TRUMBULL COUNTY Library sees an increase in usage

The medical sciences category is at the top of popular reading materials.
By AMY HOUSLEY
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Despite the ever-increasing popularity of the Internet, circulation numbers continue to climb at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library.
According to Jan Vaughn, public relations coordinator, the library system has never seen major declines and, for that, they are "extremely grateful."
In 1999, the system broke the mark of circulating more than 1 million items, a milestone. The library's Web site reports a total circulation for 2001 of 1,148,856 items, a 7.4-percent increase over the year before.
Each branch saw its own increase as well.
At all locations, general fiction and mysteries made up more than 80 percent of the circulation.
Children's materials accounted for about 28.6 percent, a number that is down slightly from 2000.
Audio and video materials make up 13.9 percent and 17.8 percent, respectively, of the total circulation.
Another popular feature is public access to computers.
Computer usage
The 16 public computers in the tech center of the main branch had more than 27,000 users in 2001.
That's a decline from the previous year, but the library instituted a policy requiring computer users to have a library card in good standing before logging on.
The 2001 circulation analysis broke down the top 10 nonfiction picks by branch.
Many topics, such as medical sciences (illness/disease) and biographies appear on every list. Medical sciences topped all lists except at the Brookfield branch, which saw cookbooks as its highest nonfiction category.
Vaughn said the topics on this year's top 10 lists seem to follow the common trend.
She said medical sciences are at the top because people are interested in health and wellness.
The libraries conduct programs for all ages to encourage patrons to visit frequently.
Children's programs include summer reading programs to encourage them to stay in the habit of reading outside of school and events such as magicians and storytellers.
Programs for teen-agers and adults can be on a variety of topics and the main branch has family nights.