In the past year, the Lincoln Public Library has seen a major rise in circulation, which is the number of items checked out by patrons, and individuals using its services.

Director of Library Services Darla Wegener said circulation is up system wide, which includes both the Carnegie and Twelve Bridges libraries, by more than 400 percent for 2008 and more than 22,000 patrons coming through the doors.

Wegener gives three primary reasons for the increase in library usage: the opening of the Twelve Bridges Library in October 2007, an expanded collection that includes DVD movies and music compact discs, and the failing economy.

Libraries tend to do better during economic downtimes, Wegener pointed out.

With many residents facing financial difficulties, the library offers them a way to save money and a number of services to help weather the economic crisis, Wegener said.

With the addition of the Twelve Bridges Library, the library system’s collection has grown from 26,000 items to more than 100,000, Wegener said. The library has also expanded its computer and multi-media services.

Wegner said many library visitors use the Internet to apply for jobs and “beef-up” their resumes by researching skills that employers want. Library users are also checking out DVD movies and music compact disks rather than renting or buying them in order to save money.

The library is playing up these services with brochures explaining how the library can help in the down economy and a Library Value Calculator on its Web site that shows how much money families can save monthly by using library services.

“We want to be the information hub for the city of Lincoln,” Wegener said.

Library patron Demetrio Pantoja said he uses the library at least twice weekly to learn the skills he needs to get his contractor’s license.

“The library helps a lot,’ Pantoja said. “It’s got everything you need to learn about work, professions and laws. With the DVDs, it’s also cheaper than the video store.”

Doug Bouws said his family uses the library at least once a week,

“We get 95 percent of our movies here,” Bouws said. “We hardly ever go to Blockbuster or Hollywood Video anymore.”

Bouws, the Granite Springs Church pastor, said he also uses the Internet and other resources there to put together the “messages” he delivers to his congregation.

Patrick Sweeney, library coordinator for the Twelve Bridges Library, said he has seen several groups, including the Lincoln Police Officers Association, hold their meetings at the library as a cost-saving measure.

The Lincoln Public Library system, however, is not immune to the economic pinch.

With the city facing a $1-million budget deficit, the library has to cut back on both its hours of operation and programs it offers, Wegener said.

While details on what cuts the library is facing have not been fully worked out yet, Wegener said, the system will close from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4 to save money.

Even so, library staff members are trying to be optimistic.

Renae Mahaffey, the Carnegie Library’s library coordinator, said the closures could motivate the community to increase its support.

“I think, in the long run, it may help the community to think about the library and what it has to offer,” Mahaffey said. “I think the community will miss us over the next couple of weeks while we’re closed.”

Even with budget cuts, Wegener said, the library will continue to offer quality programs to patrons.

“We just expect to do what we can to help people as long as we’re open and have funds,” Wegener said.