Commentary: Visits to The Seattle Public Library have increased dramatically

Seattle's downtown library (Photo:Grant Haller)

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The Seattle Public Library system begins its furlough Monday -- through next Monday, Sept. 7.

Sarel Rowe, advocacy chair of the Friends of The Seattle Public Library, a non-profit, grassroots organization, said the organization "understands that furloughs give the City of Seattle a way to save dollars in the current economy.

"However," Rowe says, "The Friends of The Seattle Public Library believes furloughs are not a sustainable solution for the operations of The Seattle Public Library and that furloughs eliminate the critical services provided daily by The Seattle Public Library staff and collections."

Members of Friends of The Seattle Public Library will be in front of Central library during the day on Monday with petitions.

The organization notes in a statement:

Visits to Seattle's libraries have nearly doubled in the past five years according to figures collected by the Seattle Public Library. Visits have jumped from under 7 million annually in 2004 to over 12 million in 2008.

The amount of material being checked out has also increased at a dramatic rate - up 20% between 2007 and 2008 - the largest jump in materials requests in five years.

The experience of this Ballard single mother is typical of many Seattle citizens: "I got laid off July 2007.  I come to the library 4 or 5 times a week to check my email for communications from potential employers, check , and research potential employers."

The increase is continuing in 2009, with visits in May up 7% and circulation up 11% over the same month in 2008.  The depressed economy has increased the number of people dependent on libraries for free access to computers, job resources, classes, books and materials, and other programs and services.

Visits to Seattle's libraries have nearly doubled in the past five years according to figures collected by the Seattle Public Library. Visits have jumped from under 7 million annually in 2004 to over 12 million in 2008.