SRC Library measures usage
FROM STAFF REPORTS Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

The most recent figures indicate that Santa Rosans are visiting their public library facilities in record breaking numbers. The library recently completed compiling year-end statistics for its first full operating year (Oct. 1, 2006 to Sept. 30, 2007). Figures show not only that more people are visiting the library, but also that those visits are leading to significant increases in usage of library resources.

The library tracks several key service areas, including library visits, materials checked out, research questions answered, and public computer sessions.

During the first operating year, library visits exceeded 450,000, and more than 22,000 new library cards were issued. Of those, over 10,000 were for K-12 students and 3,700 to Pace residents. A total of 495,325 items were checked out, representing a 56 percent increase over the 2005-06 operating year.