Library circulation reaches new heights

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Roseburg Public Library patrons set a circulation record in July, checking out nearly 11,000 items.

Physical items accounted for 71% of checkouts with the library’s youth collections leading the way.

Children’s and teen materials are about 42% of the collection. Last month, they made up 62% of circulation. This is, in part, because of the Summer Reading Program, although youth circulation exceeds that of adults throughout the year – a testament to the collection development and programming efforts of Youth Services Librarian Aurora Ropp.

At any one time, more than 20% of the library’s board books, early readers and junior graphic novels are checked out. Library staff encourage patrons to place holds on these popular items because they don’t stay on the shelves long.

Adults gravitate toward the newest books. For example, about 7% of the library’s 14,000 adult fiction titles are checked out at any one time. However, 35% of the 700 adult fiction items purchased in the past year currently are checked out.

Checkouts of digital materials have remained at about 30% of all circulation for the past couple of years. The library’s two digital platforms, cloudLibrary and Libby/OverDrive, include titles for all ages, although they lean heavily toward items for adults.

Roseburg patrons increasingly turn to their electronic devices for audiobooks. Last month, they accounted for 50% of digital circulation.

Library staff see a lot of demand for bestsellers in audio format, and Library Director Kris Wiley encourages patrons to use both of the platforms to search for titles and place holds.

One especially interesting recent development: With J.D. Vance’s selection as Donald Trump’s running mate in this fall’s presidential election, his 2016 bestseller, “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis,” has had a resurgence.

Wiley tried something new to handle the demand and set up Libby/OverDrive to immediately provide the audiobook to Roseburg patrons. The library will pay about $3 per checkout, capping at $35, so 11 patrons will get the item immediately. That is cheaper than purchasing a long-term copy that probably would sit unused after this immediate burst of interest.

This cost-per-copy model is not available for every title – and the cost per copy can run upwards of $10, which is cost prohibitive for Roseburg library – but Wiley will assess this experiment and perhaps implement it again.

Last month, electronic books were 43% of digital circulation. Emily Henry’s latest romance, “Funny Story,” and Kristin Hannah’s blockbuster novel about female nurses serving during the Vietnam War, “The Women,” were particularly popular.

The other 7% of digital circulation were magazines, a feature launched on the Libby/OverDrive platform July 1. Patrons checked out 221 issues on a variety of topics. The most popular titles were The New Yorker, Cook’s Illustrated, Us Weekly and Woman’s World.

There are about 5,000 magazines available, a daunting number to browse. Wiley recommends taking advantage of the platform’s preset categories, which include “food & wine,” “home & garden” and “crafts.” That limits the results to a few hundred titles.

Library staff is available to help patrons set up phones, tablets and laptops with cloudLibrary and Libby/OverDrive. Please set up an appointment by contacting the library at library@roseburgor.gov or 541-492-7050. The process takes about 20 minutes.

This Week’s Library Events

• Monday, Aug. 12 through Saturday, Aug. 17, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: StoryWalk® at Stewart Park by band shell

• Tuesday, Aug. 13, 10 a.m.: Grab-and-go craft kits while supplies last

• Tuesday, Aug. 13, 1 to 2 p.m.: Children’s program: Basket weaving, Day 2

• Tuesday, Aug. 13, 6:30 p.m.: Online Book Group: Email kwiley@roseburgor.gov for Zoom link

• Wednesday, Aug. 14, 10:30 a.m.: Storytime at Stewart Park Pavilion

• Thursday, Aug. 15, 10:15 a.m.: Storytime at library

• Thursday, Aug. 15, 1 to 2:30 p.m.: Teen program: Bath bombs & soaps

• Thursday, Aug. 15, 3 to 5 p.m.: Teen volunteer hours

• Friday, Aug. 16, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Children’s program at Stewart Park Pavilion: Outside games, including giant bubbles