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Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
Independence Youth Librarian Jolene Hall reads to youngsters during a storytime.
Most Polk County libraries, like those across the state, have seen increases in visitors and circulation.
POLK COUNTY -- Nobody's happy about the recession. But if you're a librarian like Robin Puccetti, the crowds that have turned out to libraries of late is sort of a silver lining.
"That (cliche), 'if you build it, they will come?'" said Puccetti, Independence Public Library director, as she referenced the construction of the downtown facility more than six years ago. "In this case, it was true."
Puccetti said January was the busiest month in the library's history, with more than 9,500 items checked out -- a circulation increase of 19 percent from 2009.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we go over 10,000 next month," she said.
Most of Oregon's public libraries are reporting the same kind of surges, according to recent statistics from the Oregon State Library department.
The state saw a 7 percent jump in circulation between 2007-08 and the following fiscal year.
About 55.8 million books, audio-books, DVDs and other materials were checked out during that period, which is an all-time record. Attendance totaled 25 million, an 8 percent hike.
Fifty-three of the 130 municipal libraries in Oregon reported double-digit percent increases. Locally, Independence saw the biggest jump at 23 percent.
Jim Scheppke, state librarian, said poor economies usually translate to more activity and usage of libraries.
"We've seen it before, but this time it's more pronounced," Scheppke said. "It's free entertainment and free education for families.
"People who don't have a lot of money take advantage of services offered by libraries."
Juli Fleener, director of Falls City's Wagner Community Library, said she's seen material circulation grow in 2008-09 and even in the last two months.
"We went from just 300 items in January to about 500 last month," Fleener said.
Scheppke said programming for children and adults have been more popular. And the Internet, which at first might seem a library killer, has been a major draw. Monmouth Public Library saw nearly 20,000 computer-use sessions by its patrons in 2008-09.
"There are those who assume that everyone has it, but they don't," Scheppke said. "And it's become an essential thing for living."
While they're serving more people than ever, libraries are doing so with fewer resources. Per capita expenditures at the state's libraries have declined from an average of $47.38 in the 2007-08 fiscal year to $46.74 in 2008-09. Dallas' public library saw its per capita spending decrease from $31.27 to $17.58 during that same period.
"Libraries aren't getting more staff and a bigger budget to handle what they are," Scheppke said. "They deserve a pat on the back."
Marv Olson and his 21-month-old daughter, Lacey, showed up for a recent children's storytime program at Independence library last week.
"I hadn't used libraries much until (Lacey) was born," said Olson, who's been coming two or more times a month to check out books or children's videos. "It's a cheap entertainment outlet ... and educational."
