In 2024, public libraries organized 18 percent more activities than in 2023. Compared to 2019, this was 80 percent more. Since the Library Act came into effect in 2015, more activities have been organized each year.
In 2024, just over half of all organized activities were focused on ‘education and development’ (208 thousand), 48 thousand more than in 2023. Compared to 2019, this number nearly doubled. Examples of these activities include language lessons, digital skills training, and meetings on digital literacy or cultural education.
In 2024, libraries lent physical books 51.5 million times, 16 percent less than in 2019. There has been a long-term decline in the lending of physical books. In contrast, more and more e-books are being lent via the online Library. In 2024, there were 5.8 million loans: almost 50 percent more than in 2019. Of the total number of books lent in 2024, 10 percent were e-books, compared to 6 percent in 2019.
In 2024, 8.3 thousand people were employed by a public library. This is over 4 percent more than in 2023 and nearly 20 percent more than in 2019. Additionally, 28 thousand people worked as volunteers, 6 percent more than in 2023.
In 2024, the average biking distance to the nearest library location or service point was 1.8 kilometers. Residents of Zeeland had the longest average biking distance (3.1 kilometers), while residents of South Holland had the shortest (an average of 1.4 kilometers).
In 8 municipalities, the nearest library is less than 1 kilometer away by bike. For residents of the municipalities of Schiermonnikoog (0.6 kilometers) and Vlieland (0.7 kilometers), the average biking distance is the smallest.
In 5 municipalities, the average distance to the nearest library is 5 kilometers or more. Residents of Noord-Beveland must bike the longest average distance (11.8 kilometers). Also, for residents of Veere (9.1 kilometers), Alphen-Chaam (6.6 kilometers), Roerdalen (6.9 kilometers), and Zundert (5.5 kilometers), the nearest library was on average further from home.
When all library locations are counted, such as library bus stops, the average distance to a library location is 1.6 kilometers for the whole of the Netherlands. In Zeeland, the average distance is then 1.4 kilometers.
The municipalities with the shortest biking distance to a library location are Schiermonnikoog (0.6 kilometers), Noord-Beveland (0.6 kilometers), and Veere (0.5 kilometers). This means that residents of Noord-Beveland and Veere have the longest biking distance to the nearest library, but the shortest biking distance to an alternative library location.