Ireland's Public Libraries Record Two Million More Visits as Borrowing Soars to 22.8 Million Items
Ireland's network of 330 public libraries welcomed two million additional visitors over the past two years, with borrowing reaching a record 22.8 million items in 2025 — a figure that underscores the enduring and expanding role of libraries as community anchors in an increasingly digital age, according to data released by the Local Government Management Agency to mark National Library Open Day.
Background
The public library service in Ireland has undergone a quiet transformation over the past decade. Once perceived primarily as repositories of physical books, libraries have evolved into multi-purpose community hubs offering digital literacy support, career development resources, sensory-friendly spaces, and Irish language programming. The network, which spans every county in the Republic, is funded through local authorities and overseen by the LGMA, which compiles annual statistics on usage, membership, and borrowing patterns.
The growth in visits — from 13.9 million in 2023 to 15.9 million in 2025 — represents a sustained upward trend that has defied predictions of decline in the face of online competition. Library professionals have attributed the increase to a deliberate broadening of services, with branches increasingly functioning as warm, accessible spaces for people who might otherwise have nowhere to go during the day, including older adults, job seekers, new arrivals to Ireland, and young people seeking a quiet study environment.
The borrowing figures tell an equally striking story. Total items issued rose from 16.2 million in 2023 to 17.5 million in 2024 and then surged to 22.8 million in 2025. Of that 2025 total, 12.3 million were physical books and audiovisual materials, while 10 million were digital items — e-books, audiobooks, online magazines, and newspapers — reflecting the successful integration of digital lending platforms into the library offer.
Key Developments
The data, released on Saturday to coincide with National Library Open Day, shows that more than 790,000 people hold active library cards in Ireland, giving them access to a collective pool of 11 million books and e-publications. Dr Stuart Hamilton of the LGMA described the figures as evidence of a service that has successfully reinvented itself for the twenty-first century. "Libraries are not just about books," he said. "They are about community, connection, and opportunity."
Among the programmes driving footfall are the Right to Read initiative, which supports adults with literacy difficulties; Healthy Ireland at Your Library, which provides health information and wellbeing resources; and the My Open Library scheme, which extends access hours in select branches beyond standard staffed times. Irish language conversation circles — ciorcal comhrá — have also proven popular, particularly in urban branches where learners seek informal practice opportunities.
The surge in digital borrowing is particularly notable. The 10 million digital items issued in 2025 represent a near-doubling of the figure from two years earlier, driven by the expansion of platforms such as BorrowBox, which allows cardholders to download e-books and audiobooks directly to their devices. The service has proven especially popular with commuters, parents of young children, and people with visual impairments.
Why It Matters
The library figures arrive at a moment when public discourse about community infrastructure is dominated by housing, healthcare, and transport. The data offers a corrective: a publicly funded service that is not merely surviving but growing, and doing so without significant additional capital investment. This is the third consecutive year in which both visits and borrowing have increased, suggesting a structural shift in how Irish people relate to their local library rather than a temporary post-pandemic bounce.
For context, the Republic's library network compares favourably with comparable European systems. The 22.8 million items borrowed in 2025 represents roughly 4.5 items per capita — a figure that places Ireland above the European average and reflects a genuine reading culture that policymakers would do well to nurture. Unlike the UK, where library closures have been a recurring political controversy, Ireland has maintained its branch network largely intact, and the dividend is visible in these numbers.
The growth in digital lending also has implications for the publishing industry. Irish publishers and authors benefit from library lending fees, and the expansion of digital borrowing has opened new revenue streams that did not exist a decade ago. The library system, in this sense, is not a competitor to the book trade but a partner in sustaining it.
Local Impact
The benefits of the library network are felt most acutely at local level. In Dublin, branches in Ballyfermot, Finglas, and Tallaght have become essential resources for families navigating the cost-of-living crisis, offering free internet access, printing facilities, and warm spaces during winter months. In Cork, the county library service has expanded its mobile library routes to reach rural communities in West Cork and the Mizen Peninsula. In Galway, the Westside branch has developed a particularly strong programme for new communities, with multilingual story times and citizenship preparation resources. Across the country, the library card remains one of the most democratic documents in Irish civic life — free, universally available, and opening doors to services that would otherwise cost money.
What's Next
The LGMA is expected to publish a new five-year strategy for the public library service in early 2027, with a particular focus on expanding digital infrastructure, increasing opening hours in high-demand urban branches, and developing the library's role as a community health resource. A review of the BorrowBox contract is also anticipated, with the possibility of expanding the range of digital content available to cardholders. National Library Open Day events continue across the country through the weekend, with free workshops, author talks, and family activities at branches from Donegal to Kerry.
