Your Library Connection
Library Use Skyrockets
There are many positive trends at the Independence Public Library! Our new facility is a wonderful blessing for the community. Because it is approximately six times the size of the old library, we now have space for people to read, study, use computers, attend a program, meet with a small group, and browse at the same time.
Usage in our new facility has skyrocketed. Below is a graph showing how many more people have used the new library since it has opened as compared to the old library during the same months. It is impressive that almost twice as many people have been coming to the new library…an increase of 92%! Checkouts are up 57%, our website usage is up 131%, and computer usage is up 95%! In addition to this, 905 new cards have been issued since the new library has been open!
Our new library’s community room is used for library programs and organizational meetings. To date it has been used for 47 non-library group meetings. We have also offered 104 library programs since we have been in the new facility. The meeting room policy and application are on our website. If you are interested in using the room, go to www.indylibrary.org, and currently find the link under New. You can also get there by clicking on Services at the bottom of the home page.
People are enjoying the use of the study rooms as well. During the first seven months the four study rooms were used 659 times. There are two small study rooms designed for one or two people, one mid-size room for three to four people, and one conference room for up to ten people. You can reserve a study room by calling the library at 334-2470, or speaking directly to a staff member at the checkout desk.
Did you know you can check the library’s online catalog to find out if we own a book or DVD you are interested in, or reserve a computer up to one week ahead of time? If you have access to the Internet, both tasks are done by going to the library’s home page at www.indylibrary.org.
Our incredible new facility is a joy to work in and an asset to the community, but it is still “a work in progress.” We’ve had a few bumps in the road and we continue to have some growing pains, but I assure you the library board and staff has the community’s best interests at heart. We are here to serve you, and we want to work with you to help make your library a true community center. Please feel free to talk with me or with members of the library board about any concerns or suggestions you might have.
Library Tidbits:
We have had a few issues with the programming of our parking lights and have been in contact with electricians to get the problems resolved. We hope to have the problem corrected by April 24th.
We have several authors with local ties who will all be here for a book signing on Saturday, May 2nd from 10 am – 12 pm. Authors who will be here are Carole Douglas, Jacquie McTaggart, Gloria Mohlis, Rosa Copenhaver Snyder, and Connie Corcoran Wilson.
There is another exciting author event coming up for children’s book week! The event will be held at 6:30 pm on May 12th. Michelle Edwards, Carol Gorman, Jacquelyn Briggs Martin, and Anne Ylvisaker are all children’s or young adult authors and/or illustrators. There will be a program followed by a book signing.
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