FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Newport News libraries serve almost one million visitors; circulation and computer use increase

Attendance, more set records

The Newport News Public Library System served almost one million visitors in the recently completed fiscal year — a record-setting number. In addition, circulation was up more than 10 percent and computer use increased more than 12 percent from the previous fiscal year.

Patrons use the free computers at Grissom Library. Computer use in the Newport News Public Library System increased from 206,687 in FY2009 to 231,601 in FY2010.

The Newport News Public Library System served almost one million visitors in the recently completed fiscal year — a record-setting number. In addition, circulation was up more than 10 percent and computer use increased more than 12 percent from the previous fiscal year.

In Fiscal Year 2010 — which was July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010 — Library staff served a record-setting 997,912 visitors and circulated 847,367 items. This was up from 973,869 visitors and 767,131 circulation in FY2009. Also, computer use increased from 206,687 in FY2009 to 231,601 in FY2010.

Library Director Izabela M. Cieszynski said several factors contributed to the increased attendance and use.

“The continuing increase in demand demonstrates the importance of our libraries to the Newport News community,” she said. “The economic challenges bring people in to take advantage of the many programs and services that we offer at no cost, such as downloadable audiobooks, books, movies, music and many programs that bring the community together. We also provide services to help develop workforce skills, such as computer classes.”

During the same time period, the number of Library staff members decreased, from 61 full-time employees in FY2009 to 57 in FY2010.

“Fewer staff means our work load has increased, but it has also led staff to be more creative and innovative,” Cieszynski said. “We are looking at how we can use technology more effectively, as well as other ways to help manage our work flow.”

The increase in library usage in Newport News mirrors that experienced by public libraries throughout the United States. The 2010 State of America’s Libraries report, released in April by the American Library Association, shows that Americans have turned to their libraries in larger numbers in recent years. Data from a January 2010 Harris Interactive poll that provides compelling evidence that a decade-long trend of increasing library use is continuing — and even accelerating during economic hard times.

Sixty-eight percent of adults in the U.S. have public library cards, the greatest number since the American Library Association began collecting this data in 1990.

For more information, visit The State of America’s Libraries, 2010, at http://tinyurl.com/State2010.

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