Circulation and usage increases in St. Johns County Libraries

Two recent items from the St. Augustine Record:

Libraries haven't missed a beat [editorial]
http://www.staugustine.com/stories/080208/opinions_080208_059.shtml
Saturday, August 2, 2008

When the St. Johns County Public Libraries went on a new schedule because of cutbacks in county revenue, officials worried about public reaction to changes in hours and days.

Debra Rhodes Gibson, library system director, says the traffic is steady. So far so good. In June Sunday hours were eliminated and at least an hour a day was cut from libraries' schedules.

But that hasn't deterred traffic. Gibson believes the economy is playing a big role. Patrons are taking out more books at a time to perhaps cut down on trips. They're also taking out more movie videos; probably instead of spending more money at theaters.

Give those library patrons an "A." They haven't missed a beat. They still love their libraries.

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Summer attracts more to libraries [article]
By Ileana Morales
http://staugustine.com/stories/072408/news_072408_011.shtml
Thursday, July 24, 2008

Some days finding a parking spot at the public library is like trying to find one downtown: hard.

More people are spending time at St. Johns County libraries than last summer, despite that fact that all six county libraries cut their hours starting in May. All locations are now closed on Sundays.

"The hours we're open we are hopping," said Valerie Peischel, manager at the main library where she has worked for 12 years.

On long days at the main library on U.S. 1 -- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- she said more than 1,200 people come in.

Peischel said she suspects high gas prices are keeping more people in town and enjoying free activities like those at the library.

People took out 128,811 books and videos in May for all locations, up by more than 11,000 from last year. This year's numbers for June were up by almost 2,000 from the previous year.

People are cutting back on other expenses, eating out less and freeing up more time to check out books and movies, Peischel believes.

"That's just my guess. That's my gut," Peischel said. "That's what's happening in my household."

The libraries are attractive to many because new movies on DVD are released at the same time as they are at major private video chains such as Blockbuster.

Library records show circulation is up for both movies and books, but books are beating movies.

"That's what we're in business for," said Peischel, smiling.

Carrie Klein, who hugged a few books on Wednesday afternoon while she browsed shelves, said she has been visiting the library more often this summer, about a couple times a month to pick up three books at a time.

"The books are newer, more available," Klein said. "And with the economy the way it is, it's just a lot cheaper."

She said it's a quiet place to escape the summer heat when "gas prices are ridiculous" and she stays close to her downtown home.

Peischel said lots of kids come in to check off their school summer reading lists so parents don't have to buy those books.

At 1 p.m., with an impending storm, the 18 computers for adults are taken and a couple of laptop computers are out.

Karen Pan, spokeswoman for St. Johns County, said it's amazing that libraries are filling up more while open fewer hours.

"We're glad the public is making use of it," Pan said.