The Peoria Public Library is about to reach a significant milestone. "Between now and the end of the year, someone will check out the one-millionth book this year from the library," according to library director Ed Szynaka.
Szynaka says this would be the first year that's happened and would be a 25 percent increase over last year. The library's efforts toward improved customer service, he says, is one reason for the increase.
"We have a program, for instance, called 'Rolling Reference'," says Szynaka. "We don't sit behind a desk. We go to people who look like they're kind of confused and say 'Can we help you?'"
Szynaka says renovations to the main library branch downtown and construction of the new north branch have also led to increased use of the library.
"I may have said at the time we're located next to Menards," says Szynaka. "We're now going to say Menard's is next to the library because it's that busy."
A ribbon-cutting for the new addition to the Lincoln Branch is scheduled for 10:00 Saturday morning.
Szynaka says the economy could also be one reason for more people visiting the library. Szynaka says the library card has become the most valuable item in a wallet or purse.
"In a recession libraries have always seen tremendous increases in usage. People cut back on lots of things and buying books is one of them, especially since a hard-back book is about 30 dollars. To borrow (a book) from the library to read obviously is a great deal."
