In 2022, libraries organised more activities than ever before. The number of visits to libraries also rose. These are among the findings of an annual study conducted by the KB, National Library of the Netherlands, into the state of Dutch public libraries in 2022. The KB conducted this study in cooperation with the Association of Public Libraries of the Netherlands (VOB), the Foundation of Cooperating POIs in the Netherlands (SPN) and Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The figures show that the library is steadily reinforcing its position as a central public meeting place.
Strong recovery since COVID-19 measures
Libraries were having to cope with COVID-19 measures until early 2022. Their opening hours, for example, were restricted. However, libraries have since undergone a strong recovery. In 2022, libraries were visited a total of 50.3 million times. At the lowest point during the pandemic, visitor numbers plummeted to 31.3 million per year. Activities organised by the libraries in 2022 also rose to a record number of 247 thousand, confirming the libraries’ position as a central meeting place for everyone.
More new library members, more items borrowed
In 2022, the libraries had 1.3 million adult members and 2.2 million youth members (up to 18 years). Together, they borrowed more printed books than in the previous year: a total of 53.3 million compared with 39.8 million in 2021. This growth shows that the libraries are catching up nicely, although the number of printed books borrowed is still lower than the number before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The online library also saw growth. The number of accounts for the national public library (the Dutch online library) increased by 20% to over 524 thousand. Finally, in 2022 almost 2.1 million audio books and 5.3 million e-books were borrowed through the online library.
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Click on the infographic to view all figures.
More books borrowed via the Library at School
More books were borrowed via the 'Library at School' or similar school-level partnerships as well. These initiatives see schools, libraries and municipalities joining forces to encourage children and young adults to read more. In 2022, approx. 6.5 million library books were borrowed, compared with approx. 4 million during the pandemic. ‘Library at School’ reached over 781 thousand schoolchildren during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Statistics from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
For the first time, this year’s statistics also reflect figures from libraries in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Approx. 32,6 thousand inhabitants of the islands Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten were members of a public library in 2022.
About this research
Every year, the KB collects this data as part of the Public Library Act. The KB presents the figures annually in the form of a dossier, a dashboard and an infographic.
Contact
- Annemiek van de Burgt, research and knowledge advisor
- Mirjam Klaren, research and knowledge advisor
- Mirjam van den Bremen, policy advisor
