• 24% growth in unique PressReader users in the last year.
• 37% increase in issues opened compared to the previous year.
• New patrons joining the library specifically for free magazine and newspaper access.
• Reduced staff admin time and no more juggling individual magazine licenses.
• A modernized digital offering that “sells itself” once patrons hear it’s free.

Northumberland Libraries serves a large, widely distributed county with 30 branches and one mobile library. Its population includes many older residents and younger digital-first users, with high demand for reliable reading options both in-library and remotely.

Before PressReader, Northumberland Libraries relied on a mix of physical newspapers and a small selection of digital magazines sourced individually through a digital service. Tight budgets and limited licenses meant they could only offer around 20 digital magazines at a time. Patrons frequently had to wait for physical copies, while staff had to make careful, sometimes risky choices about which digital titles to purchase. One wrong guess could mean wasted budget and disappointed readers.

Then came the pandemic. As buildings closed and digital usage soared, the library needed a sustainable way to offer modern reading options to everyone — including residents spread across rural Northumberland.

At the same time, the emerging cost-of-living crisis made magazines and newspapers a luxury many couldn’t justify. Long-standing library members were relying on the library for affordable access. But the existing model wasn’t built for that demand.

More importantly, the team recognized that patrons needed more than the same local titles they had always borrowed. Language students and globally-minded readers wanted access to international publications, while others wanted the option to access their favorite titles from home. With staff capacity and budgets stretched thin, the library also needed a tool that was easy to manage and promote.

Northumberland Libraries chose PressReader for four clear reasons:

1. A sustainable content ecosystem
The library system can now offer much more news and magazine content in real time, without having to worry about distribution, for a fraction of the cost.

2. Unlimited access to thousands of titles
Instead of paying for ~20 digital magazines with caps and limited licenses, the library now offers every patron full access to PressReader’s entire catalog of thousands of newspapers, magazines and ebooks.

“You don’t need to say much more than ‘there are all these newspapers and magazines for free,” says Fiona Corbett, Digital Resources Officer at Northumberland Libraries. “PressReader sells itself.”

3. Seamless access across devices
Patrons can read PressReader on Hublet tablets in-library, on their own devices and using offsite access, which now drives the majority of usage. The data backs it up: over six months, offsite access counted for 6.5 million article opens compared to 109,400 onsite. Plus, patrons have highlighted how easy PressReader is to use.

4. A global collection
Though Northumberland is predominantly English-speaking, language students and globally curious residents regularly browse international publications — from U.S. papers to European titles — for enrichment and different perspectives.

Since adopting PressReader, Northumberland Libraries has seen sustained growth in digital engagement. Readers are embracing the ability to access newspapers and magazines from home, on the go or inside their local branch.

“Since the pandemic, digital usage has continued to rise,” says Corbett. This reflects a long-term shift in how patrons prefer to read.

The data tells the story clearly:

• 24% year-over-year increase in unique PressReader users from 2024 to 2025
• 37% increase in issues opened compared to the previous year during the same period

Most notably, the vast majority of PressReader usage happens offsite, showing just how important this resource has become for residents living across Northumberland’s widely distributed communities. Digital access is a core service that helps patrons stay informed and connected, regardless of how often they visit a physical branch.

PressReader has also helped the library attract new members who might not have considered joining before. According to Corbett, “several patrons have shared that they discovered PressReader through library events or promotional materials and were thrilled to learn about everything they could access for free with their library card.” For many, especially during the cost-of-living crisis, unlimited digital reading has offered both financial relief and meaningful support for wellbeing.

And for staff, PressReader has reduced the administrative burden of managing individual digital magazine licenses, freeing them from guesswork and allowing them to focus on patron support.