HOW TO GO
WHAT: Celebration of the one-year anniversary of the new Oxford Lane Library location
WHEN: 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26. A special story time for children ages 2-6 with stories, crafts and cake will take place from 6 to 6:45 p.m.
WHERE: Oxford Lane Library, 441 S. Locust St.
The Oxford Lane Library will have much to celebrate during an event marking one year at its new facility on South Locust Street.
Statistics tell the story of the popularity of the new location and expanded offerings, according to Branch Manager Rebecca Smith. The library experienced a 14 percent increase in circulation from January to July this year over the same time one year ago.
Library visitor numbers show an even greater increase — 23 percent — between January and August of this year over the same months in 2015, with the actual numbers rising from 79,355 visitors to 97,904 during those months this year.
“We are seeing lots more Miami students. They like to use our study rooms,” Smith said. “(Use of) the meeting room has increased greatly.”
All areas of the library have seen increased use in the past year, perhaps due to the increased parking at the facility.
The Teen Zone, which was added when the new library opened Sept. 26, 2015, has proven popular, especially during early dismissal days for Talawanda Local Schools.
“The Teen Zone is the place to be on Wednesdays if you’re a teen,” Smith said. “They are really good kids. They hang out. They use the computers. We have teen books in one place and we have seen a big increase in books checked out.”
Smith reported a 59 percent increase in juvenile non-fiction being checked out.
Another area that has found increased interest, although it also existed at the old location, is the Lucky Day Collection.
That collection — as in “This is my lucky day” — offers current best sellers and items with long hold lists. Visitors can check out those shelves and maybe find the book they are waiting to read.
Moving it to a more prominent location has attracted more interest with usage increasing 239 percent, Smith said.
“It’s the first collection you see when you enter the building,” she said, explaining they are additional copies of some of the books in general circulation but they can only be checked out for 14 days. “People get excited. It’s the first thing they see when they walk into the library. If you check one out, we take you off the waiting list. That lets you read the book, but it also means everyone behind you moves up.”
The library facility includes connections at each table for users to charge electronic devices and there is an iPad kiosk. The branch manager said those amenities have proven popular with library users as a place to work as well as connect to the virtual world.
As part of its one-year celebration, residents are being asked to contribute thoughts and memories to a time capsule.
“We want a snapshot of the library in 2016 and will ask for predictions what the library will be like in 2041,” Smith said.
Contributions for the time capsule will be accepted through Nov. 28 at the library.
“People are very appreciative (of the new location) and know the value of it,” Smith said. “They seem to love the library more now. They love coming here and using it. There’s just a deeper support.”
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