Tough times bolster need to check out local libraries

David Lovich visits a library near his home several days a week to look for a job. On Monday, his favorite spot in a busy east Cobb County branch was taken.

Lovich was laid off a year ago after 35 years with Owens Corning. He uses the phone in the lobby of the Merchants Walk Library to chase job leads. Inside, he settles in with his laptop computer and takes advantage of the free Internet access.

At public libraries across the metro area, business is booming, and patrons are visiting the libraries for more than recreational reading. More and more, they’re using the library databases to research business opportunities and find educational scholarships and financial aid, Cobb library director Tamara George said. They often bring their own computers.

“Libraries are a good value during a bad economy,” said George. “People go where things are free.”

In Gwinnett, the county’s libraries are filled every day, said Liz Forster, a spokeswoman for the library system. During November alone, patrons logged on to 90,000, 30-minute computer sessions. In that same period, 4,000 people used the wireless access. Circulation increased by 9 percent this year.

The same is true elsewhere.

Circulation increased 13 percent in 2008 at Atlanta-Fulton County public libraries and 6 percent at DeKalb’s 22 libraries.

While circulation of books, DVDs and CDs is up 4.3 percent this year at Cobb’s central library and 16 branches, computer use has increased 7.5 percent compared with a year ago.

Cobb’s increase came while the system’s busiest branch, Mountain View in east Cobb, was closed for renovation. In DeKalb, two branches are closed for expansion.

The increase is part of a national trend, said John Szabo, director of the Atlanta-Fulton County public library system: When the going gets tough, people head to the library.

Still, it’s challenging to meet the increased volume without adding employees or extra hours, Szabo said. His system, the largest in the state with 34 branches, is handling the demand so far.

In 2005, DeKalb residents voted to spend $54 million to improve the library system. The county is building three new libraries and expanding four existing branches.

“The library is one of a few public agencies that actually help folks cut their cost of living,” said DeKalb library director Darro Willey. “Residents are borrowing books, CDs and DVDs instead of buying them and are also saving on the cost of magazine subscriptions.”

Kids’ programming is also booming.

Smyrna’s library moved a children’s program to the city’s community center in November after 130 children registered. The library’s event room has space for 85.

The Cobb system broke a record in July when 13,000 children attended programs, 6,000 more than the previous year. In Atlanta, 30,000 children participated in this year’s summer reading program.

“We love this increase in business. It is not a problem,” said Szabo. “We are building the next generation of library users.”