9/1/2008 8:44:00 PM Library use skyrockets as economy suffers
Jo. L. Keener/The Daily Courier
Jefferson Hammel browses through the racks of books at the Prescott library. All areas of the library showed an increase in use this last summer.
PRESCOTT - A visual survey of the Prescott Public Library tells the story, and the statistics back it up: As the local economy continues to fall behind, the use of the library is picking up steam.
Stop by the Goodwin Street library on a weekday afternoon, and people will be crowding the Internet computers, standing in line to check out books, and filling most every chair in the periodical area.
On a recent Thursday, for instance, 27 people were busy on computers upstairs, and another half dozen were in line in the checkout area.
If library users feel that the local venue is busier than usual, Library Director Toni Kaus says it is not their imagination.
In virtually every category that the library measures, the past several months have shown double-digit growth.
And while she attributes part of that growth to the library's innovative programs and its refurbished setting, Kaus said this year's growth goes beyond what she would have expected from those attributes.
"In the spring, we really started noticing all of the different things we measure picking up," Kaus said.
For example, she mentioned the library's summer reading program for children. Even though it is a perennial favorite among families, Kaus calls this summer's increase from 450 children the previous year to 770 this summer "a huge increase."
Youth Services Lead Librarian Amadee Ricketts agrees, noting that the 70-percent increase is significantly greater than the library's usual growth from year to year.
In fact, she said the library had to turn many children away this summer because the programs filled up so quickly.
"The phones were ringing the first day," Ricketts said of the programs that offered free arts and crafts and encouraged children to "catch the reading bug." She added: "We had waiting lists to get on the waiting lists."
Like Kaus, Ricketts sees the increases as economy-related.
"Historically when times are tight, library use goes up," she said. "People are looking for ways to make their money go farther."
At the Prescott Library, she said the change has been evident "over the last six months to a year."
Next summer, Ricketts said she plans to offer the summer programs in a larger room that can accommodate about 80 children, as opposed to the 25 that this summer's classes allowed for.
Along with the growing numbers in the summer programs, Ricketts said the children's circulation has gone up by 25 percent as well, and the number of children congregating in the library after school has noticeably increased.
The popularity of the children's programs mirrors the use by the general public.
Just this past July, the number of items checked out of the library went up 14 percent over July 2007, Kaus said.
And the number of "check-out sessions," which Kaus describes as "the number of people stepping up to the counter with things to check out," increased by 42 percent over the same time period.
While Kaus said library officials like and encourage the growth in numbers, they also worry about being able to continue to provide consistent service during a time of employee cutbacks.
"It's great to be so busy," she said. "But at the same time, city sales tax revenues are declining, and we aren't able to fill every position that becomes vacant."
The city has been under a hiring freeze for much of the past year, and Kaus said the library is currently down one full-time position and several part-time posts.
Noting that the library employees have a reputation for being "warm and friendly," Kaus said, "I worry that the library staff will get too frazzled to give the good customer service that they're known for."
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Article comment by:
Bonnie
Amadee as usual you are doing a great job just like you did at McMillan Library in Wisconsin. You have reason to be proud of your accomplishments.
Posted: Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Article comment by:
Margo
Amadee thank you for a wonderful summer program! The kids had a great time and LOVED watching you eat bugs!
Posted: Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Article comment by:
Merry
Could we please have a progress report on the library mural, including photos?
Posted: Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Article comment by:
Trisha
Our library is the best I have seen! The staff is also wonderful! I have never ran into a frazzles staff member of the Prescott library. Even with a budget crunch I know they will keep their heads up high with a smile. We especially love Mr. Steve, Amadee Ricketts and Mrs. Joyce and the childrens area volunteers. They are the best!
