Library Nears 1 Million Items Loaned for the Year

Some district officials say the economy is likely the reason for the spike in patron usage in recent years.

During last year’s fiscal year, which ended June 30, the library circulated 905,941 items, up from 701,486 items the previous fiscal year.

“In a year’s time we circulated over 200,000 more items,” said Maureen Fisher, head of the library’s business office. “We feel we’re probably on track to hit the million mark this fiscal year.”

The Oswego Public Library District includes two campus; one at the edge of downtown Oswego and another in Montgomery at 1111 Reading Drive.

The number of those applying for library cards is steady at both campuses, Fisher said.

“We’re typically issuing between 500 and 600 library cards a month at both buildings, which is pretty high,” she said.

Currently, nearly 50,000 people have library cards in the district.

Because of the economy, Fisher said “people are coming in and just not buying the books like they used to.”

“The (area’s) growth has really stopped but people are coming in and checking out things more,” she said. “The computers are being used. There is a high proportion of patrons that use both campuses.”

The library district also offers a large variety of CDs and DVDs, which many patrons take advantage of.

In January, video games, with ratings ranging from E for everyone to T for teens, are expected to begin gracing the library’s shelves.

For more information about the Oswego Public Library, click here.