Circulation up 6 percent at DeKalb libraries

By April Hunt

The AtlantaJournal-Constitution

Nearly 4 million items — from books to movies — were checked out of DeKalb County public libraries last year.

The 3,988,770 items checked out during the fiscal year that ended June 30 account for a 6 percent increase from 2007. The increase came despite having eight of the 22 branches closed for renovations.

In 2005, voters approved spending $54.5 million in bond money to build three new libraries, expand four branches, replace five branches and upgrade one facility for better vehicle access.

The system’s main branch is on Sycamore Street in Decatur.