[pull_quote align=”right”]Libraries are vital centers of community, learning, information, connection and knowledge exchange.[/pull_quote]Library use: Public Libraries have a visible physical presence in each municipality as places to meet and access information. Brock University and Niagara College also have libraries.
There were over 228,381 active cardholders across all libraries in Niagara in 2008 and a reported 5,471, 250 visits to regional libraries (2,308,600 in person and 3,162,650 electronically). Electronic visits have continued to rise, and at the same time in-person visits still remain high for each community library.
Table 1.2 Active card holders in Niagara Municipalities
|
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
|
| West Lincoln |
6,785 |
7,012 |
7,359 |
11,746 |
6,498 |
5,841 |
6,373 |
6,893 |
| Niagara-on-theLake |
12,271 |
12,800 |
10,877 |
13,661 |
5,612 |
5,498 |
6,487 |
7,182 |
| Fort Erie |
11,751 |
24,486 |
25,872 |
11,640 |
19,911 |
21,884 |
23,000 |
24,447 |
| Grimsby |
7,710 |
7,500 |
7,500 |
8,381 |
16,046 |
17,276 |
18.000 |
19,066 |
| Lincoln |
7,491 |
7,663 |
7,693 |
17,546 |
19,469 |
8,694 |
10,006 |
11,112 |
| Pelham |
8,592 |
11,189 |
10,233 |
8,453 |
7,885 |
8,694 |
9,329 |
9,847 |
| Port Colborne |
6,594 |
6,051 |
9,987 |
10,538 |
11,572 |
10,779 |
10,249 |
9,225 |
| Thorold |
5,773 |
5,446 |
5,262 |
6,218 |
5,102 |
12,040 |
5,704 |
5,266 |
| Welland |
14,861 |
14,588 |
14,612 |
16,047 |
12,112 |
20,113 |
Nodata |
16,114 |
| Niagara Falls |
32,182 |
32,449 |
33,044 |
35,994 |
38,568 |
32,947 |
40,914 |
40,819 |
| St. Catharines |
72,016 |
72,561 |
73,499 |
73,148 |
81,607 |
85,713 |
89,538 |
76,208 |
http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/libraries/statistics.shtml
Some interesting facts about libraries:
- InOntario, there are 2 public libraries branches for every 3 Tim Horton’s outlets
- There are over 1093 public branch service locations throughoutOntario
- Ontarioboasts 67 million visits a year to public libraries
- Over 92% of Ontarians have access to library services
- Every day, 13,000 Ontarians get job seeking help at a public library
- 10,464 employees and 13,938 volunteers work atOntariolibraries
- 66.5 million visits are made in person to public libraries … more than 3 times the annual attendance at all North American NFL hockey games
Source: Ontario Federation of Public Libraries, Annual Report of Public Libraries 2010
