Have you noticed how packed the Library has been since the start of the Fall 2010 semester?

Library statistics show that during the first full week of the semester, from Aug. 23-28, 2010, a total of 10,027 people walked through the library gates – an increase of 13.8% from 2008 when the first week’s gate counts were last recorded in the old Library building. Each person entering the library is counted as one entry each time.

This increase is particularly impressive given the current construction going on in the lower quad area right in front of the Learning Resource Center building (LRC) that has forced students, faculty and staff to navigate circuitous routes between the upper and lower quads.

Even more important, the Library was able to provide a much-needed service to students who needed to get a head start on studying for their classes. Textbooks on reserve were checked out a total of 955 times during the first 8 days of the semester, representing increases of 21.6% and 44% over the equivalent periods in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Note: Fall 2009 gate counts are unavailable for comparison since the automated gate counter was not operational during the first week that the Library was open for business from Aug. 24-29, 2009, in the then-brand-new LRC. However, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to predict that this semester’s numbers are close to (if not better than) those of Fall 2009.