Library Circulation Declines Over Two Years

The experienced a second year of declines in circulation in 2011, according to data from the Bergen County Cooperative Library System.

Despite that, the Paramus Library remains one of the most popular in the county, second only to Teaneck.

Circulation reached a peak in 2009, with 596,689 items borrowed from the Public Library and the . That number dropped to 581,613, still good for the second-highest circulation in Bergen County.

"The library, of course, is more than just the volume of materials," Public Library Director Len LoPinto said.

The number of visits to the library increased from 200,000 a year to more than 300,000 from 2002 to 2011, he said. LoPinto credits the rise in to an increase in the amount of materials the library was able to purchase.

The library has increased both the quantity and variety of materials. Visitors can borrow DVDs, video games and and books, and not just in English.

Books and films in Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Gujerati make up more than 10 percent of the circulation at the library, LoPinto said. That reflects the changing demographics in Paramus, whose population is more than 20 percent Asian, according to .

The library caters directly to this growing part of the population.

"Along with offering materials in the community's language, we provide English as a second language classes for adults, which draws many new Americans or new people to our community to the library," LoPinto said.

About 37 percent of the items borrowed from the library comes from the media department, which includes DVDs, audio books, CDs and video games. The library has increased its media purchases because of public demand, LoPinto said.

The library has added a number of programs to its schedule in recent years. There are now nearly 14 story times a week, and summer reading programs have increased attendance from a few hundred to more than 1,100, LoPinto said.

There are films for seniors, craft programs and a number of other offerings through community partnerships, like the and the .

LoPinto also credited the staff at the library for drawing people in.

"I think the fact that we have a highly motivated, dedicated, customer-friendly staff motivates people to visit our library," he said.

Despite these advantages, circulation has dipped for two years in a row. That is because of a decline in funding, LoPinto said.

After holding steady at a little more than $3 million, the library budget was cut by about $200,000 in 2011. As a result, the library has cut back on purchases and reduced hours.

Despite that, circulation is only down about 2 percent, LoPinto said.

LoPinto expects the budget to stay at the same level in 2012.

Aside from the Borough, the library receives financial support from a number of community groups. has pledged $18,000 to the library over the next two years, and the Friends of the Paramus Public Library will contribute more than $25,000.

LoPinto said the donations would help the library upgrade its computers, continue programming and purchase materials.

Going forward, the library has started to see an increase in e-book borrowing. LoPinto expects that trend to continue.

"Our goal," he said, "is to be the center of education and information for the entire community."

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