Library use in the Waitaki district is booming.
Waitaki district librarian Lorraine Weston Webb is projecting there will be 191,572 visits to Oamaru and Palmerston libraries by the end of this financial year on June 30 - 20,000 more than last financial year.
Book issues at the Oamaru, Hampden, Palmerston, Kurow, Otematata and Omarama libraries are also growing - to a projected average 12.9 issues per capita this financial year compared with 12.3 in the previous financial year.
The three main reasons for the growth were free internet access and more computers in the Oamaru, Palmerston and Kurow libraries, wireless internet access in the Oamaru Library, and the economic downturn, which prompted more people to use free library services.
Making the catalogue of books available online, and being able to reserve books or renew books online, had also helped, Mrs Weston Webb said.
The upgrade of the Oamaru library in 2008, making it brighter and more pleasant, alsomade it more attractive.
Mrs Weston Webb said free internet access with more computers and wireless internet in the Oamaru library was attracting more people, particularly visitors.
"These new visitors are also using libraries for reading, studying, seeking professional assistance with inquiries and joining the library to borrow books," she said.
The number of internet computers available in Oamaru had risen from two to six.
Palmerston had three, compared to one previously, and Kurow had two where it had none before.
While waiting for computers to become available, people were browsing the library and discovering its services.
Some had not used the library for years, while young people were being attracted for the first time.
That had also made the libraries more lively.
Like other libraries throughout New Zealand, those in the Waitaki district were being used more because of the economic downturn.
People were returning to traditional leisure activities, or were borrowing rather than buying books.
The cancellation of some government-funded community classes saw learners turning to the library to support and extend their skills.
