The Pickaway County District Public Library had a record-breaking year in 2007, expanded its hours and added wireless access to its two locations.

 

Patrons borrowed 420,314 items from the library system which includes the main library in Circleville, the Floyd E. Younkin Branch in Ashville and Outreach Services.

 

This was 1,125 more items than the previous circulation record of 419,189 set in 2006.

 

Another record-breaking statistic was the online database usage. The library’s electronic resources were tapped 117,692 times in 2007, an increase of 56 percent over 2006. The benefit of these reference resources is that they are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the library’s Web site.

 

The expanded hours have been well received by the community. The main library is now open on Sundays from Labor Day to Memorial Day. The Younkin Branch has offered Sunday hours since it opened in 1999 and continues to do so.

 

The main library and the Younkin Branch also extended their weekday hours during the summer, closing at 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday instead of 6 p.m. (Both library locations are closed on Sundays in June, July and August.)

 

Approximately 62 percent of the library’s circulation is printed materials. The remainder of the circulating items are audiobooks, music CDs or DVDs.

 

At the end of 2007, the library had 29,997 card holders. More than 3,100 of those cards were issued in 2007.

 

More than 515 children’s programs were conducted by the library in 2007 with more than 9,200 people attending. Programs were held at the main and branch libraries, and Storytime On Wheels conducted programs at daycare centers and community sites.

 

Family movie matinees grew more popular in 2007, with 540 people attending. Movies are shown once per month at the main library and the Younkin Branch.

 

The library offered more than 75 computer classes for adults in 2007.

 

Overall, more than 160 adult programs were offered in 2007 with more than 1,400 attending. Popular events include the family movie matinees offered monthly at both the main and branch libraries, free computer classes for adults and BiFolkal programs at local nursing homes.

 

The main library is open 61 hours a week and the branch library 53.5 hours a week.

 

Thank you for your interest in the library!

 

Jim Guenther

Library Director

Pickaway County District Public Library