Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Municipal libraries are urged to offer coffee and cakes

Louise Jury Media Correspondent
Monday 10 February 2003 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Public libraries are being urged to copy bookshops by introducing comfortable sofas and serving coffee and cakes to transform a visit into a social experience.

Public libraries are being urged to copy bookshops by introducing comfortable sofas and serving coffee and cakes to transform a visit into a social experience.

In a 10-year strategy document published today, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport recommends the sort of Starbucks-style makeovers that have revolutionised retail chains such as Books etc and Waterstone's. Extending opening hours in the evenings and on Sundays also forms part of the blueprint.

Baroness Blackstone, the Arts minister, will cite the new branch in Peckham, south London – which won the Stirling Prize for building of the year in 2000 – as an example of how a library should work.

Traditionally, libraries have enjoyed enormous support. More people visit libraries than attend football matches or the cinema, according to official statistics. "But user numbers are starting to go down, with young people in particular losing the library habit once they leave school," a Culture Department source said.

Another attraction in the new-style library will be expert tuition for the public in how to create websites and develop other IT skills. This would extend the People's Network, a lottery-funded scheme that has made the internet available in every public library.

Traditionalists can be reassured that books have not been entirely forgotten. Libraries are to be encouraged to run summer reading challenges and after-school homework clubs. And every library will be expected to take part in the Bookstart scheme, which gives all babies a free book and a library ticket when they get their nine-month health check.

No extra money will be provided by the department, which sees the strategy as a framework for local authorities and funding agreements in future.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in