Library numbers reflect increases

Having a new park on its doorstep and extended weekend hours both appear to have boosted use of the Coeur d'Alene Public Library in the past year, according to statistics compiled for the end of the library's fiscal year.

Like other city of Coeur d'Alene departments the library's record-keeping year ends Sept. 30. According to the stats released this month by Library Director Bette Ammon, nearly everything is up compared to the previous year.

McEuen Park reopened for the public in May, and in July the library extended the hours it is open on the weekends. These two factors appear to have had a significant impact on door counts. While the overall increase for the year was just 3 percent, the count rose by 8 percent in May, by 6 percent in June, 10 percent in July, 5 percent in August and 17 percent in September.

From Oct. 1, 2013, to Sept. 30, 2014, electronic counters in place at the entrances to the adult and kids libraries counted 251,084 people compared to 244,394 for the previous year. But these numbers don't tell the whole story about people using the building.

"Bear in mind that the door counters don't register people who are coming into the building just to attend gatherings in the library's three meeting rooms," said Ammon. "Between public meetings, library programs, and public activities sponsored by community groups we have thousands each year who are not counted."

Library programs, too, made jumps in the past year. The biggest increase was in the offerings and attendance for young adult programs led by YA Coordinator Laura Jenkins. The number of YA programs offered went from 63 to 126, up 100 percent, and teen attendance increased 126 percent, from 779 to 1,747 patrons in the 12-18 age group. Adult and kids programs increased by 10 percent and saw attendance up 25 percent and 1 percent respectively.

Overall, 19,902 people of all ages attended library programs in the past year, an increase of 17 percent over the previous period.

While the checkout of traditional items - printed books, DVDs, music CDs, etc. - declined by 1 percent, checkouts of online books and music rose by 106 percent, 31,317 items compared to 15,237 for the previous year.

Other information in the report:

* Library Patrons: The library has 32,750 card holders, up 8 percent.

* Meeting room use: 867 uses, up 6 percent.

* Holds filled: 38,488, up 10 percent.

* Reference questions answered: 37,800, up 10 percent.