Hours before the Metro Council will once again hold public hearings on contracts for the demolition and construction of a new River Center Library downtown, the parish library system released statistics it says show that usage and “community value” indicators of the libraries increased roughly 18% in 2015.
Parish libraries had approximately 2.3 million visitors in 2015, a 4% increase from 2014, according to a library system news release. Officials also touted an increase in WiFi usage at the libraries, which they say rose 54% to 1 million logins last year.
Inquiries at library reference desks also were up 11% to 1 million, according to the numbers provided. Meanwhile, more than 2.7 million print, e-media and non-print items were checked out, a 7.7% increase.
The data was released as part of the library’s 2015 Annual Report Summary, which was presented at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Board of Control’s Feb. 18 regular meeting. Major indicators measured include: collection, gate count, circulation, meeting room use, programming and database use, among others.
“These statistics reflect that we have a population that makes good use of the Library and the opportunities it presents,” says Library Director Spencer Watts in a statement. “We’ve listened to what people have asked for and they have responded to the new services and news spaces.”
While the library touts its numbers, it finds itself facing controversy once again with plans for its downtown branch. Though the issue had seemed resolved years ago, Metro Councilman Buddy Amoroso has previously said demolishing the existing downtown library in order to build a new one amounts to “fiscal insanity.”
—Alexandria Burris
