The pandemic may have decreased the number of people going to restaurants and concerts, but use of the Bracebridge Public Library’s hit record highs.
During the latest Bracebridge general committee meeting, councillors heard that during the pandemic Library membership has increased by some 2,000 people and ebook circulation has nearly quadrupled.
The news came as part of the Library board’s 2021 annual report. In it they indicated that the Library currently has 9,043 members, and last year they had 7,360 uses of the wireless internet services, added 4,827 new items to their collection and circulated roughly 130,000 ebooks.
Coun. Don Smith questioned why the numbers had increased so dramatically in the middle of the pandemic.
Head Librarian Crystal Bergstrome said the numbers were certainly related to covid, partly because many more people have moved to the area since the pandemic began. She also pointed out that Library staff have been making a concerted effort to increase membership.
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