BOOKS
Free loans are a duty
Under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, councils must lend books and other printed material free to those who live, work or study in the area.
What can I borrow?
WHAT THE LIBRARY OFFERS
The free loan
on your doorstep.
In England, borrowing a library book is free by law.
Councils have a duty to run a comprehensive and efficient library service and to lend books free to people who live, work or study in their area. Most go further, with e-books, audiobooks, computers and Wi-Fi.
FREE book loans, by law
What can I borrow?- Books lent free
- Online loans too
- Wi-Fi and computers
- One card, many loans
THE SHORT ANSWER
Books are free.
Much else is too.
The law sets a minimum.
Each council decides what else its libraries offer.
ONLINE
Borrow from your sofa
16% of adults used libraries digitally in 2024/25. Almost half of them borrowed digital resources such as e-books and audiobooks.
See the numbers
MORE THAN BOOKS
Wi-Fi, computers, story time
Councils may also lend devices, run activities and offer Wi-Fi and computers. 26% of in-person visitors used the free Wi-Fi, computers or printing.
Make the most of it
FOUR WAYS TO USE YOUR CARD
One card,
more than books.
What is on offer varies by council, because each designs its own service. These are the things the guidance and survey point to.
Know who can borrow
Free book loans apply to people who live, work or study in the area, so you may be able to use more than one council's libraries.
Borrow online
Many people now use libraries digitally, including borrowing e-books and downloading audiobooks.
Reserve and renew
Online catalogues let users reserve or renew books and search for what they want before a visit.
Use the space
Libraries may offer Wi-Fi, computers and printing, activities, and services for children and for people with sight loss.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
More people,
thousands of branches.
One figure on how many adults use libraries,
one on how many library branches there are.
31%
Adults in England who used a library in a year
Up from 21% in 2021/22, when the survey began. 26% used a library in person and 16% online, and 10% did both.
USE · DCMS 2024/25
≈ 3,000
Public library branches in the areas it serves
Libraries Connected says its members run 176 library services with around 3,000 branches, serving over 61 million people.
BRANCHES · LIBRARIES CONNECTED
In 2024/25 women were more likely than men to use libraries in person (30% against 22%), and adults aged 16 to 29 were more likely than average to use them online.
WHAT DO PEOPLE USE IT FOR?
Pick a reason
to visit.
Choose an activity to see how many library users in England did it in 2024/25. The bar shows how common it was.
Figures from the DCMS Participation Survey 2024/25, main report, section 3 (libraries).
WHO DECIDES
A local service,
with a national duty.
There is no single national standard for libraries. Government guidance says a comprehensive and efficient service is one that best meets local need within available resources, and each council decides how to provide it.
Anyone who thinks their council's service falls short can complain to the Secretary of State under section 10 of the 1964 Act. The power to order a local inquiry has been used only once since 1964, in Wirral in 2009.
Questions
Questions people ask
Is borrowing a library book free?
In England, councils must lend books and other printed material free of charge to people who live, work or study in their area, under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.
Can I borrow e-books and audiobooks?
Libraries offer digital loans: the government's Participation Survey counts borrowing e-books and downloading audiobooks as digital library use, and 46% of digital users borrowed online resources.
How many people use libraries?
31% of adults in England used a library at least once in 2024/25, up from 21% in 2021/22. 26% visited in person and 16% used libraries online.
Why is my library different from my friend's?
Each council designs its own service to meet local needs. Government guidance sets no uniform national standard beyond the duty to be comprehensive and efficient.
What are the Universal Library Offers?
A framework from the charity Libraries Connected covering four areas: culture and creativity, health and wellbeing, information and digital, and reading.
Sources
- GOV.UK (DCMS): Libraries as a statutory service
- GOV.UK (DCMS): Participation Survey 2024/25, main report
- Libraries Connected: about public library services
- Libraries Connected: Universal Library Offers
Updated