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Library seeing more visitorsMORGANTON, Aug 09, 2011 (The News Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Beat the heat by heading to the Burke County Public Library. With locations in Morganton, Valdese and Hildebran, books, computers and movies are all just a few minutes away from a majority of the county's residents. Summer reading programs for adults, young adults and children just concluded and more than 2,000 people participated, BCPLS Director Jim Wilson said. Those people read more than 20,000 books. If you've been to the library this summer to check out books, read a magazine, simply cool off or apply for jobs online, you're not alone. "We're one of those agencies, when the economy is bad, we get more use," Wilson said. Comparing fiscal years 2008 through 2011 to the three years before the recession (2005-08), circulation numbers, computer use and participation in programs have all increased systemwide, Wilson said. One telling sign that more people are using the library is the number of people getting library cards; it's up 85 percent. Circulation numbers are up 18 percent; computer use, 68 percent; the number of programs, 65 percent; and attendance for those programs is up 39 percent, Wilson reported. People are using computers to look for and apply to jobs, check their email and for entertainment. "Anything they would've done at home and don't have access for now, they will come in here and use those computers the same way," Wilson said. In addition to the summer reading program, BCPLS offers free movie nights for children, youth and adults, book discussions, evenings with authors, needlework in the morning and computer classes. Programs have covered couponing, using Facebook, applying to college and Burke County history. Joseph Rybak's family has used the library for several years. The public library is "of high value to the family," Rybak said. Not only do Rybak's six children, ranging in age from 7 to 16 years old, check out six to eight books a week, they often participate in first-hand experiences such as swimming, watching Shakespeare plays and a canoeing trip. And Rybak's 21-year-old son gave back by volunteering at the library. Dawn Perry homeschools her three children, who always look forward to visiting the library. "We usually go at least once a week, sometimes twice," Perry said. "They want to know what activities they'll do and the books they'll read there." Perry said a local public library is a valuable resource to her family, and she is glad to have one within a short driving distance. Wilson said he is pleased that the library is being used more and more and more, but added, "The downside for us is when the economy is bad, there's generally less revenue to work with and our budget is not increasing like we'd like it to to meet that demand." Burke County cut funding to the library system by 4 percent for FY 2011-12, appropriating $1,182,590. Wilson said the library's overall budget is down between $80,000 and $90,000. "With the help of our library foundation and Friends of the Library, we'll be able to maintain our services and our collections," Wilson said. "We've been really pleased that we've been able to do the same amount or more with less resources." One difficulty the library will face because of budget cuts is acquiring the books that people want to read, Wilson said, but the library's primary goal is still to get people reading. "Whatever the circumstances of the economy, being able to read well is a skill you have to have," Wilson said. To keep up with the library's programs and events visit www.bcpls.org. To see more of The News Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.morganton.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The News Herald, Morganton, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |