A campaign to boost library membership in Cumbria has been a big success.
The number of people joining libraries in the three months from April 2008 rose by 84 per cent when compared with the same time last year.
The leap in new borrowers is being attributed to a membership campaign carried out by the county council to mark the National Year of Reading.
In total, almost 6,000 people heeded the campaign’s call for them to join their local library. Special promotional events were organised to encourage people to become members.
One event saw Cumbrians invited to take part in a mass-read; another involved librarians reading in some of the county’s more unusual locations, including the bowels Honister slate mine, a bear enclosure at the South Lakes Wild Animal Park, and the top of a 60ft climbing wall in Kendal.
Councillor Gary Strong, cabinet member responsible for library services at Cumbria County Council, said: "There has been a great response to the National Year of Reading in Cumbria.
"Library staff have really pulled out all the stops to use this year to promote the benefits of library membership. The results from this campaign are a huge success and something we hope to build upon in the future."
Joining Cumbria Libraries is simple and membership is free. People can join through their local library or online at http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/libraries/
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Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228 226337.