San
José Public Library Hits the 50 Million-Item Circulation
Mark
San José Libraries Rank Among the Top-Four Most
Heavily Used Library Systems in the Nation Serving Populations of
500,000 - 999,000
January 18, 2007 -
 |
| Counter
shows circulation passing 50,000,000 at 11:55 AM |
Colorful streamers filled the Koret Atrium at the Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Library today at 11:55 a.m. as system-wide circulation
surged past the 50 million mark. The precise moment was captured
by Counter, an oversize LCD real-time readout linked
to the library’s online circulation database, which tracks
the combined total of residential and San José State University
campus usage. The tally began counting from August 2003 when the
King Library opened.
Based on the most recent comparative data currently available
(PLDS Statistical Report 2005), this level of borrowing activity
places San José Public Library among the top four most
heavily used public library systems nationwide serving populations
of 500,000 – 999,999. The only public libraries recording
higher usage in this category are Multnomah County Library (OR),
Columbus Metropolitan Library (OH) and The Public Library of Cincinnati
& Hamilton County (OH). When libraries serving populations
of a million or more are factored in, San José Public Library
remains among the top 10.
Eighty-three percent of the circulation activity takes place
at the 17 (and growing number of) branches that comprise the mainstay
of the San José Public Library system while the King Library,
including both public and academic users, accounts for roughly
17 percent of overall usage.
Counter is one of more than 30 public art installations
at the King Library. The number grows in spurts throughout the
course of a 24-hour day, providing an accurate reflection of daily
activity.
For more information, contact:
• Lorraine Oback, San José Public Library, at (408)
808-2176
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