Library use rises as recession deepens

By Robb Murray
Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO January 11, 2009 11:56 pm

— Call it one of the few positive byproducts of the recession.
Use of area libraries is up. Way up. As the nation deals with an economy in a tailspin, it seems only natural that some things that seemed like luxuries — renting movies, high-speed Internet — are among the first to be jettisoned from the family budget.
Enter the public library, hub of all things intellectual, and location of a lot of DVDs and rows of newish computers with high-speed Internet access.
In North Mankato, circulation has been up for three straight years. In 2006, circulation was 132,929. In 2007 it was 158,589. And in 2008, 180,554.
“I really had expected circulation to level off, but clearly people are trying to find other means of entertainment,” said Lucy Lowry, director of North Mankato’s Taylor Library.
For some, the library simply replaces the video store. But Lowry said it doesn’t take long for other features of the library to catch their eye.
“Maybe some people come in and use it as a video store,” she said. “But I think we have seen people in that category starting to use other services as well.”
Tim Hayes, director of the Blue Earth County Library, concurred.
“I know we’re up on circulation numbers,” he said. “We’re also seeing an increase in Internet use, presumably for job searches, and for typing up resumes. Certain households are cutting out expenses, and one of the first things to go is the Internet.”
Doug Wolfe, lead librarian at the St. Peter Public Library, said his library, as well, has seen an influx using the place as ground zero of their job hunt.
“We have noticed a real increase in people coming in to work on resumes and apply for jobs online,” Wolfe said. “Unfortunately we see the same people coming in daily because they can’t find anything.”
Overall traffic is up in St. Peter, as well.
Wolfe said circulation numbers are going up steadily, and he attributes that to the economy.
“People just don’t have the resources to purchase books and DVDs like they used to, and they’re coming to us.”
Daniel Ziemann, using a computer at the Blue Earth County Library Friday, said he used to pay for Internet service when he lived in Good Thunder. Now that he lives in Mankato, that’s not in the budget.
“Now I come here instead,” he said.
Library budgets, so far, have escaped the kinds of cuts other areas of government have seen. It may, in fact, be the economy that’s saving them.
With more people coming through the door, now isn’t exactly the best time to take resources or funds away from libraries.
“It’s more active than it has been in the past. We’re seeing some new faces down here,” said Hayes. “People are recognizing the value of a library.”
In North Mankato, the library is actually dealing with more money because it took over operation of the Bookmobile. The service also added 14 stops and now visits 71 locations, which include schools, day cares and smaller towns in Blue Earth and Nicollet counties.
In St. Peter, Wolfe said their budget isn’t getting cut. But he said he’s finding that budget allocations don’t keep up with inflation when it comes to purchasing materials. For example, book prices have gone up in recent years, but library budgets have remained relatively constant.
This means they have to be more creative when purchasing books or other materials. Instead of purchasing multiple copies of a popular book, they may just buy one or two copies.
And all three librarians said they rely on, and appreciate, donations from patrons.

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