100,000th Item Checked Out at Lucedale-George County Public Library
LUCEDALE – Thelma Killian thought she’d see what’s new at the Lucedale-George County Public Library on Friday, September 19, shortly after lunch. Little did she know that one of the 13 items she would check out would set a new benchmark for annual circulation at the library.
The Lucedale Library was able to reach an unprecedented milestone which will push the new Annual Circulation record well over 100,000 items for FY 2008. Final figures will be released in mid-October. The previous record was set at 95,341 items circulated in FY 2003.
Ms. Killian said, “I’ve been a patron for years — since I was a teenager and the library was located in the court house. I come in here all the time. This was a great surprise.”
The Friends of the Library provided Thelma with a gift basket filled with goodies and served cake and punch in celebration of the historic milestone. Library staff also threw balloons and confetti and played music when she came to the front desk with her 100,000th item.
Commenting on the new record, branch manager Becky Wheeler said, “The general public may not be aware of how much work goes on behind the scenes to circulate this many items. Patrons only see the items being scanned and stamped at the circulation desk. Selecting items to add to the collection, ordering inter-library loans, placing items on hold, preparing and submitting orders, scanning the materials in when they arrive, labeling, cleaning, and repairing items, and shelving are among the necessary tasks that happen daily. My staff and I have worked hard to reach this 100,000 item milestone; that averages out to over 42 items circulated per hour during the year, plus all the background work.”
For more information about the library or library services, visit at 507 Oak Street, or on-line at www.jgrls.org.
Submitted by
Rex Bridges
Public Relations/Marketing
Jackson-George Regional Library System
Lucedale Library branch manager Becky Wheeler (left) presents Thelma Killian (center) with a gift basket from the Friends of the Library for checking out the 100,000th item along with library assistant Evelyn Read.
Entry Filed under: News
Posted on: September 29th, 2008
