Libraries are a vital part of the Canadian book supply chain. Since the 2019 release of Borrow, Buy, Read: Library Use and Book Buying in Canada, BookNet Canada has continued to examine the role of libraries in the Canadian book market with our original research as well as with the launch of our LibraryData service, which monitors the collections and circulation of libraries across the country.
On Loan: Library Use in Canada 2021 benchmarks library use in Canada by exploring the browsing, borrowing, and reading habits of Canadian library patrons. Comparing data from 2021 with past years, the study also reveals the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on library circulation.
This study incorporates data from our annual publications the Canadian Book Consumer Study 2021 and Canadian Leisure & Reading Study 2021, relying on both published and unreleased data from these consumer surveys.
Below we’ll share some highlights, but you can download this study for free in two accessible digital formats — get your PDF or EPUB copy now!
Who’s borrowing books?
As reported in the Canadian Book Consumer Study 2021, 19% of all Canadians borrowed a book from a public library in 2021.
Canadian book borrowers were 7% more likely than the average Canadian to identify as a woman — 60% were women and 40% were men.
Compared to the average Canadian, book borrowers were 5% more likely to live in a city or urban area, 4% more likely to have a university or college degree, and another 4% more likely to have a graduate or professional degree, while being equally likely to either work full time or be retired.
In their personal lives, book borrowers were 5% more likely to be married than the average Canadian and 14% less likely to live with someone under the age of 18, trends also consistent with borrowers of all formats.
Visiting the library
In 2021, 96% of book borrowers reported having a public library branch located near them and 73% of book borrowers visited their local library in person at least once, up significantly from 59% in 2020. All told, 97% of ebook borrowers, 93% of audiobook borrowers, and 77% of print book borrowers visited a public library at least once in 2021. The graph below shows the frequency of in-person library visits for all book borrowers in 2021 and 2020. The highest frequency of in-person library visits in 2021 was one to four times, at 46%.
Frequency of in-person library visits, 2020–2021
Compared to 50% in 2020, 69% of book borrowers visited their local library online at least once in 2021. Here, print book borrowers were the most frequent online library visitors in 2021 at 94%, compared to 68% of audiobook borrowers and 48% of ebook borrowers. The graph below shows the frequency of online library visits for book borrowers in 2021 and 2020. The majority of Canadian book borrowers visited the library online one to four times in 2021, at 55%.
Frequency of online library visits, 2020–2021
Other Highlights
Canadian book borrowers borrowed on average 5.5 books a month in 2021, with print being the most popular format.
Most Canadian book borrowers visited the library between one and four times in 2021, increasingly in person.
Canadian book borrowers were 4% more likely to read or listen to books every day than all Canadian readers in 2021.
In 2021, Canadian book borrowers were 10% more likely than all Canadian readers to read diversely.
This is only a small piece of our findings from the study. For the full scope of our research on library use and book borrowing in Canada, download your EPUB or PDF copy of the study here!
A deep dive into book prices in Canada from our upcoming Canadian Book Consumer Study 2023.