Public libraries in Cambridge now operate as hybrid spaces: part reading room, part digital access point and part community service.
That broader role matters because many everyday activities have moved online. Applying for work, accessing public services, managing accounts and finding reliable information can all require digital confidence as well as an internet connection.
Cambridge libraries provide digital access as well as books
Cambridgeshire Libraries currently describes every library in the county as a Digital Inclusion Hub. Visitors can use computers and Wi-Fi, while staff and volunteers can help people who need support using devices or online services.
Some libraries also offer one-to-one Digital Buddy sessions. The county library service participates in the National Databank at selected branches, including Cambridge Central, Arbury Court, Barnwell Road and Clay Farm, providing free mobile data to eligible low-income residents.
Library members can also borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks and access digital magazines and newspapers through services such as Libby, BorrowBox, uLibrary and PressReader.
Physical space still has value
Digital services have not removed the need for library buildings. For students, jobseekers, families and residents working or learning independently, libraries offer quiet space without the expectation of commercial spending.
This is especially useful in a city where housing costs can make access to private study or working space uneven. Libraries are one of the few indoor public environments where residents can stay for extended periods while reading, working or using online services.
Libraries sit between culture and public service
The modern library is therefore difficult to classify as purely cultural infrastructure. It supports reading and local knowledge, but it can also help residents navigate digital exclusion, employment searches and everyday administration.
That does not mean libraries can replace specialist advice or social services. Their strength lies in being a low-barrier first point of access: a place where people can find information, equipment and human assistance.
For Cambridge, the future of libraries is likely to depend on maintaining both sides of that role. Collections and reading remain central, but the value of the service increasingly includes connectivity, confidence and a shared public place in an expensive and highly digital city.