With so many synagogue libraries cutting hours and budgets, there must be a reluctance to answer the question about circulation figures. Without going into exact numbers, I can tell you that my synagogue library, where my hours (budgeted salary) have been cut from 20 hours to 12 hours in the last nine years, has experienced a proportionate decrease in circulation. Most of this is due to my patrons use of e-readers and the proliferation of e-books. My patrons still read as much as before, and participate in an average of 2-3 book clubs, but I have less requests for books because our local libraries offer so many titles (yes, even those with Jewish content) to download and they are always aware of the titles that the book clubs are reading. Other reasons include; membership in inexpensive plans like Kindle Unlimited and the ability to share titles with extended family members. Another downside, for my library, of the use of e-readers is that I don't get as many donations of these books as before and with the very significant cuts to my ordering budget sometimes I just can't afford to buy the books that people want to read. Since the synagogue has a Sunday School, and the kids are my main customers, most of my budget goes toward the purchase of children's books. As to the school children's circulation numbers, these seem to have held fairly steadily.
Helen Chronister Librarian Minnie Cobey Memorial Library Congregation Tifereth Israel 1354 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43205 [Logo - Mail Signature]
__ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list Hasafran@lists.osu.edu https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
