Who uses libraries the most?

A survey of 30,000 adults recently disclosed that in Ireland women are more frequent library users than men. Of the adult users 66% are women, only 34% male.

Other results showed that most female patrons are in their early 30s or early 40s.

Surprisingly, one quarter of the population are registered public library users.

Young people aged 15 to 20 years are among the lowest group using library services, and one-third of adults who visit libraries do so for the purpose of logging on to the Internet.

One in five Irish people who visit a public library do so in order to borrow a specific book.

The results of international surveys conducted on similar lines are awaited with interest.

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