THERE were more than 350,000 visits to Halton’s libraries last year, with a novel about retired super sleuths being among the most borrowed books.

A report to Halton Council’s Employment, Learning and Skills, and Community Policy and Performance Board showed there were 351,317 visits to the borogh’s four libraries in 2022.

Halton has four libraries - Runcorn, Halton Lea, Widnes and Ditton - serving a population of 128,500. It also has a community library service which is offered to care and residential homes, as well as a home library service.

Halton Libraries have more than 136,000 books in stock with collections for both children and adults. Library users can take out 20 books at a time. and there were 199,050 books loaned out last year.

The most popular fiction book was The Man who Died Twice, the best-selling sequel to The Thursday Murder Club by comedian Richard Osman.

The most popular non-fiction book was Hear Me Out, the autobiography of Girls Allowed singer Sarah Harding - who died from breast cancer in 2021.
The most loaned children’s fiction book was The World’s Worst Parents by David Walliams, and the most loaned non-fiction was the Star Wars Mandalorian Handbook.

Halton Libraries’ users also have access to more than 40,000 e-book and e-audiobook titles via the Borrowbox app. The report revealed there were 15,552 e-book downloads last year, and 16,585 audio downloads.

The library service also runs a range of classes, with 2,297 adults and children attending last year.

The council has also unveiled a new strategy for its library service for the next five years, which will involve greater work with schools and increasing library membership among children, as well as introducing IT help sessions and having more community outreach services. Part of the strategy is also to investigate new income streams and make 'efficiencies'.

An introduction to the strategy - which will have to be signed off by the council’s ruling cabinet - said: “Halton Libraries’ aim is to provide an energetic, diverse service with an inclusive offer across all of our communities.

"This strategy provides a framework for the future of the service, so that Halton Libraries can continue to meet the needs of local communities and support the aims and objectives of the council.”