Connecticut Residents Accelerated Their Return to Libraries in 2023, Data Shows — Connecticut by the Numbers

Across public libraries in Connecticut, 2023 was a banner year, with COVID increasingly in the rear-view mirror.   Newly released reports include metrics that reveal increased use of libraries for a range of purposes.   Library visits, circulation, and program attendance have all increased, with library visits having doubled since FY2021. Libraries across Connecticut were visited by over 12.2 million people in FY2023.

Alongside these upward trends, there are a number of noteworthy highlights included in two reports, “CT’s Public Libraries: A Statistical Profile, 2022-2023” and “Statistical Trends in CT Public Libraries, 2023 [PDF]”:

•              Audio downloads have jumped by 17% since last year and 80% since FY2018, showing the popularity of apps like Libby, Hoopla, and Palace Project. There has also been nearly a 50% jump in borrowing of physical audio.

•              The number of non-library community meetings held in libraries rose to 51,363 in FY2023, an increase of over 100% from FY2022, demonstrating that libraries are meeting communities’ needs for space.

•              Introduced during the pandemic, online library card registration appears here to stay with over 75% of libraries participating. With this upgrade of ease and access, libraries have the power to increase the number of registered borrowers across the state.