ROSEVILLE, Minn. -- The demise of Borders bookstores and reports of closing some small town libraries because of funding have raised the speculation, for some, of an end to the printed word. Not so, according to library officials in the Twin Cities.
"It is sort of the 'Golden Age' of libraries in terms of use. I think the internet is pushing people to libraries, not taking them from them," commented Susan Nemitz, Director of the Ramsey County Library's seven outlets. She spoke from the newly renovated library in Roseville.
"I think there's a lot of secrets to the public library that the public is not aware of," said Nemitz. One secret, that should be obvious, is that it is possible to save considerable money by using the time-tested place for book storage.
Nemitz says the library has kept pace with the times, offering many digital services, but the "traditional circulation of books" has grown by about 5% per year over the last decade. "E-readers are quite popular and we do offer e-books, which have gone through the roof in terms of circulation," said Nemitz.
The Roseville Library has about 1200 ebooks to offer, as compared to the thousands of print edition available, but there may be a wait. "You can go through our computer website (www.rclreads.org). You have to have a library card. I think most of the metropolitan libraries now offer e-books. By simply entering your library card number, you can usually get on a waiting list because they are quite in demand right now," noted Nemitz.
The money savings are many. First: borrowing a hardcover is significantly cheaper than purchasing the same text. Second: e-reader users can download books at no charge from the library. Third: many magazine subscription charges can be saved by simply dove-tailing onto the library's subscription.
"So, for example, Ancestry.com, which is a data base of genealogical information is available for library uses in the (Ramsey County) library for free," said Nemitz. "I personally love this site. I can go in and see the ship manifest of my ancestors when they came over to the United States and that is a fee-for- service if you are outside the library."
The biggest surge in service in Ramsey County, as with many public libraries, is in the use of in-house computers. One of the major improvements in the recent $13-million makeover in Roseville was the addition of dozens of new terminals.
"The computer use in the library is just insane on some days. We put 125 public computers in this facility (Roseville), assuming that we would not have to begin queuing and rationing the resource for at least a year. We began queuing within the first month of the library reopening," said Nemitz.
Nemitz said people who once requested print data about medical issues, now are pointed toward the latest digital information on websites. Many adults use the computers for job searches and resume construction. Others are parents with children monopolizing the computers at home, so they turn to the public terminals in the library.
"I think there is an assumption that every single person in the Twin Cities has a computer at home and internet access and that is not our experience in the library," insisted Nemitz.
Local libraries also offer special programs, many on-line and free. "Homework Rescue" is an on-line tutoring service for school age students. Many parents may feel a generation gap when it comes to assisting a child with homework. "Homework Rescue" offers live college graduates to work with students on specific problems.
"Job Now" is another free on-line offering through the libraries, assisting adults in their search for new employment.
The Roseville Library is a bustling place with separate areas for adults, teens and children on two levels, in addition to a coffee shop and bargain bookstore. Nemitz sees no possibility of closing the book on libraries in the new millenium.
(Copyright 2011 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)