Jackie Spurlock, librarian at the Battle Ground Community Library, describes activity at the branch as “bustling,” with increasing circulation, computer use and attendance at special programs.
The new Battle Ground library building opened in May 2009 with 13,000 square feet of space at 1207 SE 8th Way in the Battle Ground Village development. Since then, library usage has increased faster than any other branch in the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District.
During the July-December period in 2009, Battle Ground library users checked out nearly 247,000 items which is about 56 percent more than the same period in 2008. The increase in circulation was greater than circulation increases in all other branches combined, not counting declines in circulation at the Vancouver library and at Cascade Park.
During all of 2009, the Battle Ground branch checked out 428,841 items, a 37 percent surge over 2008. That increase was achieved even though the branch was in its former, smaller location for the first few months of the year and was closed during a moving period.
Only the Vancouver library checked out more items in 2009 than did Battle Ground.
Spurlock said Battle Ground experienced heavy use in January. The branch has about 64,000 items in its collection of books and other materials. As of Jan. 27, about 27,000, or 42 percent, of those items were checked out.
What if they were all returned at once? “That would be an impossible situation,” said Spurlock. Space on the library shelves could not readily accommodate the simultaneous return of all materials.
By comparison, about 26 percent of the 87,000 book collection at Three Creeks library was checked out as of Jan. 27, 29 percent of the 58,000 items at the Vancouver Mall library, and 16 percent of the 265,000 books in the Vancouver library.
Spurlock said the volunteer group Friends of the Battle Ground Community Library has enough money left in its building fund to buy some additional computers for the library. She plans to order five more computers for internet use which will be added to the 19 already in use. Two of the new computers will be located in the children’s area and the other three will be placed on the counter with “express” computers in the technology area.
Patrons are limited to 15 minutes on an “express computer,” and to one hour on other computers. Patrons use their library cards to log onto computers. After the use time has expired, they cannot use a computer again until the next day.
Don Higgins with the Friends group said the Friends have offered to provide over $40,000 in additional furnishings, computers and shelving for the new library.
Spurlock said larger families live in northern Clark County and check out more items per person than at other branches.
Spurlock said storytime programs are busy at the library, including Baby Storytime held Thursdays at 10 a.m. for ages birth to 18 months, Toddler Storytime for ages 18 months to three years held Fridays at 10:30 a.m., and Pre-School Storytime for ages 3-6 years held Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
Literacy programs also take place at the library, including a conversation group on Thursdays, grammar group on Tuesdays, and companion children’s programs.
Spurlock said the new library facility has adequate parking, a problem that plagued the former building located at Parkway Ave. and Main St.
The Battle Ground branch operates with 10.4 full time equivalent employees.
The Friends of the Battle Ground Community Library operates a book sale room at the new library, offering hard back and paperback books for sale. The room is often unstaffed and patrons make their own purchases. Higgins said revenues from the book sales room are surpassing expectations.
“Our Friends group, after so many years of being penniless, is a bit uncomfortable with its current prosperity,” said Higgins. “Things are a whole lot different from the difficult times of one to five years ago.”
The Battle Ground Community Library is open Tues.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m., or 46 hours a week. The library is closed Sundays and Mondays.
The Vancouver library is open 54 hours a week, and the Vancouver Mall library is open 63 hours a week.
The Battle Ground library may be reached at 687-2322.