Situations where people felt anxious in libraries ranked high: "Theft," "User Troubles," and "Suspicious Individuals." What is the demand for entrance/exit management systems?

■ Awareness Survey on Public Library Usage Environment and Security

Public libraries are accessible places of learning that anyone can use for free.

However, precisely because a large, indeterminate number of people come and go, aren't there many people who harbor anxieties about safety?

Therefore, this time, in collaboration with Nacel Inc., we conducted a survey on "Public Library Usage Environment and Security" targeting 500 men and women nationwide who answered in a preliminary survey that they had used public libraries.

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"Public Library Usage Environment and Security" Survey Overview

Survey Method: Internet Survey

Survey Period: March 6, 2026 - March 23, 2026

Target Respondents: Men and women nationwide who answered in a preliminary survey that they had used public libraries

Valid Responses: 500 samples

Questionnaire Content:

Question 1: Have you ever felt anxious about safety or security within the library?

Question 2: In what kind of situations did you feel anxious? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 3: Do you think that entrance/exit gates and anti-theft systems would increase the prevention of book loss and a sense of security?

Question 4: Do you think that entrance/exit management via membership cards or IC cards would allow for more comfortable use?

Question 5: Please explain the reason.

Question 6: What kind of facilities or systems would be good for library safety measures?

※Since figures are rounded to two decimal places, the total may not be 100%.

■7.6% responded that they have "felt anxious about safety or security within the library."

First, we asked if people had ever felt anxious about safety or security within the library.

The results were 7.6% "yes" and 92.4% "no." While the majority seem to have no experience feeling anxious, it means about 1 in 13 people have experienced some form of anxiety. Although a minority, it can be said to be a proportion that cannot be ignored.

■Situations where anxiety was felt: "Concern about theft" was the highest at 44.7%

Next, we asked those who answered "yes" to having felt anxious about what kind of situations they felt anxious.

The most frequent answer was "Concern about theft" at 44.7%.

This was followed by "Troubles between users" at 34.2%, and "Witnessing suspicious individuals or behavior within the library" at 28.9%.

In libraries, concerns about theft of belongings or personal items when leaving one's seat were the loudest, followed by anxieties about user troubles and suspicious individuals. It can be inferred that the characteristic of libraries being open to anyone, with free entry and exit, paradoxically leads to security concerns.

■84.2% responded that "sense of security increases" with entrance/exit gates and anti-theft systems

Subsequently, we asked those who answered "yes" to having felt anxious whether the presence of entrance/exit gates and anti-theft systems would increase the prevention of book loss and a sense of security.

The results were 34.2% "strongly agree" and 50.0% "somewhat agree," totaling 84.2% who responded that their sense of security would increase. On the other hand, "not really agree" was 10.5%, and "not agree at all" was 5.3%.

It is clear that the majority of users who have felt anxious are looking forward to the introduction of entrance/exit gates and anti-theft systems. Such security measures seem to be directly linked not only to preventing book loss but also to users' sense of security.

■78.9% responded that they could "use it more comfortably" with entrance/exit management via membership cards or IC cards

Next, we asked those who answered "yes" to having felt anxious whether they thought they could use it more comfortably if entrance/exit management with membership cards or IC cards were in place.

The results were 28.9% "strongly agree" and 50.0% "somewhat agree," totaling 78.9% who responded that it would be more comfortable. "Not really agree" was 18.4%, and "not agree at all" was 2.6%.

We asked for reasons why they thought it would be more comfortable, and here are some examples.

Reasons for thinking it would be more comfortable to use

Entrance/exit management using membership cards or IC cards is positively received not only for enhancing users' sense of security but also as a measure to prevent the entry of suspicious individuals.

In particular, the sense of security from being able to easily identify individuals and trust in a well-managed environment seems to lead to comfort. It can be said that the entrance/exit management system plays an important role in creating an environment where users can feel safe.

■Facilities and systems required for library safety measures

Finally, we asked what kind of facilities or systems would be good for library safety measures.

What kind of facilities or systems would be good for library safety measures?

Looking at the responses, there were many calls for the installation of security cameras. In addition, requests were received from various perspectives, including baggage management, consideration for children's safety, and emergency guidance systems.

It can be seen that users are seeking a wide range of safety measures, including not only crime prevention but also everyday security and preparedness for emergencies.

■Conclusion

In this survey, 7.6% of people had felt anxious about safety in public libraries. On the other hand, 84.2% of users who felt anxious responded that the introduction of entrance/exit gates and anti-theft systems would increase their sense of security.

Precisely because public libraries are open places accessible to everyone, systems that protect users' peace of mind are important. By appropriately introducing security equipment such as entrance/exit management systems and security cameras, it may be possible to create a safer and more comfortable library environment.

＜For use in articles, etc.＞

・State that the source is "A survey by NEXER Inc. and Nacel Inc."

・Set a link to Nacel Inc. (https://www.nucel.co.jp/)

【About Nacel Inc.】

Representative Director: Norihiko Isogai

Location: Murakami Bldg. 2F, 13-4 Nihonbashi Hisamatsu-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0005

Tel: 03-3662-0079

【About NEXER Inc.】

Head Office: RISE ARENA BLDG. 11F, 4-5-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013

Representative Director: Yuya Miyata

URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp

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