Library Offers Alternatives In Recession

By Nancy K. Crevier

C.H. Booth Library Director Janet Woycik and Friends of the Booth Library Book Nook coordinator Pat Marshall expressed concerns Monday, December 22, that upcoming budget cuts in town could adversely affect the library at a time when residents are using the facility more than ever.

“We are absolutely seeing an increase in library usage,” said Ms Woycik. Since July, the library has seen a 28 percent increase in materials borrowed overall, said Ms Woycik, with DVD borrowing up 58 percent. The number of new cards issued since July is up 26 percent, and patron visits are up 20 percent in the last six months, she said.

“That is up from approximately 530 people that we serviced each day in the beginning of July, to 640 people per day this month,” Ms Woycik said. In other years, an increase of 10 to 12 percent for new cards issued would be normal.

People definitely turn to the local libraries when economic times are rough, she added, something she previously witnessed during the recession of the 1980s. “At that time, too, not only were people concerned about the recession, but the library had also just gone online and gotten computers, so we saw a lot of people very interested in learning about computers and using them here. We had a big increase at that time in library usage, too.”

The biggest draw this time around is in the entertainment categories of the library, said Ms Woycik.

“People are telling us that with families, they just cannot afford to take everyone to the movies. It’s too expensive. People want to be entertained, though, especially families, and they are coming here to borrow the DVDs, the audio books, and the CDs,” she observed. The library is very current on movies and offers a large selection for both adults and children, said Ms Woycik.

The other division of C.H. Booth Library that has seen a surge in use is the Reference Department, said Ms Woycik.

“That department is full all of the time. Not only are people using us to check their email, check healthnet, and do research, but many are now utilizing the computers there for job searches. We have so many people using the library now for job hunting, that we are considering offering a class in early 2009 on how to best utilize the resources,” Ms Woycik said.

As the coordinator for the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Book Nook on the main level of the library, where customers can purchase new and gently used books at greatly reduced prices, Pat Marshall has actually seen sales take a downturn in recent months.

“Even at a couple of dollars a book, I think people are reconsidering why they should spend money on a book that they can borrow. It is slight, but it is down overall. However,” said Ms Marshall, “we have seen a definite increase this year in the number of gift sales. People are buying books from the Nook to give as presents, because they are such a good deal for basically brand-new books. The holiday sale held the beginning of the month did phenomenally, and cookbooks and photography books in the Book Nook are especially selling well right now.”

Ms Marshall is worried that budget cuts affecting the hours of library operation would take away a vital resource just when residents most need it.

“Cutting the budget to the library would be one of the worst things that could happen right now,” she said.

“It has been very busy for us, and we hope that budget cuts won’t adversely affect the library,” said Ms Woycik.