Record Breaking Circ!
Published on 5 Jul 2006 at 4:30 pm. Filed under Old News.
In June the Meadville Public Library circulated a record 30,068 items. That averages an item being checked out every 31 seconds that the library is open. This is the first time in the library’s 127-year history in which over 30,000 books were circulated in one month.
John Brice, Executive Director, comments that “The last two weeks were especially busy in June. Every time I walked through the library there were many patrons using computers, reading newspapers and checking out lots of items. The Children’s Room has been especially busy this year.”
In one category alone, Children’s picture books, circulation rose from 2,775 items in May to 8,646 books in June. The library also saw increases over May in fiction, magazines, videos, and YA Fiction.
In June the Non-Fiction Department checked out 6,090 items. Pat Bailey, Adult Services Librarian said that “not only books but foot traffic into the library has increased. We are seeing more and more people use our Internet computers and we have seen large increase in the number of patrons connecting to the web through our Wireless hotspot.”
Fiction’s 7,183 circulation was an increase of over 1,200 books from last year. Joice Imel, Fiction Librarian hearing the news exclaimed, ”Cool, that makes seven months of increases for the Fiction Department! I am especially pleased to see Young Adult circulation rise. We have been expanding the YA collection for over a year and the kids are really responding to the new books.”
Children’s circulation for June was 16,795 items up over 3,000 from last year. Mary Lee Minnis, Children’s Librarian was unavailable to comment because “it is just to busy to think up something clever to say”. Once she caught her breath she said, “Summertime is always such a pleasure because the the children are enthusiastic and take great pleasure in exploring new things to read. I can always sit down again after the the ten weeks of summer reading club are over.”
The previous monthly circulation record was set in June 2004 when 29,371 books circulated. The past 12 months circulation for the library now stands at 247,244 which is 4,523 items higher than last year.
