Books Make Comeback At El Cerrito Library

Not only are the doors swinging at the as more and more people use the library’s growing array of services. But even more notable is the shift in what patrons are checking out.

The latest annual circulation figures show that library users are again more likely to reach for old-fashioned books on paper than for the previous most popular item at the check-out desk — movies.

In just the past year, movies in DVD and VHS formats went from being the largest circulation item to third place, behind both children's books and adult books.

Items checked out at the library are classified into five categories (in order of popularity for fiscal 2010-11):
1. Children's books
2. Adult books
3. Movies
4. Audio
5. Young adult books

The fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, saw about 51,500 DVDs and VHS items were checked out, an almost five percent decrease from 2010. It also saw a reversal in fortunes for the printed word, with more 113,500 books checked out during the 2010-11 fiscal year, representing a five percent increase over the previous year, and a striking 40 percent increase from 2005.

Since 2005, the library has seen an average annual growth rate in overall circulation of about 10 percent in the use of materials, according to Elliot Warren, the Contra Costa County Library technical services manager.

“As you can see the El Cerrito library serves its community at a much larger rate than five years ago,” said Warren. “It has been amazing.”

A large part of that growth has been fueled by a rising interest from young readers to pick up a book. More than half of the 113,500 books checked out last year were young adult and childrens books. Although teen books make up a small percentage of the total circulation – about 4,500 books – they represented the largest increase. The use of teen books shot up 11 percent from 2010 and 61 percent from 2005. The circulation of children's books also increased 11 percent from 2010 and shot up 41 percent from 2005.

Supporting the increase, according to Library Manager , have been the library's efforts directed towards increasing the library’s visibility and directly promoting literacy to teenagers and children. Librarians visit the schools, coordinate summer reading programs, and attend events on behalf of the library to inform people of the services they provide.

“We’re not just waiting for people to walk through the door,” said Martinengo, noting that “in the public library world more and more libraries are doing these activities. Outreach is something very important that we do.”

About two years ago the library also launched a teen advocacy group that meets once a month. While the numbers vary month to month, Martinengo said that six to eight teenagers show up. They come up with reading lists and advise the library on the kinds of workshops they’d like to see. So far they’ve had a henna painting workshop, a workshop on jewelry making. They’ve also invited a comic book artist.

The library has taken extra pains to make available popular teen items such as The Twilight, a vampire-romance novel, and Japanese-style manga comic books.

Martinengo said the economy also has brought in people who are unemployed. She has noticed patrons checking out books on resume writing and on how to interview. They use the internet to search for jobs. 

“We’re also relatively easy to get to,” she said, pointing out the library’s proximity to the BART and the fact that it’s nestled between Albany, Berkeley and Richmond (about 23 percent of materials at the El Cerrito Library were checked out by Richmond residents last year). 

Grace MacNeill, former librarian and current president of the , adds that El Cerrito has seen a new wave of families with young children who like to frequent the library.

“People are still reading books,” she said.

The El Cerrito Library has managed to fare better than many other libraries that have seen their hours and budgets reduced. The library remains in operation 35 hours a week. Although all libraries in the county were hit with a 20 percent cut to their materials budget, El Cerrito has been able to make up for a good portion of those costs thanks to the fundraising efforts by Friends of the El Cerrito Library. The Friends raise money through book sales and membership dues.

According to figures provided by Martinengo, for this fiscal year the Friends have given $13,000 for materials, which represents 25 to 30 percent of the funds spent on books, magazines and such items. They will also give $3,000 to support more programs for children, teens and adults.

Martinengo, who’s also the library manager for the , said she is content with the direction in which El Cerrito's library is headed and for the support they’ve received from the community.

“We see a good mix of people come in — seniors, a lot of adults, elementary school kids with their parents, some come on their own," she said. "It’s great.”

On a recent Friday afternoon, about a dozen patrons already stood outside the library’s closed doors, waiting patiently for the clock to strike 1 p.m.

When the hour neared, Martinengo could be seen making her way to the double doors, unlatching the lock, and swinging the doors open, exchanging a “good afternoon” with the people who streamed in.

“This is pretty normal,” said Martinengo of the small crowds she finds whenever it’s her turn to open the library for business.

El Cerrito Library’s rising circulation is in line with , with 7.5 million items checked out this past year from all 26 of the county’s libraries – a significant 7.85 percent increase from 2010 and more than 50 percent increase from 2005.

Last year’s countywide growth was catapulted in part by the building of a second library in Antioch (opened January 2011) and new libraries in Lafayette (opened November 2009) and Walnut Creek (opened July 2010). Together, they accounted for more than 15 percent of the county’s circulation. Increased use of teen books and children’s picture books also propelled the growth.