PRESCOTT VALLEY - Unemployed accountant Terry Schindele studied for a business math test on his laptop Tuesday at a table on the second floor of the Prescott Valley Public Library.
Schindele acknowledged this was the first time he'd visited the library in the 15 years he has lived in Prescott Valley.
"I have been studying at home, and I needed a change in scenery, so here I am," Schindele said.
After losing his job in September, Schindele said he enrolled Oct. 10 for online classes at Colorado Technical University to pursue a bachelor's degree in accounting.
Oct. 10 also marks the day the library officially opened in a stand-alone 52,000-square-foot building near the Civic Center. The library outgrew its 13,000 square feet that it had occupied on the third floor of the Civic Center since that building opened in 1999.
The first visit to the library impressed Schindele, who plans to drop by a few times a week.
"Actually, I really like it," he said. "I'm very impressed with the facility. The staff is excellent."
Both new and continuing patrons might be driving higher circulation figures at the library.
Patrons checked out 34,000 items in October, a 13 percent increase from the 30,000 items in October 2008, according to Assistant Library Director Ted Johnson. Checked-out items include books, DVDs and CDs.
The increase occurred even though the library had been closed during the transition from Sept. 13 to Oct. 9.
By contrast, checkouts increased by only 1,700 items from August 2008 to 30,000 this August, Johnson pointed out. Johnson did not cite September figures because of the transition-period closure.
Johnson credited several factors for the increase in circulation, including a continuing economic slump that might have dampened book sales.
However, he said he thinks the new location "has a lot to do with it," adding, "That is what we expected. This is why we built this place."
Library patron Joan Lane, a medical technologist who lives in Prescott Valley, agreed. She checked out five books Tuesday afternoon.
"I think people would probably show up here more because it is a bigger place," said Lane, who moved from Phoenix two years ago.
Lane said she does not like the "rust-bucket" exterior of the library.
The library's appearance also does not appeal to Lynne Jorgenson, who moved to Prescott Valley in May after retiring from a job waiting tables at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif.
However, she said the library has a good selection of books.
Jorgenson said she checks out five to six books a week, and "pretty much" reads a book a day. She prefers biographies and nonfiction books on crime.
The library also has 40,000 new titles, Johnson said. The Town Council this past November voted to spend as much as $750,000 for an opening-day collection of books and other contents to supplement the library.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
FARLEY, sad but true.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
Farley
A member of the Mayor's family getting a contract for a $100,000 sign!? What! I can't believe that. Can it possible be true? Is that legal?
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
libraryfan!
I for one like the design of the library...my only complaint is the hours of operation, it closes on week days at 5pm and is only open until 3pm on saturdays and is completely closed on sundays!? When are the working class and students suppose to study and check out books? Hopefully as more patrons frequent the library their will be more reasonable hours available.
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009
Article comment by:
Chuck Bordenave
I am wondering when the one hundred thousand dollar sign for the library will be installed? Mayor Skoog's family got the contract for that little gem. Oh well a local business got the contract.
Posted: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Article comment by:
Grundo...you know he's right
When will they put up a statue in front of the library. I had suggested a denizen of Prescott Valley, tattooed and pierced,chicken bone in his , or hers, nose tearing the covers off a book and eating the pages with a bottle of Gunslinger hot sauce holstered on his gun belt ( non violent). I would title the work of art :" In a Desperate Search of Knowledge" I think a budget of around $80,000.00 should get the work off the ground.
Posted: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Article comment by:
Lisa
Develop or Die is bull! When we did develop our building inspectors let unskilled builders work pass inspection. Roofs passed that were so poor to begin with the homeowners have walked away. Houses with crumbling foundations and walls because the required rebar was left out. Some people remember our high paid still employed building inspectors approving roofs before they even had ladders to look at the roof. We need jobs for the young people living here now or we will die. We have hundreds of empty homes and retail space. No one wants to move here any longer. The town has a failing name. Get the people working then think about development. Don't award the sloppy builders with a chance to rush in and build more half--- houses. ...
Posted: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Article comment by:
New to Town
I'm new to town. I thought the Civic Center was an airport control tower and the library was an old rusty airplane hanger. Thanks for the correction!
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Don't Hold Yer Breath
Joan: Its the "WOW!" patina that drove the costs up 20 million dollars. I have heard some poor soul compare it to an ancient volcano spewing forth from Glassford Hill.Looks like a giant butt mooning out of the dirt to me but thats one old mans opinion. The Good Old fashioned librarian who shushed the noise makers no longer works there. May be now employed over in Town Hall shushing any dissent against Harvey and the Tremblers Pipeline Band & Chowder Society. To "Shhhhh" get with the new reality of rowdy libraries or head over the hill to Preskitt and its septic systems , unpaved streets and old fashioned "normal" libraries.You're to much for me! We must Develop or Die, make sure to vote yes for the Big Chino Pipeline when you get yer ballot.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Tom Steele
Joan Lane, don't you see; it's not a rust bucket; it's the "WOW" factor. Ask PV council woman Laura Lee Nye. This 52,000 sq/ft facility was clearly needed but could have been built for 5 Million and look like the PV police department. Of course at 25 Million a team of designers made a custom modern facility with "WOW". I would have opted for less "BOW WOW" and a more practical 5 Million facility that would be more energy efficient and less costly to maintain.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Shhhh!
The new library is wonderful. What bothers me is the patrons-- mothers allowing their young ones to scream and cry, people talking on their cell phones, teens who come in groups to use the computers... Whatever happened to the silent library? People come here to read, study, and work, but it's difficult due to the disrespect of fellow patrons. We needs a good old fashioned librarian who shushes the noise-makers.
