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![\"Ruth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3991482_web1_260218-Library-Streeter2a-.jpg\")
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Ruth Bonneville \/ Free Press<\/p>\n
Jesson Downie leaves the Millennium Library with two bags of books. Downie says he uses the library several times a week, calling it \u2018a one-stop-shop\u2019 for a variety of services.<\/p>\n
During the pandemic, visits plummeted; there were only 622,000 visits in 2021 and 804,000 in 2020.<\/p>\n
Jesson Downie, who was lugging two tote bags full of books to his car from the Millennium Library Wednesday afternoon, says he still uses the library several times a week for a variety of services.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe library is full of things you can utilize, it\u2019s a one-stop-shop,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
During the pandemic access to libraries was restricted, but Downie reserved books online and picked them up in the library foyer.<\/p>\n
These days, he uses the city\u2019s app to reserve books, but he\u2019ll still browse through books on the stacks when he picks up his order.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t David McLean says he uses the Millennium and the Bill and Helen Norrie Library several times per week to use the public Wi-Fi, but feels the city service is, generally, underused.<\/p>\n \u201cI think people do use it, but they just use it to reserve books, and then they come in, they check all their books, and they don\u2019t stay,\u201d he said. \u201cI think people generally could benefit from spending time in the library.\u201d<\/p>\n The pandemic has changed the way people use public services and access public spaces, says Brigitte L\u2019Heureux, executive director of the Manitoba Library Association.<\/p>\n Attendance in other sectors is still recovering, too, says L\u2019Heureux, who works with organizations across Winnipeg, including the Federation of Francophone Parents of Manitoba.<\/p>\n \u201cI think none of us have actually physically returned to pre-pandemic numbers, but people are still using library resources,\u201d she said. \u201cI think that what we\u2019ve noticed post-pandemic is that services are not limited in physical structures, but can also go beyond physical structures.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t E-book borrowing has increased in recent years, which could factor in to visitor numbers being down, said Irmy Nikkel, administrative co-ordinator of collections and borrower services for the city\u2019s libraries.<\/p>\n City data shows item borrowing has been consistent over the last decade, with a slight increase in e-book borrowing in 2024. E-book borrows increased to 1.52 million borrows in 2023 compared with 1.77 million in 2024. Figures for 2025 were not available.<\/p>\n Coun. Vivian Santos, chair of the community services committee, says the city could do more to advertise library services and extended hours. She\u2019s encouraged the numbers are still trending upward.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t The city has several initiatives to get the word out about library services and sign up Winnipeggers up for library cards, including the city\u2019s \u201cbook bike.\u201d<\/p>\n The book bike travels to community events and festivals. Staff can sign up people for library cards on the spot. The bike even has a miniature trailer attached to it where new library members can borrow titles on the fly.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Ruth Bonneville \/ Free Press<\/p>\n David MacLean says he uses the city\u2019s libraries for access to public Wi-Fi, but he feels they are underused and thinks people would benefit from spending more time in libraries.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re really trying to remind people that when budgets are tight and there aren\u2019t so many free events, you can go to the library,\u201d Nikkel said.<\/p>\n The city is opening its 21st branch at Garden City Shopping Centre later this year, which will help to boost numbers and broaden Winnipeggers\u2019 access to library facilities, Santos said.<\/p>\n nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t Nicole Buffie Nicole Buffie is a reporter for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College\u2019s Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom as a multimedia producer in 2023. Read more about Nicole<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Nicole produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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