Libraries thrive during economic struggle
Jessica Powviriya
Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: News
With the job market stuck in a downward economic spiral, public libraries are experiencing more traffic from people looking for free access to books and online resources.
"We have seen an increase in computer sessions and wireless access," said Sarah Terry, manager of communications at Fayetteville Public Library.
The hourly use of wireless sessions has increased by more than 17 percent in the last year, nearly 3,000 hours more than in 2007.
The Fayetteville Public Library had about 1,014,000 checkouts in 2008, its first ever circulation count more than 1 million. And with more than 2,000 patrons using the library each day, the collection size (fiction and non-fiction books, children's books, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, etc.) has grown to almost 250,000.
"We cover all the bases for every age group, and people are finding there is much more affordable, enjoyable entertainment at the library," Terry said.
Public libraries also provide an easy solution for job searching without the fees of professional aides.
"Most everything is free," Terry said. "Only lock-ins for the children and teens are not."
Libraries receive adequate funding from public taxes, as well as free access to computers with specialized databases or software. They also have information professionals - librarians - who can help research and explore the multiple databases available for information.
Nationally, library visits average about 175 million each month, according to 2006 statistics, and last year, 68 percent of U.S. adults were reported to have a library card.
Library computers are used by patrons to search for employment, prepare résumés and file for unemployment benefits, and for public libraries, aiding in job searching has become a critical role.
For an almost 20 percent increase from last year, 62.2 percent of libraries report that aiding in employment researching is a critical service to the library's mission. And up to 73 percent of urban libraries are the sole provider of free Internet access, according to a funding and technology access study from the American Library Association.
"We have seen an increase in computer sessions and wireless access," said Sarah Terry, manager of communications at Fayetteville Public Library.
The hourly use of wireless sessions has increased by more than 17 percent in the last year, nearly 3,000 hours more than in 2007.
The Fayetteville Public Library had about 1,014,000 checkouts in 2008, its first ever circulation count more than 1 million. And with more than 2,000 patrons using the library each day, the collection size (fiction and non-fiction books, children's books, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, etc.) has grown to almost 250,000.
"We cover all the bases for every age group, and people are finding there is much more affordable, enjoyable entertainment at the library," Terry said.
Public libraries also provide an easy solution for job searching without the fees of professional aides.
"Most everything is free," Terry said. "Only lock-ins for the children and teens are not."
Libraries receive adequate funding from public taxes, as well as free access to computers with specialized databases or software. They also have information professionals - librarians - who can help research and explore the multiple databases available for information.
Nationally, library visits average about 175 million each month, according to 2006 statistics, and last year, 68 percent of U.S. adults were reported to have a library card.
Library computers are used by patrons to search for employment, prepare résumés and file for unemployment benefits, and for public libraries, aiding in job searching has become a critical role.
For an almost 20 percent increase from last year, 62.2 percent of libraries report that aiding in employment researching is a critical service to the library's mission. And up to 73 percent of urban libraries are the sole provider of free Internet access, according to a funding and technology access study from the American Library Association.
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