HOW MANY people visit the new Stroud Library has been revealed.

The town's library - which was previously based in Lansdown  -  is now located in the Five Valleys Shopping Centre, opening on Tuesday, April 2. 

The library includes reading material, seating areas, printing, computer access, a bookable meeting room and more. 

Gloucestershire County Council says it moved the library from its old location in Lansdown to a 'more central and accessible site, designed to meet the needs of people who use it.'

GCC now say that this move has seen 'record-breaking' year has seen footfall at the library more than double year-on-year. 

A GCC spokesperson said: "The move saw record-breaking visitor numbers, with footfall up 53 per cent year on year.

"From April to June 2023 there were 17,362 visitors, but this figure rocketed up to 35,778 visitors from April to June 2024, with 815 new members."

This came as libraries across the county were celebrating an 11 per cent increase in footfall. 

There has also been an eleven per cent increase in footfall in libraries across the county. 

Other updates include a new customer-friendly website and the launch of a summer challenge for children and families.

It had the theme and focus of music and saw more than 7,000 under-13s engage with the library service through reading and attending events.

One of the most successful areas was the focus on climate change.

There has been investment in books and materials, and a dedicated series of events and talks for all ages, covering all themes around the environment.

Cllr Dave Norman, cabinet member for libraries, said: “Our library strategy set out the ambitions of the service over five years and I’m pleased to see the progress we have been making with so many wonderful achievements over the past year.

“I’m delighted so many people have been visiting our libraries to benefit from the wide ranges of free services on offer. Whilst the service is evolving, we’re committed to ensuring libraries remain at the heart of their communities.”