Just as circulation has hit a record high, Anne Arundel County's public libraries are seeing shorter hours, smaller staffs and fewer programs because of budget cuts caused by the recession.
Recently released circulation figures show a nearly 4.8 percent increase in the fiscal 2009 year over 2008 in books and materials checked out by patrons. In fiscal 2009, which ended June 30, circulation hit nearly 5.7 million.
But the sour economy led to cuts throughout the county's budget.
Effective July 1, the library system's budget took an 11 percent hit.
In July, the nine smaller branches ended Monday morning hours. The system will have three large branches, down from five, open on Sundays during the school year starting at the end of September. And part-time work was trimmed by 20 percent. (The Maryland City at Russett branch library will be open on Sundays all year, because it receives money from the Laurel Park Impact Fund.)
Figures show most other library uses are up, including homework help, and attendance at programs such as story hours, game nights and book clubs.
But some of the figures may drop by this time next year as the library copes with the budget cut.
Fewer best-sellers and other hot-ticket items will be on the shelves at the 15 branches.
"We have a dramatic decrease in the amount of money that we have for materials," said Nancy Choice, chief of the county library system's public services and branch management.
The budget for new materials has plunged from about $3 million to about $2 million.
"We are buying significantly fewer materials this fiscal year," Choice said. "We are going to have about 100,000 fewer items than we had last year."
Many library systems around the state are in similar situations. In a troubled economy, more people are turning to libraries as financially pinched local governments cut back.
Librarians speculate that much of the increased use hinges on the economy, leading people to turn to free services, replacing purchases and family outings with borrowed books and movies as well as programs geared to a variety of ages. This summer, for example, a concert outside the library in Crofton drew more than 500 people.
Despite the increase in circulated materials, the number of patron visits in the past year was down by about 6,700 to about 2.9 million. Librarians said that might reflect any number of things. They don't know, for example, if users came in less frequently but took out more materials, or if they used the recently overhauled Web site from home for services instead of dropping by.
