Half of Ipswich residents live within 15-minute walk of a library

Why it matters: Libraries serve as vital community hubs providing educational resources, employment support, health care services and a free source of entertainment for kids and their parents. Having easy access to these facilities can significantly impact community wellbeing.

The big picture: Ipswich residents have better access to a nearby library than almost anywhere else in the East of England, new figures show.

• Ipswich has seven public libraries, averaging one for every 19,900 residents

• 93% of residents can reach a library within 30 minutes on foot

• Every Ipswich resident lives within an hour's walk of a library

Libraries in Ipswich

How it compares:

• London dominates national library access, with nine of the top 10 best-connected areas

• Rural areas generally have poorer library access

• The West Midlands has half of the 10 worst-connected areas

Between the lines: While Ipswich's library provision is strong, there are concerns about library services nationally:

• More than 180 council-run libraries have closed or been transferred to volunteers since 2018

• Around 2,000 library jobs have been lost in the same period

What they're saying: James Gray from Libraries Connected said: "Whether in cities, towns or rural areas, libraries play an essential community role: providing free access to books and information, developing digital skills, supporting business, encouraging healthy lifestyles and much more."

Looking ahead: Councils face significant funding challenges which could impact access to libraries both locally and nationally:

• A £2.3bn funding gap is predicted for 2025-26

• This could rise to £3.9bn in 2026-27

• The Local Government Association is calling for "significant and sustained" government funding to maintain community services.

The bottom line: While Ipswich residents enjoy better library access than many parts of the country, the future of library services nationally faces uncertainty amid growing council funding pressures. In the meantime, let's be thankful for the brilliant access we have in our town.