More people flock to use library's free services during tighter times

Link to February 19 Great Falls Tribune article.

Excerpt: More individuals and families have used the Great Falls Public Library the last few months as economic conditions worsened, said Jim Heckel, library director.

Walk-in traffic increased more than 3 percent last year, to about 220,000 patrons, and was up 8 percent last month over the previous January, he said.

Attendance at library programs also increased about 5 percent last year, as did use of the library's public access computers. Use of the library's extensive database collections on the computers soared by more than 42 percent in 2008. Heckel said that's partly because the program, which varies from auto and small engine repair, to health, genealogical and environmental sites and access to Great Falls Tribune and magazine archives, was better promoted and because people whose work hours were cut have more time to use the databases.