Happy to escape into a book?

A story on the news this morning was celebrating that 36% of NI library users are children, higher than the UK average of 33%.

Locally, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was the most borrowed book last year – no surprise given the promotion of the book across NI libraries to children and adults alike. It was how I came to read the book!

The radio interview with a Derry librarian touched on the tension between books, the internet and video games. Her conclusion was that while children often turn to the internet for information and enjoy playing games, they are still happy to escape into a book.

A timely reminder that the consultation on the future provision of library services in Greater Belfast is open until 6 March. There’s an online questionnaire as well as the paper version and a series of public meetings.

In the meantime, are you happy to escape into a book?