By Jason C. Mattox

The parking lot at the Batesville Public Library was so crowded one day last week that one patron came by The Panolian to report that he’d been unable to find a place to park his car.

“The thirst for knowledge is alive and well in Batesville,” he said.

On Friday afternoon the busy facility welcomed author Gloria Norris for a book-signing. At the same time there was a Disney film showing in another room  to entertain kids enrolled in the summer reading program.

The Batesville branch of the First Regional Library has seen a near 20 percent increase in usage during the current economic downturn, according to branch manager Jennifer Hall.

“We just completed our user count (done three times each year) and compared to the June 2008 user count, we saw a 19.7 percent increase in the number of patrons in the Batesville branch, and a 3.66 percent increase in circulation over June 2008,” she said.

Hall added that the changes in the economy are among the reasons for the increases.

“In the current economy, people are re-thinking their spending habits, and using the resources the library offers helps with this,” she said. “We have the newest best-selling books, current movies and CDs, as well as Internet access, including Wi-Fi, all of which can be accessed for free. In addition, there is a sharp increase in the number of people asking for help with resumes, job searches and applications, and the like.” 

The Batesville library has 16 computers with Internet access, five laptops that circulate inside the branch,  and Wi-Fi access for anyone with a laptop, the librarian said. “The online resources (at www.firstregional.org) include job search links, audio books that can be downloaded to an MP3 player, Quick Reference, homework resources for students and parents, practice tests for standardized tests (GED, ACT, ASVAB), and much more.”

This increased usage is in addition to the library’s annual summer reading program that serves children and adults during the summer months.

“We have already seen a sharp increase in the number of children who have registered for the 2009 Summer Library Program,” Hall said. “Around this time last year, we had registered 1,355 patrons and to date, we have registered 1,766, though these are children, by a large majority.”

Extra staff members are helping manage the increase in library patrons.

“Our branch has been fortunate to have added three people to our staff, one through the Experience Works program, and two through Mid-State Opportunity,” Hall said.  “These three have taken on responsibilities related to shelving materials as they are returned (and keeping order in the collection), which in turn helps free up our in-house staff to have more time to work directly with patrons.”

Hall said neither the city or county would be asked for a large budget increase for the library in the next fiscal year.

The library will request $300,000 from Panola County and $200,000 from the City of Batesville for the coming fiscal year.