Books and Placemaking

The changing roles of public libraries and independent bookshops

There were two articles that caught my eye in recent days, one relating to the provision of public libraries in towns and cities in the UK and the other to the success of independent bookshops on UK High Streets. The message from the first was about gradually decline in numbers of libraries, books loaned and library visits in recent times. The message from the second was about the resilience of local independent bookshops and their role in helping sustain High Streets when many retailers are facing decline in sales and footfall. Common to both was a stress on the roles each play in their communities.  This essay explores the evolving nature of their contribution in the social and economic contexts in which they find themselves.

The changing role of public libraries

In its latest annual report on library services, published in December 2023, CIPFA reports a small rise of 3% in total expenditure per head on libraries in 2022.23 over the previous year, but remarks that this figure shows ‘a positive shift in the year-on-year decrease since 2018/19’.  The report also highlights a strong recovery in in-person visits (74%) and books issued (24&) from the lows experienced during the COVID pandemic and a decline (-26%) in web visits. CIPFA claims this shows that there is a continuing strong demand for library services and that Libraries are valuable to the communities they serve.

Despite this post-pandemic recovery in user numbers many local libraries are now facing cuts in local authority expenditure. The 2019 CIPFA survey showed that almost 800 libraries (almost 20%) had closed since 2010 against a backdrop of an almost 30% decline in expenditure over the period. As the number of libraries have closed the number of library visits has declined from 315m in 2010 to 226m in 2019.

The COVID Pandemic and the subsequent period of high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis have had significant impact on the role libraries play. High inflation has increased running costs, increasing pressure for reducing staff and other efficiencies, whilst the cost-of-living crisis has emphasized the pressure on libraries for additional supporting roles in the community. No longer just a quiet place to sit and read or borrow books, libraries have become important warm places for those who cannot afford to heat their homes, to access services directly and through the use of free computers and as a place for recreation and social interaction. Libraries have hosted food banks, extended their opening hours and provided hot drinks. They have provided a place for home workers when they have no office and no heating at home.

In the post-pandemic world these additional community support roles, some see the future of libraries as ‘learning hubs’ or ‘family hubs’: multi-purpose venues supported by health and social services, employment and education services. They can offer help with job search and with preparation of CVs. Some offer training in coding and computer skills and classes to enhance reading and literacy for both young people and adults. They can be advice centres for accessing a range of personal support services.

Some have music collections and can provide studio space for practice on musical instruments and mixing desks, and even media lounges for aspiring designers, gamers and film-makers.

Some have business libraries to support business creation.

Libraries face the challenge of adjusting to technological change through a shift towards digital services and delivery models. Some libraries had begun transitioning their collections from print to digital formats even before the pandemic, but the trend was accelerated during the period of lockdown when libraries were closed and users had to rely on digital materials on-line. However digitizing existing print collections and controlling lending to avoid falling foul of complex copyright rules is not easy.

In summary, many libraries are finding new flexibility in the ways to use their space as inclusive community spaces. There is evidence of a changing profile of users with young people aged 15 - 24 being now more likely to use libraries than over 55s across the country and a growing number of business users. In the context of declining expenditure libraries have transformed their role within the community.

Independent Bookshops

It is interesting to compare this changing profile for public library services with that of the independent bookshops on the high street.

The pandemic and the growth of on-line sellers like Amazon have challenged bookshops in the same way that they have other high street traders. Now, with libraries, they face other challenges arising from inflation, higher costs and the cost-of-living crisis. Publishers too have had to face rising paper and printing costs. Yet the number of independent physical bookshops in the UK, as in the US, is on the increase, and print book sales are significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.

The pandemic allowed people in lockdown more time to read and more local living may have increased awareness of local bookshops in the community. Bookshops could still take orders on-line but had to find innovative ways of meeting demand through personal or postal deliveries and click and collect arrangements.  

It seems the experience of local booksellers during the time of the pandemic emphasized to many local bookshop owners the importance of maintaining community connections if they are to compete with the ‘click it and get it’ service of sellers such as Amazon.  Pre-pandemic many local bookshops hosted community events such as poetry readings, musical evenings and book launches. These continue, and more bookshops provide meeting spaces for community groups and cafes and sitting areas for informal social contacts and browsing. Many are becoming significant ‘third places’ in their neighbourhoods.

Like public libraries, bookshops can become community hubs as they continue to diversify the events and services they offer. Some bookshops are community-led with declared objectives such as promoting reading and literacy or helping reduce loneliness and contribute to mental health and wellbeing.

Other bookshops are developing a role in niche markets by specializing in stocking material on particular subjects or genres. Edinburgh, for example, now has a bookshop devoted entirely to romantic fiction. In so doing specialist bookshops will attract new people to the high street, adding to place identity and supporting the local economy.

Local bookshop keepers have also had to cope with new social media platforms such as BookTok and Bookstagram, BookTok for example, is a community on the TikTok app on which creators make short videos recommending, reviewing, or talking about books. Its hashtag (@BookTok) has been used on over 60 billion videos and is acknowledged as a strong influence on publishers and especially younger readers.

Also recently arrived in the UK is Bookshop.org, which claims to be an ethical online bookstore with a mission to financially support local independent bookshops by allowing them to create their own virtual shopfronts and receive a percentage of the book cover price on sales through their shopfront. Amid initial enthusiasm, some 350 local bookshops have signed up to the site and sales exceeded expectations, although now there is increasing criticism that its financial model is not generous, and it is attracting sales from people who are users of independent bookshops anyway.

Books and placemaking

So as the book economy continues to grow, it would seem that bookshops, like libraries, have also had to re-invent themselves if they are to retain their place on the high street, not only as retailers of books but also as a place for personal advice, for social connections and as a venue for a variety of social and cultural events. Both bookshops and libraries have established themselves as much more than placers to access books and other learning materials. They have come to fulfil a wider role as community hubs within their local communities and form significant elements with the ‘placeness’ of their host communities.

An interesting report from the Institute of Place Management (IPM) investigated how owners of independent bookshops saw their contribution to the vitality and viability of their local high streets. High proportions of owners saw their bookshops as contributing to a wide range of features IPM has identified as priorities for successful high streets such as diversity, attractiveness, innovation, walkability, livability and activities of their communities. At a time when high streets are becoming increasingly places to ‘do’ rather than merely places to shop, booksellers are significant players in contributing to the quality of the lived experience in many places. Their presence attracts footfall and supports other parts of the local economy.

Much the same could be said of local public libraries.  As a source of books for recreation and learning and a venue for local education courses, libraries also offer opportunities to access services, facilities and equipment local people may not otherwise have been able to enjoy. They also add to the richness of community life and enhance social inclusion.

Books and placemaking are intrinsically linked. The social connections and opportunities they provide are perhaps as important as their collections of books.