Washington County Library Use Surpasses Even Statewide Record Growth

Rise in demand in 2009 leads WCCLS libraries to stretch funding to meet local needs

For immediate RELEASE
Date: February 22, 2010 (corrected)

Contact: Jodi Nielsen, Senior Program Educator
Washington County Cooperative Library Services
www.wccls.org
503-846-3235

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Oregon—The 14 member libraries of Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) are known for connecting people, books and resources, exceeding the record 2009 statewide library growth. WCCLS achieved an amazing 16% increase in item checkouts compared to the 7% annual grow in accumulative statewide checkouts recently reported by the Oregon State Library. 

WCCLS has seen double-digit increases in almost every measure of use over the last two years.  

• 10,553,359 — total number of books and other materials checked out by WCCLS patrons in 2009 (equal to 2,680 books per hour)
• 5,340,443 — total website visits to wccls.org ( or 14,917 per day)
• 3,855,731 — total number of visitors to WCCLS member libraries in the last fiscal year (nearly 11,000 per day)
• 172,971 — total attendance at library sponsored children’s programs in the past fiscal year (or about 480 per day)
• 41,444 — number of new patrons registered for library cards in 2009 (or about 116 per day)
• 24,783 — number of children and teens participated in the 2009 Summer Reading Program (participation has increased 56% over the last five years)

WCCLS Director, Eva Calcagno reports that the member libraries continue to provide quality service to the 280,000+ Washington County library patrons, while responding to such tremendous growth in use.

The passage of a WCCLS local option levy in 2006 allowed libraries to restore previously-reduced open hours, rebuild book budgets and meet demand for library programs for children and adults, contributing to the surge in library use.

One of the best values the cooperative offers residents is access to 1.5 million items in the countywide collection. This means no matter whether you live in Sherwood or Banks or points in between and need a book that your local library does not currently have on hand—WCCLS will deliver a copy from another member library to your local library for easy pick-up. 

And 358 days per year, you can find a public library open to answer your questions and connect you with the materials you want.

Since 1976 the member libraries of the Cooperative Library Services have worked together in a spirit of cooperation that goes beyond local boundaries in order to provide excellent library service to all residents. It’s that practical spirit of sharing that is the heart of our cooperative.

The 14+ member libraries offer their patrons far more than any one library could on its own. It’s a partnership that has worked well for over 33 years. 

Calcagno expressed, that as we look to the future, our libraries are evaluating how we can be more efficient and economical with your tax dollars.