Essex people are greater readers than those in most other parts of the country, official figures have shown.
Figures released by CIPFA - The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy - for 1998/99, show that Essex libraries issued 10.5 books per head of the population, compared with 8.7 in other English counties.
It also showed they make 259 requests per 1,000 population for various material through libraries, compared with 149 per 1,000 in other counties.
Stock turnover in Essex of 6.5 per cent and net expenditure per 1,000 of the population, at £1.10, is equal to other English counties.
More than 45 per cent of the county's population hold a library membership ticket and 9.7 million visits are made to Essex libraries each year.
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