Dunedin Public Libraries has reported a large rise in the number of people using its services, a 23% increase, or 88,147 people, in the three months to October 31 compared with the same quarter last year.
Library services manager Bernie Hawke said other libraries around the country were also reporting higher visitor numbers, with the increases possibly due to the ailing economy.
"Anecdotally, we are finding more people use libraries in tougher economic times."
A decline in disposable incomes could be one reason why people were turning up at the library, he said.
People were using the library for a wide range of reasons, not just for borrowing books.
"A lot of people come in and just read the newspaper or magazines," Mr Hawke said.
Despite the large increase in visitor numbers, borrowing had increased only 2.1%, or 11,921, items compared with the same three-month period last year.
For the year ending June 30, Dunedin Public Libraries loaned a total of 1,664,796 items, down 1.4% on the previous year.
The drop could be due to the fine weather as "people were engaged in more outdoor activities rather than reading indoors".
Of the 720,290 catalogued items, some books were borrowed and never returned, despite follow-up notices, he said.
In 2007-08, 3635 books were not returned - including items that may have been damaged or lost while on loan, with a total of $25,948 received for lost or damaged items.
In addition, 689 books were reported stolen or missing from shelves despite increased security, he said.
"No particular pattern or trend of books missing from the shelves and presumably stolen, or borrowed and never returned, has been identified."
Making up for the lost books were the 1855 books donated to the Dunedin Public Libraries, Mr Hawke said.
A total of $164,073 was received by the libraries from extended loan charges.
