Wake Libraries Top 10 Million in Circulation, Record Increase in Reading

7/14/2008

Reading is on the rise in Wake County's libraries according to recent figures released by library administrators. Wake County libraries circulated 10,390,295 books to library visitors in fiscal year 2007-2008, an increase of 12 percent over last year.

At least four libraries circulated over 1 million books during fiscal year 2007-08:

• Cameron Village Regional 1,035,532
• Eva Perry Regional 1,329,211
• West Regional 1,331,979
• North Regional 1,626,487

"I'm pleased that Wake County residents place such a high value on reading," said Tom Moore, Wake County Library director. "This is a record for our system and is a testament to both our community of readers and to the library staff who assist them. In my first year as director, in 1981, the entire library system circulated nearly 1 million books, and now we have four of 19 libraries reaching that milestone."

Moore added that he's especially proud of the number of children's books loaned. A little more than 5 million books were checked out by the library system's youngest customers – about 50 percent of all books checked out countywide. Adults checked out close to 4.5 million books during the same period. In addition, 421,430 audio books and 301,928 graphic novels were borrowed. The system’s collection size is approximately 1,846,996 volumes.

Wake County Public Libraries offers more books to its customers than any other public library system in North Carolina. The County also provides more books than some of the nation's larger library systems, including Chicago Public Library, Houston Public Library, Miami/Dade Public Library, San Antonio Public Library, The Free Library of Philadelphia, Sacramento Public Library and the Dallas Public Library.

For more information about Wake County Public Libraries visit www.wakegov.com/libraries.

 

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