Children in East Devon are borrowing and reading more books from their local libraries, figures have revealed.
The number of youngsters loaning literature from hubs in Exmouth, Sidmouth, Honiton, Seaton, Ottery St Mary and Budleigh Salterton was on the rise between July and September.
And more kids in the towns have taken part in the Summer Reading Challenge.
Axminster and Colyton were the only places where there was a year-on-year decline in the numbers.
The biggest increase in children borrowing books was in Ottery St Mary – up 20 per cent.
The number of youngsters taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge in Budleigh Salterton more than doubled.
Colyton and Seaton had the highest completion rates for the challenge – 73.5 per cent and 72.5 per cent respectively.
Children’s borrowing in East Devon Libraries, July – September
Axminster
2018: 3,642
2019: 3,288
Change: -9.72%
Budleigh Salterton
2018: 3,277
2019: 3,732
Change: +13.88%
Clyst Vale
2018: 98
2019: 191
Change: +94.90%
Colyton
2018: 753
2019: 569
Change: -24.44%
Exmouth
2018: 13,840
2019: 14,831
Change: +7.16%
Honiton
2018: 6,420
2019: 6,776
Change: +5.55%
Ottery St Mary
2018: 5,226
2019: 6,289
Change: +20.24%
Seaton
2018: 3,149
2019: 3,321
Change: +5.46%
Sidmouth
2018: 5,076
2019: 5,481
Change: +7.98%
Children’s borrowing in Exeter libraries, July – September
Exeter
2018: 46,912
2019: 45,085
Change: -3.89%
Pinhoe
2018: 1,735
2019: 2,215
Change: +27.67%
St Thomas
2018: 7,327
2019: 6,643
Change: -9.34%
Topsham
2018: 3,481
2019: 3,444
Change: -1.06%
Summer Reading Challenge in East Devon libraries
Axminster
2019 starters: 143
2018 starters: 174
Starters rate change: -18%
2019 completers: 68
2018 completers: 98
Completion rate in 2019: 47.5%
Budleigh Salterton
2019 starters: 326
2018 starters: 161
Starters rate change: +102%
2019 completers: 173
2018 completers: 104
Completion rate in 2019: 53%
Clyst Vale
2019 starters: 12
2018 starters: 0
Starters rate change: N/A
2019 completers: 6
2018 completers: 0
Completion rate in 2019: 50%
Colyton
2019 starters: 34
2018 starters: 37
Starters rate change: -8%
2019 completers: 25
2018 completers: 24
Completion rate in 2019: 73.5%
Exmouth
2019 starters: 849
2018 starters: 760
Starters rate change: +12%
2019 completers: 584
2018 completers: 529
Completion rate in 2019: 69%
Honiton
2019 starters: 285
2018 starters: 246
Starters rate change: +16%
2019 completers: 178
2018 completers: 181
Completion rate in 2019: 62.5%
Ottery St Mary
2019 starters: 250
2018 starters: 205
Starters rate change: +22%
2019 completers: 148
2018 completers: 122
Completion rate in 2019: 59%
Seaton
2019 starters: 189
2018 starters: 167
Starters rate change: +13%
2019 completers: 137
2018 completers: 99
Completion rate in 2019: 72.5%
Sidmouth
2019 starters: 223
2018 starters: 210
Starters rate change: +6%
2019 completers: 138
2018 completers: 103
Completion rate in 2019: 62%
Summer Reading Challenge in Exeter libraries
Exeter
2019 starters: 1,232
2018 starters: 1,083
Starters rate change: +14%
2019 completers: 649
2018 completers: 565
Completion rate in 2019: 53%
Pinhoe
2019 starters: 132
2018 starters: 61
Starters rate change: +116%
2019 completers: 54
2018 completers: 31
Completion rate in 2019: 41%
St Thomas
2019 starters: 360
2018 starters: 357
Starters rate change: +1%
2019 completers: 224
2018 completers: 248
Completion rate in 2019: 62%
Topsham
2019 starters: 146
2018 starters: 122
Starters rate change: +20%
2019 completers: 96
2018 completers: 71
Completion rate in 2019: 66%
In Devon’s 50 libraries, 39 saw an increase in number of children who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge.
Some 12,703 youngsters participated in the challenge this year, up from 11,162 in 2018. A total of 7,811 completed it in 2019 – more than the 6,661 last year.
In total, 1,366 children became new library members in order to take part.
The statistics were revealed at the December meeting of Devon County Council (DCC).
Devon libraries hosted 405 events attended by 9,563 children and the members heard that the Summer Reading Challenge resources used cost £10,390 – which equates to 83pence per participating child.
And youngsters’ borrowing across the county from July to September was up nearly four per cent.
A total of 268,677 library items were borrowed by children during July, August and September.
Members also heard that children’s borrowing numbers from July to September were 288,677 – a 3.78 per cent year-on-year increase.
