Park Hill Branch Library is Bustling!

By Dawn Mendel / Librarian

As I read The State of America’s Libraries Report 2012 by the American Library Association, which stated that “public libraries in many major U.S. cities continue to see circulation rise…”, I thought of our library. The staff at the Park Hill Branch Library has also noticed a marked increase in library use over time.

I was curious to see if the statistics would prove our observations to be true. In 2011, Park Hill Branch Library’s total circulation was 486,099 items. I compared this to ten years ago, when the Park Hill Branch library was open 56 hours a week – the total circulation was 273,270 items. Even with reduced hours and budget reductions the number of items circulated has increase in the last 10 years by nearly 80 percent! Clearly the community knows the value of this important resource and makes use of the materials available to us.

The swelling number of items on our holds shelves show that customers know that with your library card you have access to thousands of items in the greater Denver Public Library system. Not only that, but we can order items in from other library districts in the state or the country though our participation in the inter-library loan system. Of course, the circulation of materials is not the only measure of increased use; computer usage, e-book circulation, storytime participation and the Summer of Reading program participation numbers are also at record highs.

We are proud that we are a vital community resource and are happy that you look to us to fill your needs.

The Park Hill Branch Library is located at 4705 Montview Blvd. For more information, visit denverlibrary.org or call 720-865-0250.