A Charlottetown librarian is encouraging Islanders looking for ways to save money to turn to their local libraries.
Libraries across Canada seem to have been getting busier due to the rough economy and Prince Edward Island doesn't look to be much different.
The Library Nova Scotia website is reporting that library usage across that province was up by 4.5 per cent in late 2008 as compared to the same time a year earlier.
In P.E.I., Trina O'Brien Leggott, chief librarian for the Confederation Centre Public Library, says the library seems to be busier than last year.
She said general circulation, which includes everything from books and magazines to DVDs and CDs, is up five per cent from this time last year and 2,400 people used the library's Internet service in March of this year compared to 2,000 in March 2008.
O'Brien Leggott said there was actually a slight dip in Internet users in January but said that was probably a result of bad weather which caused the library to open late and close early throughout the month.
People who had not used the library in several years have been returning lately, she said.
"We are certainly aware of the trends in libraries to become busier during times of recession."
She said new items are being ordered all the time, but notes that there may be waiting lists, especially for popular items such as DVDs.
But for those with a little bit of patience she recommends the library as a great way to save money.
Libraries seeing more usage
Libraries seeing more usage
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Published on
April 24, 2009
- Published on June 14, 2010
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Peter Corbett
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Comments
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- chatty
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:40:55
looking for a book on south mountainbydavidcruise notavailable at indigo
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- Hank
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:37:41
Welcome to the library, where I can post comments on the Guardian and I owe $38.20 in late fines for the book Vines to Wines by Jeff Cox.
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- Good service
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:25:20
Several tourists have told me how much they appreciate having internet access for free at Island libraries.
As a regular user myself, I couldn't agree more. Many thanks. -
- Melissa
- - June 21, 2010 at 20:57:45
While it makes for a nice picture, professional librarians do NOT normally shelve books except at the smallest of libraries - that's a stereotype (along with them going shush and stamping due dates at the circulation desk) that the profession has been trying to eradicate for decades. Librarians do interesting and complex work involving the classification and selection of information resources and most importantly, patron instruction on how to use them. Librarians are also the most sophisticated and effective Internet searchers you'll find. If you're not sure what to believe on the Internet, ask a librarian - they'll teach you how to evaluate sources of information and how to find the most reliable sources.
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- Gailey
- - June 21, 2010 at 20:41:29
Hank - yoabusing a system that exists only to serve people is nothing be proud of. Next time the Library funds are low and they can't order in new books, we'll know where to point the finger.
Chatty - go to www.library.pe.ca and order the books you want online.
