Public libraries across Australia are reporting a significant increase in visitor numbers and item loans, returning to and surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This resurgence is attributed partly to the rising cost of living, which has driven individuals to libraries for free access to resources, social connection, and cultural offerings. Concurrently, libraries are expanding their services beyond traditional book lending to include a diverse range of programs, digital resources, and community support, while also exploring new operational models and grappling with funding challenges.
National Usage and Borrowing Trends
In the 2023-24 financial year, Australian public libraries recorded over 88 million in-person visits, marking a 10% increase from the previous year and 4% from 2019-20. Total loaned items reached 174 million, representing a 23% rise since 2019-20. The average person in Australia borrowed 6.5 items during this period, the highest average in five years, according to the Australian Public Libraries Statistical Report.
Digital collections, including e-books and audiobooks, have seen growth, doubling in size over the past five years and now accounting for 32% of all loans nationally. For example, Brisbane City Council libraries reported 2.1 million e-book and audiobook downloads annually, alongside 5.9 million physical item loans.
Factors Influencing Increased Demand
The current cost-of-living crisis is identified as a primary factor contributing to the increased demand for library services. Experts suggest that individuals are utilizing libraries to maintain social connections and access cultural and educational resources without cost. Libraries also serve as trusted, politically and commercially neutral spaces, providing access to curated information and supporting community needs.
Expanded Services and Community Engagement
Libraries are diversifying their offerings beyond conventional book lending. Examples include Newcastle Libraries' "library of useful things," which provides items such as high-resolution thermal cameras, indoor air quality monitors, Braille A4 frames, electricity meters, and sewing machines for public loan.
Community programs and events, including story time, LEGO clubs, and author talks, have seen increased participation. The number of library-run programs has nearly doubled in the last five years, attracting over 7 million attendees across 409,000 sessions in 2023-24. Many of these programs are tailored for young people, with Newcastle Libraries introducing youth-focused author talks, book clubs, school holiday sessions, exam support, and a zine collection.
Public libraries also function as essential community hubs, providing social connection, crucial digital access through Wi-Fi and public computers, and support for navigating online government services. They serve as alternative workspaces for remote employees and offer resources for vulnerable populations, such as free sanitary products.
Local Initiatives: City of Marion Libraries' Social Media Strategy
The City of Marion Libraries in Adelaide's southern suburbs initiated a social media campaign in early 2023 to address an initial monthly loss of 100 members and declining visitor numbers. The campaign involved producing engaging videos, including a parody series titled "Keeping Up with the Librarians."
This strategy resulted in the City of Marion Libraries accumulating over 110,000 social media followers across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, surpassing the local council area's population of 100,000. Specific examples include a video titled "When the Boss Says It Isn't a Two-person Job," which achieved 5.3 million views, and another video incorporating a TikTok trend that garnered nearly 4 million views. Following the campaign's launch, library visits increased by 30,000 annually, and 130 new members registered each month. The library reported approximately 900,000 books borrowed in the past year.
The success of the City of Marion Libraries' approach has led to other libraries adopting similar strategies for community engagement.
Operational Models and Funding Considerations
Despite their expanding roles, public libraries face funding pressures. Operational costs are reportedly increasing at a rate higher than current taxation rises, potentially leading to an effective decrease in funding over time without adjustments. The expanded remit, which includes tasks such as providing tech support for federal government requirements, contributes to increased staffing costs and diverts staff from other duties.
Libraries are implementing efficiency measures, such as using artificial intelligence (AI) for self-loan systems to allow staff to focus on other services.
Some libraries are exploring new operational models, such as unstaffed branches. Lambton Library, a smaller branch of Newcastle Libraries, implemented an unstaffed model in 2022 after refurbishment, utilizing Open+ technology for card and PIN access from 7 am to 9 pm daily. This model has led to increased visitation, particularly from remote workers and individuals seeking access during extended hours. However, this unstaffed model is not considered universally applicable, as some communities, such as those in low-socioeconomic areas, may require more computers and direct librarian support.
Popular Borrowed Items
Data from Brisbane City Council for 2025 indicates that "We Solve Murders" by Richard Osman was the most borrowed adult fiction book, loaned 2,306 times. Other popular categories included cookbooks, children's classics, and young adult series.
Top 5 Most Borrowed Reads (Brisbane City Council, 2025):
- Adult Fiction:
- "We Solve Murders" — Richard Osman
- "In Too Deep" — Lee Child
- "Here One Moment" — Liane Moriarty
- "Lola in the Mirror" — Trent Dalton
- "Nightshade" — Michael Connelly
- Non-fiction:
- "The Let Them Theory" — Mel Robbins
- "Wifedom" — Anna Funder
- "The Anxious Generation" — Jonathan Haidt
- "RecipeTin Eats Tonight" — Nagi Maehashi
- "Memorial Days" — Geraldine Brooks
- Junior Fiction Series:
- "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" — Jeff Kinney
- "Adventures Unlimited" — Andy Griffiths
- "Cat Kid Comic Club" — Dav Pilkey
- "WeirDo" — Anh Do
- "Wings of Fire" — Tui T Sutherland
- Young Adult Fiction Series:
- "The Hunger Games" — Suzanne Collins
- "A Court of Thorns and Roses" — Sarah J Maas
- "The Summer I Turned Pretty" — Jenny Han
- "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" — Holly Jackson
- "Powerless trilogy" — Lauren Roberts