Talk About Being Busy!

I don't normally outright quote anyone, but today I'm going to do just that. What I learned from the Georgia Public Library Service news (that's how it's spelled...all lower case) should impress everyone.

State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch said, "The latest statistics are in and they are impressive to say the least. No one can say that public libraries are not being used by Georgia's residents!"

And do you know why? Just listen to this. According to the figures compiled from recently completed annual reports for the state's 61 public library systems, as reported to Georgia Public Library Service and the Institute of Museum and Library Services:

• Library visits increased 10.47 percent from 2008 to 2009; this represents a cumulative increase of 27.9 since 2006, the last year prior to the current economic crisis.
• Circulation of books and recordings increased by 9.5 percent last year - a 17.4 percent increase from 2006.
• The annual number of public-access computer sessions at Georgia libraries this year topped 15 million (yes! MILLION!) for the first time. Computer use increased 6.85 percent in 2009. This was a total increase of 12.2 percent over the 2006 figure.

And according to a recent Harris Poll from Harris Interactive, more than 68 percent of Americans now have a library card, up 5 percent since 2006. This is the greatest number of Americans with library cards since the American Library Association began measuring library card usage in 1990.

Here's the quote from Dr. Veatch that I like the best: "The services provided by public libraries are in greater demand than ever. When Georgians are looking for work, they use their public library's free internet access to assist their job search. When people economize, they check out books, magazines and DVDs instead of buying them. When they wish to improve their knowledge and life skills, they use the vast resources of the library. These latest statistics are proof that Georgia's residents truly depend on and appreciate the services their libraries provide."

How could anyone think our libraries are not needed? And that in the future they are going to close up? And that we need to cut opening hours and staff and salaries? Where are people going to go if all that happens? Think about it!

(Source: Georgia Public Library Service news, A newsletter for friends and employees of Georgia's public libraries), February 2010)