Recession boosts library visitors

Books on financial and job advice are most popular

Visitors and memberships to central London libraries have risen due to the recession, a council has said.

A survey by Westminster Council found 634,600 people visited its 12 libraries between November 2008 and January this year.

More than 7,600 people took up library membership during the same period.

During the economic downturn the most popular books lent out have been on subjects such as jobs, financial advice and how to write good CVs.

The number of visitors to libraries went up by 10.3% while the number of new members rose by 18.3%.

People are also using the libraries' computers which saw their demand increasing by 20%.

'Surge in demand'

The council said demand for books on CV, letter writing and grammar and punctuation went up by 35% and 2,384 books about job applications and financial advice were taken out.

Last year 1,532 similar books were lent during the same.

Some of the most popular books borrowed were - Brilliant CV: What Employers Want to See and How to Say it by Jim Bright; CVs and applications by Patricia McBride; Punctuation and Grammar by Catherine Hilton; Be your own Financial Adviser by Jonquil Lowe; and Good Web Guide to Money by David Emery.

Councillor Audrey Lewis, Westminster Council's cabinet member for customers and neighbourhoods, said: "As the recession deepens, more and more people are turning to the invaluable resources offered at our public libraries.

"We have had a surge in demand for books with job and financial advice in the last few months as people seek to improve their employments prospects and help to manage their money."

The news of renewed interest comes as the council continues its £3.5m programme to modernise its libraries.