Community Corner
‘Snapshot’ Shows Meriden Library a Hub in the Community
Over 1,000 people came to the library and nearly 600 reference materials were checked out during a special program involving 57 libraries throughout the state.
How popular is Meriden Public Library? Well, it’s busy enough to draw over 1,000 people per day.
The library hosted a special snapshot day earlier this month, joining 57 other libraries throughout the state in polling and photographing visitors for ‘Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Connecticut Libraries.’ The purpose was to capture the impact that Connecticut libraries have on their communities on a typical day.
“We were happy to see just how many people are using the library on a regular basis,” Library Director Karen Roesler said on Tuesday. “It was great to take part and see just what our library does on an average day.
In just one day, the library reported the following statistics from the snapshot effort, according to information provided by librarian Marjorie Ruschau:
- 1,098 people visited the library.
- 599 books, DVDs or other materials were checked out.
- 178 questions were asked of librarians.
- 300 people used the public computers.
“It always has what you need,” Meriden resident Al Vega said of the library. “I feel smarter just walking in the building.”
Across the state, the participating libraries which ranged from major cities to small towns recorded a total of 37,387 visits and more than 42,000 items were checked out.
Roseler said this doesn’t include the 12 library cards issued that day in Meriden or the 296 in the state. It also doesn’t include two programs attended by 75 people in Meriden.
“Since my boys were babies we’ve come to this wonderful library,” said Joan Goodman. “Early learning, continuing their love of reading, borrowing museum passes for family time have all been wonderful.”
It also doesn’t include figures for those who logged onto their computers from home and went to the library’s website at www.meridenlibrary.org to download books onto their Kindles and Nooks, get information from one of the library’s research databases or just checked to see if the library had a book or movie to reserve.
A total of 162 people used Meriden’s website that day while 24,384 used websites statewide, Ruschau said.
For more information, visit the library’s website at www.meridenlibrary.org.
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