THE number of people using Basildon Library has increased since the Job Centre moved to the same building.
Independent councillor Kerry Smith asked councillors at Essex County Council whether the library service is now using this unique opportunity to actively reach out to Job Centre clients to improve literacy rates in Basildon.
In its response, the county council said it had seen improvements.
It continued: “We estimate that footfall has increased from around 300 people per day to 500.
“As an indicator, participation in baby and toddler sessions has doubled, monthly loan figures have increased by up to 10 per cent year on year, usage of our Public Network computers is seeing a ten to 20 per cent increase year on year and with WiFi hits on site increasing rapidly, three times larger in June than February this year.”
The library is also contacting Adult Community Learning and the Department of Work and Pensions to hold events together, with the first one planned for September.
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