Guernsey library sees record level of footfall

The number of people visiting and using a library on Guernsey has reached a record high.

A report by Guille-Alles Library found footfall rose to 162,825 in 2025, a 25-year high, as well as an increase in book loans and new memberships.

It said about 150,000 books were borrowed, the library welcomed 2,346 new members, which was a third more than in 2024.

Chief librarian Cornelia James said the "strong figures" across the service underlined the essential role the library continued to play at the "heart of island life".

She said: "We're working hard to build on this momentum in 2026."

Head of marketing and customer services at the library, Adam Bayfield, said there were "lots of reasons" numbers were on the up on the island.

"The library staff are incredibly passionate and creative and always coming up with amazing ideas for new initiative and services," he said.

Bayfield said it was clear Guernsey people enjoyed reading following an island wide survey which showed more people in Guernsey were reading compared to than in the UK.

Bayfield said: "We have worked really hard to make sure our services are always evolving to the changing needs of the community, that means expanding our range of services but also developing whole new areas of service.

He said when libraries were set up about 150 years ago, the purpose was to provide free access for the whole community to read books and to get trustworthy information, which he said was more relevant and needed now than it ever had been.

"It's as needed now and providing free access to books but also, it's a place to come and study, or to meet others and there's not really many other places in our society you can do that for free," he added.

"Everyone who comes through the door, it's for a different reason."

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