Library attendance up 30% as recession bites

Dunedin's libraries have reported an almost 30% increase in visitors, mirroring a worldwide trend of people choosing cheaper pastimes during the recession.

The Dunedin Public Art Gallery and the Otago Settlers Museum are also reporting increased numbers.

In the past few years, the library has reported mainly static figures, or small decreases.

But a report to last week's Dunedin City Council community development committee showed the total number of visits from July 1 last year to the end of February increased 213,464, a 29.8% rise on the corresponding period the previous year, resulting in a total of 938,935 visits.

Total loans for the period were 1.1 million, representing a 2.9% increase.

Visits to the art gallery stood at 152,468, up from 123,091 the year before, while the settlers museum had 48,304, exceeding a target of 44,835.

Library services manager Bernie Hawke said libraries in other parts of New Zealand, and overseas, were reporting similar trends.

While he could not point to research proving the recession was behind the rise in numbers, that was the only major change that had occurred.

Mr Hawke said people were inclined to "rediscover" their libraries at such times as they looked for things they could do for little or no cost.

He said the increase was not just to do with the recession as programmes like last year's centenary, which included literary events, a rebranding, new library cards, and the release of a centennial history of the institution, made a difference.

"If we didn't have the centenary, we probably wouldn't have been as close to 30% - it may have been 10% to 15%."