LIBRARY-ING IS SERIOUS BUSINESS

     Some startling facts hit my desk earlier this week.  It came to me in the form of a newsletter, "Did You Know...? Facts About Public Libraries," from the American Library Associaiton's Office for Research & Statistics, Georgia Public Library Statistics FY2012, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Consumer Electronics Association, OCLS, and the ReferenceUSA Business and Residential Directory.  I'm going to pick off a few of their facts to tell you about.  Such as:

• 80 percent of Americans say borrowing books is a "very important" service libraries provide.
• 80 percent say reference librarians are a "very important" service of libraries.
• 77 percent say free access to computers and the Internet is a "very important" service of libraries.   (All of the above from a 2012-2013 survey by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.)

     Of those patrons who visited a library or bookmobile in person in the past 12 months:

• 73 percent visited to browse the shelves for books or media.
• 73 percent visited to borrow print books.
• 66 percent of those who used the Internet at a library in the past 12 months did research for school or work.
• 50 percent visited to get help from a librarian.
• 46 percent visited to use a research database.
• 41 percent visited government websites or got information about government services.
• 36 percent looked for jobs or applied for jobs online.
• 16 percent took an online class or completed an online certification program.  (All of the above information from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.)

     Well, let's narrow that down to Georgia now.
     Georgians value the benefits their public library cards provide.

• Georgia population: 10.5 million
• Georgians with library cards: 4.5 million
• Georgians with PINES cards: 2.8 million

     Public libraries are accessible to virtually every community.  In Georgia, there are:

• 400 public library branches and service outlets
• 212 communities with a public golf course
• 207 Starbucks stores
• 180 Publix grocery stores
• 133 Walmart stores
• 63 state parks
• 60 Holiday Inn hotels

     Did you know that the 33.4 million annual visitors to Georgia's public libraries in FY2012 far exceed the number of visitors to many of the state's other attractions - combined!  Did you know there are 2,757 Georgians working in public libraries?  Did you know that more than 2,500+ Georgians volunteer with public libraries, either directly or as members of local "Friends" organizations?  Did you know that nearly 2,000 Georgians serve as trustees for their local public libraries?
     This month libraries all across our nation will be celebrating National Library Week, April 14 through 20.  The theme for this year's celebration is "Communities Matter @ Your Library."
     Come visit us.  We know you need us, and we are here to let you know we need you.  Communities matter to us...you matter to us.  We're delighted to be here for you.