Waukee Library Sees 20 Percent Jump in Visitors During 2012

The Waukee Public Library saw a 20 percent increase in visitors during 2012, as well as an increase in the number of books checked out by users, the Des Moines Register reports.

In 2012, the library had 122,868 visitors — an increase of 20,638 people from the previous year.

Book circulation increased 9 percent last year, to a total of 162,139 items, the newspaper said.

The library also saw a 54 percent jump in e-book circulation with 4,744 e-books checked out in 2012, up from 3,078 items in 2011.

Developing staff, adding space and continuing to provide the community a place to learn and interact will be some of the challenges in the next few years, Waukee Library Director Erik Surber told the newspaper.

The rise in e-book and other electronic resources shows the way people want information is changing, Surber said. However, people still need libraries to collect and manage materials, the Register story said.

“Our role is as the community living room," Surber told the newspaper. "It’s a meeting place.”

During the current fiscal year, about $573,000 of city revenue was earmarked for the library. That has cleared the way for hiring a new children’s librarian and expanding hours for part-time staff.

The additional programming staff is part of making the library an asset for young families with kids, Surber told the Register. “More staff means more services we can offer,” he added.