The number of books borrowed by elementary school children from local libraries in Japan reaches its highest point.

【2006-KN004】

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology released the interim report of the Social Education Survey in July, 2006. The Survey, which investigates the trends and numbers of users of social education facilities, such as community halls, libraries, museums, is carried out every three years.

According to the report, the number of books borrowed by elementary school children from local libraries from April 2004 to March 2005 reached 18.7 volumes per child. The number more than doubled in the past twenty years and increased 1.6 volumes compared with the survey conducted three years ago.

There are 7.2 million elementary school children in Japan, of whom 57.5% are registered library users and go to libraries 3.2 times per year.

Ref:

(2006.10.31 update)