'm much less likely to actually go to the library for a browse and a read when there's nothing to read.
I'd also like social groups, baby bounce and rhyme etc to be clear and easily found on the website with reliable updated timetables, because it's a one-room library and I can't navigate it when there's groups in (especially prams, being a wheelchair user). I think they're a good idea, to be clear! I just want warning

My local library closed this year
Was open 1 day a week 10 to 4 or 1 to 4
Near a school
However, we had to pay to hire the Hall & had to pay for the librarian.
A few grants were awarded, but were not ongoing
There was singing with youngsters
There were free craft sessions
There were free games to borrow
Once a month a council person attended who offered benefits & other advice
Toilets
Was promoted regularly via local posters & social media
There was not enough local interest to keep it going
Secondly, people seemed fed up of being asked for money to fund the library

It closed

There is a mobile library that still continues, but it only stops for 30 minutes or less at each location.
Most people are at work or at school

It's the opening hours I think - they hollow out the opening hours, so people can't go, and then say "oh the numbers using it have dropped so we'll close it". Well doh.

They need at least one late night opening a week eg to 7 or 8pm and to be open on Saturdays. In fact I think back in the day the Discovery Centres (posh name for big libraries) in Winchester and Basingstoke were open on Sundays!

My local library has a drop box so you can give books back out of hours.

I also don't think they look very appealing. Low bookcases and everything wrapped in plastic. I understand why the plastic, but when you go into Waterstones everything looks so much nicer.

Lots of children's activities/events and equipment/books that are repeatedly advertised far and wide. Put it all over the local Facebook pages with times, dates and other information, such as how much (make it clear if it is free), how long it will last and if booking is required or if you can just walk in. Also, do you need to be a member of the library? I don't need to use a library but I would do if it was a cheap, easy way of keeping my children entertained. Learning something is obviously a great point too.

Library staff are usually pretty creative, I am sure there will be people who can do good social media! Don't expect volunteers to do everything!

This is an example of our library’s weekly schedule - pls delete if not allowed:

Sunday

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm-Sunday open door community hub
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm-Open gaming: Minecraft

Monday

10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Family drop-in
10:00 am - 11:15 am - iPhone and iPad help
11:00 am - 11:30 am - Learning sign at storytime
12:30 pm - 2:30 pm - Culture and language training: Basic
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm - Conversation circles for community connection
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm - Conversation circles for the workplace
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - TechConnect drop-in technology help
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Teen open space
3:15 pm - 4:15 pm - Lace up for autumn

Tuesday

9:30 am - 10:30 am - Windows laptop help
11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Surviving and thriving through difficult economic times
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm - Workplace culture and language training: Intermediate
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm - Immigrant seniors learning circle (beginner/basic level)
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Teen open space
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm - Tween advisory group meeting
4:00 pm - 5:45 pm - Stop motion animation movie making
7:00 pm - 8:15 pm - English Corner (in-person)
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm - Resume & cover letter support

Wednesday

9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Wednesday open door community hub
10:00 am - 10:30 am - Toddler storytime
10:00 am - 11:30 am - Seniors' device clinic
12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Culture and language training: Basic
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm - Conversation circles for community connection
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm - Conversation circles for the workplace
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Teen open space
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm - Collaboratory club
4:00 pm - 5:45 pm - Lego robotics
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm - Circle time success (different topics)
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm - Climate resiliency skills
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm - Teen Advisory Council
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Recording station tour: Video

Thursday

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm - Workplace culture and language training: Intermediate

Friday

10:15 am - 10:45 am -Baby storytime
10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Introduction to Gmail
11:15 am - 11:45 am - Baby storytime
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm - English corner (virtual) — November 2025
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Film screenings
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Teen open space
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm - Beginner English Corner (in-person) — November 2025
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm - Study stars
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm - Jr. Collab Coders

Saturday

11:15 am - 12:15 pm -Tech for tots
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm - Family gaming

I really like our library app so I can order and reserve titles I want to read and then collect them rather than browsing random books when I get there

To add: teen space is where teens go hang out together, use the library technology and do their homework. I suppose if kids don’t want to be by themselves at home they can go with their friends there and hang in a safe space and be productive.

Two other things - don't have silly restrictions on who can be a member like having to live or work in the borough. If you are in a border area it will be swings and roundabouts, much like with household waste centres. Let anyone join (needing photo ID can be a barrier but everyone will have something with their name and address on eg a pension letter).

The other - look people up on the computer if they come in, and don't be arsey if they've forgotten their library card if they have other ID with them. It is really annoying when jobsworth staff say no to taking books out when they recognise the person! Especially if they've brought books back as well which means the account will be open (though I expect everyone uses self-serve machines now).

I realise both of the above may be down to your county/area HQ but it's definitely worth thinking about. Make it easier to join and use, and people will.

Thanks for the thread though, I keep meaning to go back into my local library so now I will!

I don't live very far from it so I can actually use it easily - it's less than 10 minutes walk away!

@PeloMom That's an amazing library schedule, but I'd assume it's a big, city centre type library?

No we are a small area (borough) and this is one of 4 libraries in the borough. I’d say if you take say Watford, we are about a half or third of the population.

I haven't seen anything from the library on the local Facebook group. That would be a great place to start. Anyone can go to their events - you don't need to be a member.