About 3 years ago, TBUS and the Pinellas County Library system teamed up to begin a library lending program, with free beginner workshops done by our volunteers. We gave each of about a dozen libraries ukes to loan, with a tuner, gig bag, and instruction manual CD. The program has been imminently successful. I've started somewhere around 100 new ukers myself. The program quickly spread to 2 more counties. Most of the libraries have bought more ukes, which are checked out all the time, with a wait list.
Our system received a grant for $9,999.00 for music education, as a result of our program. I still teach a monthly workshop, and we've done kid's ukulele summer camps for 3 years now. We wrote our own program, and each one is taught by a working or retired school teacher.
I'd say, yes, ukes in libraries works!