Libraries in Wandsworth, including Tooting and Earlsfield, have continued to be amongst the most popular and best-used in the country.

This comes from the latest figures released by public service accountancy body CIPFA.

The CIPFA statistics, which cover the financial year 2019-20 and so pre-date the pandemic, show that Wandsworth's libraries issued more books than any other library service in London for the third year running.

In the 12-month period between April 2019 and March 2020 the borough's library network lent 1,383,740 books, which includes 719,416 children's books.

The CIPFA data also shows that local libraries issued 4,197 books per 1,000 residents. This is the 2nd highest figure in London and the 4th highest in England.

To reflect the importance and value of local library services, the council has committed investment to improve library buildings at the Battersea, Earlsfield, Tooting and York Gardens branches.

Culture spokesman Cllr Steffi Sutters said: "These are excellent figures and show just what an important public service our libraries offer.

"A huge part of that success is because we have worked hard to not only keep our libraries network intact, but also because we are investing significant sums in delivering bigger and better modern libraries.

"This investment and commitment has been happening at a time when many other London boroughs are closing their libraries, whilst here in Wandsworth we are investing in new ones.

"I'm especially pleased to see the high number of children's books borrowed.

"We know that young people who regularly read do better in school, so making sure they have access to a neighbourhood library where they can read, do their homework, borrow books and access computers helps give them a better chance of getting on in life."

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