I chose this topic because libraries are often treated as if they are becoming old-fashioned. I also used to think of libraries mainly as places for books and study. But after looking at the NSW public library data, I felt the story was more interesting than that.
In 2024–25, NSW public libraries recorded 28,234,782 in-person visits, delivered 108,152 programs and events, and attracted 1,888,754 program attendances. These numbers made me realise that libraries are not simply disappearing. They are changing into public spaces where people can learn, connect, use digital services and take part in community activities.
Function: To inform readers that public libraries
are still relevant, but their role is changing.
Tone: Clear, evidence-based and slightly
surprising.
So what? Libraries should not be seen only as book
rooms. The data shows they are still important community spaces.
This story uses open data from the State Library of New South Wales to show how libraries continue to matter in everyday public life.
Source: State Library of New South Wales, Public Library Statistics 2024–25. Hover over the bars to see the library service and visit numbers.
The first chart shows the library services with the highest physical visits. This matters because it goes against the simple idea that people no longer need library buildings.
So what? The data suggests that library spaces are still being used in large numbers. People may go there for books, but also for study space, services, events and a quiet public place.
Source: State Library of New South Wales, Public Library Statistics 2024–25. Hover over the bars to compare program attendance and number of programs.
The second chart looks at program attendance. This is where the story becomes more than just “people still visit libraries”. It shows that many people are also attending organised library activities.
So what? Libraries are not only lending spaces. They are also places where communities come together for learning, activities and support that may be free or low-cost.
Source: State Library of New South Wales, Public Library Statistics 2024–25. Hover over each point to see the library service, number of programs and attendance.
Each point represents one library service. The overall pattern suggests that services running more programs often record higher program attendance.
This does not prove that programs are the only reason for higher attendance. Larger areas may naturally have more people, more staff and more activities. Still, the pattern shows that programming is a major part of how libraries are now used.
So what? If libraries want to stay useful, community programming appears to be one important part of their value.
Source: State Library of New South Wales, Public Library Statistics 2024–25. Hover over each bar to see the attendance by program type.
This chart shows that literacy and lifelong learning is the largest program area. That makes sense because reading and learning are still central to libraries.
However, the other categories are just as important for the story. Programs also relate to digital inclusion, wellbeing, creativity, citizenship and workforce development.
So what? Libraries are still connected to books, but the data shows they are also supporting wider community needs.
Source: State Library of New South Wales, Public Library Statistics 2024–25. Hover over each bubble to compare visits, program attendance and number of programs.
The final chart brings the story together by comparing visits, program attendance and number of programs in one view.
It also shows that libraries are not all used in the same way. Some services have very high visits, while others stand out more for program attendance or number of events. This makes the story more realistic because different communities may need different kinds of library support.
So what? The value of a library is not only about how many people walk through the door. It is also about what people are able to do once they are there.
The data does not support the idea that public libraries are dying. In NSW, libraries still attract millions of visits and strong participation in programs and events.
The stronger story is that libraries are changing. They still support reading and learning, but they are also becoming places for digital access, wellbeing, creativity and community connection. Based on this data, I think libraries should not be seen as outdated book rooms. They should be seen as public spaces that continue to support everyday community life.
State Library of New South Wales 2026, Public Library Statistics 2024–25: Public library services in New South Wales, State Library of New South Wales, viewed 8 June 2026, https://pls.sl.nsw.gov.au/managing-my-library/public-library-statistics.
State Library of New South Wales 2026, Public Library Statistics 2024–25 data tables, State Library of New South Wales, viewed 8 June 2026, https://pls.sl.nsw.gov.au/managing-my-library/public-library-statistics.
Generative AI was used to support topic planning, R coding assistance, editing and structure refinement. The dataset, visualisations, final wording and interpretation were reviewed and adapted by me. The visualisations are based on the State Library of New South Wales Public Library Statistics 2024–25 dataset.