With Southern California – and much of the country – still reeling from a slow economy, at least one local entity is seeing a surge in business: The San Diego County Library’s 4S Ranch Branch.
“We are incredibly busy,” 4S Ranch Branch Library Manager June Zhou said. “Visits to the library are significantly higher than last year, especially by those utilizing our nine computer terminals to seek employment opportunities.”
The local trend mirrors what’s happening throughout the nation, where libraries are experiencing record use and some of the highest visitor statistics ever.
“Traditionally, in tough economic times, public libraries experience an upswing in use,” Los Angeles Public Library spokesman Peter Persic to the Los Angeles Times recently. The LA facility has seen a 10% overall increase in items checked out in the most recent annual statistics.
The increase at the 4S Ranch Branch Library is similar, with 2008-2009 total circulation at nearly 270,000 items – up from just over 240,000 items during the previous 12-month period. And there are indications that current visitor counts and circulation numbers are even higher.
“4S Branch Library circulates about 30,000 items (books, DVDs, and other materials) each month (at this point), said Assistant 4S Ranch Branch Manager Irma Pena. “And we average 400-500 visitors a day to the facility currently”.
Of course, this puts stress on both the facility and the staff at the county’s ninth busiest branch (out of 33 operations). But Zhou indicated the local facility copes by using new technology to streamline the checkout process – and by having a staff that is truly committed to serving the local population.
“We currently have nine staff members, and we are a very good team that is very dedicated to the library and the community,” Zhou said. “We just try to do the best we can.”
As one of the few places with free Internet access and public computers, libraries also see an upswing in traffic from job hunters when unemployment starts to rise, said Camila Alire, president-elect of the American Library Association. Last year, only 44 of the top 100 U.S. retailers accepted paper applications filled out in stores, she said, which means that applicants need the Internet. The 4S Ranch Branch Library sees a similar increase in the demand for such services.
“We have nine computer terminals, with free Internet connection” at the library, Pena said. “And for unemployed individuals – and students doing homework – we offer up to 10 printouts at no charge. We’ve definitely seen an increase in use of the work stations.”
“Whenever you have tough economic times, public libraries are a place people go because they have no other alternatives or because they know they are going to get the kind of powerful information that will make a difference in their lives,” said Kristin McDonough, director of the Science, Industry and Business Library in New York City.
But Zhou and her 4S Ranch Branch Library staff are quick to point out that the increase in visitors to the local facility is also due to a firm philosophy of serving the community.
“We are a special place, because of the variety of programs we offer each month – especially for the youth,” Zhou said. “Our parents are very involved, and the youth programs are some of the most popular of the more than 40 or so programs we provide visitors each month.”
In fact, juvenile books are among the most popular to check out by the library’s visitors, amounting to more than 54% of the total materials circulated.
Pena indicated that the wide range of programs is key to visitors becoming involved in the library. “The library has about 40 programs each month, ranging from six regular weekly “English as a Second Language” sessions to “U.S. Citizenship” classes” – and, of course, we have a variety of youth-oriented programs.”
Zhou added that the environment at the local library is also conducive to visitors returning. “We have a happy staff,” she said. “And we really make people feel welcome. We know a lot of our visitors by name.”
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