Fairfax Library Use Is Soaring, But Its Budget Is Another Story

Economy Pinching Lender As Much as Borrowers

Public libraries across the region are experiencing a dramatic surge in use, partly as a result of the economic downturn -- libraries are free, after all -- but at the same time, they are under pressure to cut back because of budget problems.

That same tension exists within governments across the region in recreation programs, schools, senior centers and law enforcement. Demand for services has not abated, and in many cases has grown, making city and county officials' mandate to trim spending all the more challenging.

The pressure is particularly acute for the vast Fairfax County library system, where circulation, online use and branch visits have jumped since last year. Pinched wages and credit have pushed more readers to borrow books, DVDs and other materials from the library rather than buy them at stores, officials and patrons said.

"This is one of the things that people do because it doesn't cost anything," said Al Thompson, 66, a computer science student at George Mason University who was recently browsing magazines at the Fairfax City Regional Library, part of the county library system. "People are going to cut back in doing things that cost money, so they're going to be coming here more."

Book circulation at Fairfax County's 23 libraries was up 14 percent in September over the same month last year. Branch visits rose 13 percent. In the year that ended June 30, circulation and visits rose 9 percent over the previous year. Internet visits went up 27 percent.

The story is similar elsewhere. In Loudoun County, overall library use is up 18 percent this year, said Director Douglas A. Henderson. In Prince George's County, the number of registered cardholders has risen 3 percent, almost as much growth as the previous three years combined.

"We're a prepaid service, so to speak," Henderson said. "They've paid for us through their tax services. So they don't have to go to the movies. People don't have discretionary income, money, in the way they did previously, and so they're coming back and using the libraries."

Almost all area jurisdictions have studied, are considering or have made library program cuts. In the District, library officials feared that they would have to severely scale back hours, including closing all branches on Fridays, until Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) identified $2 million in resources to keep the system open seven days a week, with its usual schedule, throughout the 2009 fiscal year.

Prince William County is looking at 33 percent reductions. Loudoun is considering program cuts of 5, 10 or 15 percent. Fairfax agencies have been ordered to find cuts worth 15 percent, which would mean closure of 14 community libraries on Fridays, elimination of two hours of Sunday service at eight regional libraries and reduction of new materials by 25 percent. Fairfax libraries would eliminate 305 jobs and purchase 70,000 fewer materials annually if these recommendations are followed, according to a county report.

Fairfax, the region's largest jurisdiction and one of the country's wealthiest, had taken an aggressive approach to maintaining and expanding its library system before the downturn. The county opened three new branches in the past year -- in Oakton, Fairfax City and Burke Centre -- where soaring, spacious architecture and an abundance of computer stations, meeting space and comfortable chairs have attracted brisk business and happy customers.

The county is preparing to renovate some older branches: the Richard Byrd Library in Springfield, Thomas Jefferson Library in Falls Church, Martha Washington Library in Alexandria and Dolley Madison Library in McLean. The county has committed $63.3 million to construction and renovation of libraries.

"Our people love their libraries," said Gerald E. Connolly (D), chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. "Oakton, Fairfax and Burke Centre are just gorgeous facilities. When we opened them, I'm telling you, hundreds and hundreds of people came."