Pittsfield library’s circulation soars

PITTSFIELD – Friday morning started off as usual at the Pittsfield Public Library. Four people were using the computers; two women were in the video section, debating the various film offerings; a young mom and her toddler sat in a corner of the children’s room; others perused the fiction stacks or completed research in the nonfiction room.

Business as usual for the small Carnegie library on Pittsfield’s Main Street, however, is big business. Lyn Smith, librarian for the past 14 years, said new statistics show that circulation increased last year by a whopping 32 percent.

In 2004, 32,026 items were circulated from the historic library. Last year, that number shot up to 42,484. That’s nearly 136 books, tapes or movies for every day the library was open. In addition, at least 25 people a day are using the library’s Internet connections.

“I think it reflects that we have what people want,” Smith said.

That includes services the library’s founders never dreamed of 100 years ago, she said. Each year about 1,700 new items are added to the library’s collection. Smith said the largest spike in circulation last year was in the area of videos.

“We have a lovely collection, which includes many movies not found at video stores,” she said. International films – from 15 different countries – as well as independent movies and old favorites fill one stack.

Stephanie Simpson of Pittsfield said Friday that she takes out some of everything the library offers as well as books.

“I take three to four audio books out a week because I travel a lot. That lets me consume more books,” she said. She also takes out one or two “visual” books each week and enjoys the library’s video collection. “They have a pretty good selection of off-the-beaten-track, more eclectic movies,” she said.

Simpson said she also enjoys being able to try out a magazine at the library before deciding to subscribe. “I like not having to buy a magazine if I’m only interested in one or two pages,” she said.

Once the library’s $1.3 million expansion and renovation is completed, possibly later this year, all of the services at the library will be easier to use, both Simpson and Smith said.

“It will be good to have some quiet zones,” Simpson said.

Smith said that a vital library is a clear indication of a healthy community and reflects the town’s values. “We have had people move here just for this library,” she said. She also is pleased when Pittsfield residents who have lived elsewhere with much larger libraries praise the local facility.

Smith said that interlibrary loans have increased dramatically, from 200 in 2001 to 800 last year, which is another way to expand the library’s collection.

“We are providing the service of access to the collections of the entire state or country,” Smith said. The number of items in the Pittsfield collection that are loaned elsewhere has also increased from 78 in 1999 to 787 last year.

“We are even sending videos to students at Colby, Bates and Bowdoin,” Smith said.

“No single small library can have everything for everybody,” she said. “But we can provide access for all.”

She also credits other programming, such as children’s story hours, a new cartooning program for teenagers and an adult knitting group, for helping to increase patronage.

But the bottom line, she maintained, is service.

“We’re nice,” she said, “and we try to get what they like.”