Despite the ubiquitousness of digital life and the concerns about its impact on young people’s attention spans, public library membership in the Netherlands is healthier than ever before, especially among children and young adults. New data from the National Library, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and the Public Library Network show that youth membership of public libraries is steadily increasing year on year; in 2024 it reached 73% of children up to the age of 18. This improvement can be traced to multiple changes in public policy, including an increase in activities, a boost in memberships through school programs and growth in library staff and volunteers.
By 2024, more than one in five residents in the Netherlands (approximately 3.7 million people) had a public library membership, according to a recent press release by the Association of Public Libraries (VOB). This is a 2% increase compared to the year before. Of these members, 2.4 million are children and young people, meaning that three-quarters of people under 18 are now members of a public library. These numbers coincide with an increase in public library paid staff – 8.300 in 2024 (4% more than in 2023) – and volunteers: 28.000 in 2024 (6% more than in 2023).
Such improvements are not exclusive to last year, but are in line with increases observed in 2023 and 2022. The effort shows a sustained commitment to involve young people with their public libraries, as stated by VOB director Klaas Gravesteijn, who explains: ‘Libraries are attracting and engaging a record number of young people. In an age where smartphones and social media are increasingly demanding young people’s attention, that’s a significant achievement. Our ambition is to reach all children, both in the neighbourhood and at school. With our collections, cultural offerings, creative spaces and study areas, the library is indispensable for the development of our youth.’
Indeed, today’s library is not limited to a repository and a system for lending books, but is instead centred around creating and maintaining a community. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), in 2024 Dutch libraries organized 398.000 activities (18% more than the year before), and consequently brought together more participants for them: 5.4 million people, an 11% increase compared to the year prior. These activities included courses in digital skills, language practices, cultural education, digital literacy and digital citizenship, among other subjects.
These advances are not the result of one single change or exclusively recent implementations; they come from multiple policies that have been years in the making. A decade ago, in 2015, the government implemented the Library Act, a comprehensive policy for public libraries and the National Library of the Netherlands (KB), which defines their tasks, functions and responsibilities, with an orientation towards libraries’ social function and diversity. Within this philosophy, the Library at School program (Bibliotheek op School), a national policy between schools and public libraries to promote reading and media literacy, has reached 876.000 students between 2023 and 2024, the highest number to date. Furthermore, library membership is now free for all under-18s, taking away limitations for low-income parents.
In line with the times, public libraries are also expanding their digital services. According to VOB, in 2024 around 5.8 million e-books and over 2.6 million audiobooks were borrowed, which is 5% and 14% more than the year before, respectively. In contrast, in 2024 16% fewer physical books were borrowed than in 2019. The convenience of digital circulation is also relevant since the cycling distance to a public library is on average 1.8 kilometres.
In summary, public libraries are stronger and more relevant than ever before. As the Public Library Network states, a bibliodiverse library system reflects a more diverse and inclusive society. In this sense, libraries ‘are a place where everyone is welcome and can connect. And through the library collection, everyone can discover and learn about a world of different perspectives and stories.’
Written by Juan Álvarez Umbarilia