§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many visitors to public libraries and how many book loans there were in the year 2003–04; and whether these figures represent an increase on the figures for 2002–03. [HL3721]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe figures requested for 2003–04 are not yet available. However, as the effects of the People's Network are felt more fully, we expect to see the upward trend in library visits reported in 2002–03 continue into 2003–04.
12WAAlthough the number of library book loans continued to decline in 2002–03, the rate of decline slowed from previous years. We hope to be able to draw encouragement similarly from the comparable 2003–04 figures when available.
§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the speed and efficiency of the collection and publication of statistics on the number of visitors to public libraries and the number of book loans. [HL3722]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe provision of timely and efficient provision of key public library data is important and the Committee on Public Library Statistics regularly looks for ways to enhance the delivery of these.
Neverthless, the numbers of vists to public libraries and of book loans are only two of the statistics collected by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) to inform, not only government, but also library authorities themselves. Given that this entails gathering a wide range of data from some 3,600 different public libraries across England, in addition to the libraries in other parts of the United Kingdom, the compilation of CIPFA's annual library statistics is clearly a complex and painstaking exercise.
§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the cost to a public library per visit for each of the past seven years, given their best value indicator. [HL3723]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe table below provides the cost per visit to public libraries in England over the last seven years for which we have figures. We arrived at these figures by dividing expenditure on all library sevices (excluding capital payments and agency services and capital accounting) by the total number of visits (Source:CIPFA annual Public Library Statistics (Actuals).)
1996–97 £2.08 1997–98 £2.19 1998–99 £2.33 1999–2000 £2.51 2000–01 £2.65 2001–02 £2.88 2002–03 £3.08
§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which councils' budgetary provisions for public library services have been equal to or below retail price index inflation, itemising percentage changes for the last two years; and whether library services provided by these councils represent value for money. [HL3724]
13WA
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyWe are not able to provide a breakdown for the 149 individual English library authorities, as this could only be prepared at disproportionate cost. The information, however, could be calculated from the CIPFA Public Library Statistics, which are available in the House Library. Total expenditure on public libraries in England (excluding capital payments & agency services and capital accounting) rose, in cash terms, from £730.7 million in 2000–01 to £845.1 million in 2002–03 (Source:CIPFA Public Library Statistics (Actuals)). This is an increase of 16 per cent compared to the retail prices index increase of 3.4 per cent for this period. Each local authority's performance at achieving value for money is reflected within its comprehensive performance assessment.
§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the levels of spending on new book stock in public libraries in each of the following areas (a) Birmingham; (b) Cambridge; (c) Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and (d) Hampshire; and whether they are satisfied with these spending levels. [HL3725]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyIn 2001–02, according to the latest figures available (Source:CIPFA Public Library Statistics (Actuals)), the four authorities identified spent the following on new book stock per 1,000 population:
Birmingham £1,535 Cambridgeshire £1,386 Newcastle-upon-Tyne £1,134 Hampshire £1,578 The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not assess authorities on the amount of money they spend on books, but the authorities concerned may wish to consider their book purchase provision against the averages for county councils, metropolitan districts and England.
§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the introduction of computer terminals has increased the number of visitors to public libraries and the numbers of books borrowed. [HL3726]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe People's Network has linked all but a few of England's public libraries to the Internet. Recently published figures show that visits to public libraries in England in 2002–03 (before the People's Network had been completed) increased to over 274 million, over 3 million more than in the previous year. The People's Network is one of a number of activities that are attracting more and new users, for example, increased reader development activity, but the timing suggests that the People's Network is making a major contribution.
14WAThe number of book issues continues to decline. However, the decrease between 2001–02 and 2002–03 was the smallest in recent years and issues still amount to over 305 million books across libraries in England. There were also over 36 million issues of audio, visual, electronic and other stock.
Taken in the round, these figures show that public libraries remain a very popular institution.