Business booms at local library

EAST COUNTY — The checkout counter at the Braden River Branch Library hums with activity as a mother and her three children shove a stack of at least 20 books onto the counter. An elderly woman seeking assistance walks up to the reference desk, and customers begin a line, waiting for their turn.
Although the volume is not quite at a roar, it’s definitely not quiet.

“The news of our death is greatly exaggerated,” Braden River Branch Supervisor Cathy Laird says. “People are finding ways to save money. They count on us. Once they find us, they come back.”

Last year, Manatee County’s library system recorded an all-time high in usage with more than 3.2 million transactions. This year, it’s on track to hit 3.5 million.

The Braden River Branch Library, tucked behind a row of trees on State Road 70 roughly across the street from the Fairfield development, has experienced a 30% annual increase in traffic compared with 2013, as of July.

“All the branches have seen increases, but this one more than most,” said Kevin Beach, operations manager for the county’s library system. “This one isn’t seasonal at all.”

With the increase in business, Laird is lobbying the county for two full-time employees to help keep up with the demand. Her budget request of $106,662 will be finalized — or eliminated — when the board of Manatee County commissioners adopts its budget next month.

The branch’s operating budget is $495,131 annually. Of that, $358,427 is for employees.

Laird, a 26-year librarian who has worked at the Braden River branch library for 16 years, says August and December, typically lull months, continue to boom. The library’s programming, she says, is largely to blame. On any given week, the branch offers at least five programs, including story times for children, a knitting group and activities for tweens and teens.

“We want (people) to know the library is not just books,” Laird said. “That’s one of the reasons we offer all the programs. We’re trying to meet the needs of our customers with family-friendly programming they can afford.”

Beach says the branch’s location near Lakewood Ranch and the growth out east also makes it popular.
Additionally, the county’s library system this year is working on two initiatives: to create “creative spaces” at each branch and to promote STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

For Braden River’s creative space, Laird hopes to install an outdoor garden.

Beach said the library system is creating STEAM literacy kits that parents can check out. The kits will contain a book and guidelines for interactive activities families can complete to encourage learning at home.

Beach and Laird agree they want to see the demand for libraries grow even more.

“That’s our real goal — to be an integral part of the community,” Beach said.

Foundation promises an unordinary fundraising event
The Manatee County Library Foundation is putting a thrilling spin on fundraising.

To raise the $100,000 needed to revamp Manatee County’s public library online operating system, the foundation announced Aug. 5 it will host “A Night with Stephen King.”

King is best known for titles such as “The Shining,” “The Green Mile,” “Carrie” and “The Dark Tower.”

The event will take place Jan. 29, at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton.
Sponsorship packages range from $200 to $10,000 and are available by calling 748-5556, Ext. 6306. Tickets go on sale Nov. 1.

For more information, visit manateelibraryfoundation.org.

Did you know
Have you ever wondered why the library only has a few copy of popular books available on ebooks? Although the library can buy a hard-copy book for $10, the same book may cost close to $100 in ebook format because of licensing restrictions.