WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Library use up in lagging economy

Library use up in lagging economy

By Shayla Reaves - bio | email
Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Across Louisville Metro, use of computers at public libraries is maxing out. Cathy Sullivan is one of those users, coming everyday for internet access she can't afford at home.

"The economy is bad but I'm glad this is still free because we'd have to find another way around it if it wasn't," she said.

Craig Buthod, director of the Louisville Free Public Library, said 11,000 people come to Louisville's libraries every day, up from the 9,700 daily visitors a year ago. "We know that people are using us to stay involved in the economy and feed their family."

"My mother told me about the Census Bureau hiring and we, me and my sister, wanted to come down here and fill out an application on the computer," said Tish Collier, a library computer user.

These days, Kentucky's jobless rate stands at more than 10.5 percent, something that trickles down to places like local libraries.

"When people aren't working, they're not paying employment taxes and so the funds available to the library are down," Buthod said.

If approved, latest budget would put more than $18 million toward the Louisville Free Public Library system, $15 million to come from the general fund alone. Already, Buthod says the library system has reduced staff and cut out Sunday hours to save money in the last couple of years. He adds the new budget could help keep things stable.

"The library budget is very tight this year," said Buthod. "We're going to be able to sustain library hours without reducing hours further."

That is good news for people like Sullivan and Collier.

"It's really good, especially if you don't have a computer at home," said Collier.

Still sometimes the need is more than the library alone can fill.

"I've had a job offer but I needed a car and I didn't have one so, I'm still looking, yeah," said Sullivan.

Citywide we're told 3,000 people are using the libraries 450 computers on a daily basis. Access is limited to one hour per person per day. In addition, we're told book check outs are strong along with the use of learning materials and leisure activities.

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