Libraries = recession sanctuary, part 2

As noted previously, the same goes, apparently, in Scotland, where Glasgow's libraries are noting "a steady rise in usage [...], culminating in a 12% rise in December compared with the previous year." Some interesting additional factoids: borrowing of nonfic is up 26% in Glasgow, "with particular interest being shown in literature which improves skills and literacy," and some branches are still facing closure or cut-backs despite the upsurge in usage (*sigh*). Also, I wasn't aware that, overall, while England has been cutting libraries, Scotland, specifically Glasgow, rebuilt and refurbished "10 branches and turning them virtually into hi-tech "learning centres" with more than 600 PCs among them."

There's a fun list of Glasgow's top books of 2008 at the end, too!