Libraries have quietly undergone huge changes since I used to visit my local library as a child to get my weekly fix of the adventures of Noggin the Nog. Yes, many things remain the same: there are many books on many shelves; tables at which students of all subjects can revise or research; brightly coloured boxes filled with children’s picture books.
But the ker-thunk of the date stamp has become the bleep of the book-checking-out machine, the dusty smell of books is disguised by the aroma of coffee from the library café, and there are rows of computers ready for online research and form-filling.
And, like it or not, we just don’t use libraries as we used to. Essex County Council, which runs the Essex Libraries Service, has seen the numbers of book-borrowers fall by 100,000 users in the last ten years, while the demand for e-books, e-magazines and e-audio has risen from 61,000 loans to 186,000.
Library services can transform people, communities and society as a whole and promote new projects including literacy, reading and digital access schemes. However, this change from the printed page to the use of online media means the County Council is having to look at its library provision. Currently Essex has the second highest number of libraries in the UK, and is in the top five authorities for library spending.
Last week Essex County Council launched a 12 week consultation which runs until 20th February 2019 which gives us all a chance to have our say about what we want from our local libraries in Brentwood, Shenfield, Ingatestone, Ongar and North Weald. I’ve already had some emails from constituents who have been concerned about what is being proposed for their local library, and I would urge anyone who uses any library in Brentwood and Ongar to take part in the consultation – the details are here: www.essex.gov.uk/libraries-consultation