The number of Kingston library members has hit its highest for a decade, as book-lovers cut costs during the recession.
Figures showed 8,184 new members joined in the year to April, taking the total of active members to 51,870.
Library staff put it down to people tightening their purse strings and looking for free activities, with rising unemployment giving people more time.
More than 15,000 books were issued every week on average in the year to April, an increase of 11 per cent on the year before.
New Malden library manager Adam Moore said scores of people descended on his branch on Monday this week after it was closed for a refit for two weeks.
He said: “It was absolutely manic, I’ve never seen anything like it. People wanted to see what was new because we had the new self-service machines put in.”
He said the Seeking Work Group, which gets help with CVs and job hunting on the computers, has boomed since the recession began.
Mr Moore, who is studying part-time for an MA at University College London and recently appeared on University Challenge, said: “Libraries are never going to be the hippest places in the world but we’re doing more to attract young people.”
He said the library has started stocking the top 10 titles in the book charts, and manga cartoon books to appeal to teenagers.
For more details on summer events visit kingston.gov.uk/libraries.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here