Buying Less, Checking Out More

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Story Published: Oct 9, 2008 at 4:56 PM MST

Story Updated: Dec 18, 2008 at 3:00 PM MST

By Tommy Noel

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IDAHO FALLS - With the snow expected this weekend, you might head to the library and pick up a good book.

You're not alone, library attendance is up all over the nation.

"We're trying to be frugal and careful in what we buy," says library patron.

A new study shows more people are heading to the library than the book store.

"Coming to the library is a whole lot cheaper than going out and buying my own books," says Jill Reed.

Locally, the Idaho Falls Public Library has seen a steady increase in patrons over the last four years.

"As the economy gets worse, people tend to use the library more because money's tighter," says Robert Wright, Library Director.

While it's difficult to say if the economy is the number one reason for the jump...

"We don't ask people their economic circumstance when they come," says Wright.

...Library goers say they're putting away the credit card and whipping out the library card instead.

"It's just not in our budget we go through so many books each week, not in our budget to go and buy them," says Reed.

It's not just books. People are grabbing TV shows on DVD and even audio books, all at the library.

"I usually go straight to the library then I can listen to it once and get something else and save my money for other things," says Katie Sparhawk.

To accommodate the increase in foot traffic, the Public Library has installed new self check out machines and new signs to help find the place.

The library just purchased three of the machines.

But there are still plenty of people to help at the circulation desk.

It also provides a bit of privacy if your embarrassed about picking up a certain book.

"You can now come and check out Twilight, Tommy, and nobody will know," says Wright.

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