Library Usage Skyrockets In West Hartford Amid Pandemic

West Hartford, CT — Library usage numbers during the coronavirus pandemic are proving that the West Hartford Library is "more than just books," officials said and the library has thus launched a "Get Your Card, It's Free” campaign for February to encourage residents to sign up for a library card.

A video has been produced to highlight the growing collection of digital resources and virtual programming:

The campaign also highlights the variety of free library resources cardholders have access to, which includes books and physical materials but also an array of programming, access to academic journals and databases, digital streaming platforms and publications,

"The library provides an opportunity for lifelong learning and entertainment, it’s a place where people become friends by participating in reading groups,” West Hartford Library Foundation Board Chair Jill Spear said in one video.

While some of the interviews were filmed before the pandemic, they still "ring true" as the library
has continued to offer an array of virtual programming for adults, teens and children. For example, most of the writing groups and discussion groups continue to meet regularly in a virtual meeting room.

"The library offers a lot of programming, too and that’s been really wonderful. I keep my eyes
peeled for the newsletter as they talk about their events and activities," library patron Natalia
Menjivar said in another video. "We’ve seen ballet performances and concerts. The library really
offers so much variety and that’s one of the things that makes it so wonderful."

The library has also continued to offer resources to West Hartford’s "immigrant community,"
including in-person and virtual English classes, virtual citizenship classes, and partnerships with the town’s Department of Social Services and Fern Street Universalist Church.

The videos were made possible with a grant from the Thomas F. Kilfoil Bequest, West Hartford
Public Library Foundation.

"We welcome anyone who doesn’t have a card to apply and connect with us by visiting our
buildings, attending programs virtually for now and in-person when it is safe to gather, calling us
for information, navigating our website and so much more," Interim Library Director Carol
Waxman said.

In the 10 months since the pandemic hit in mid-March, the West Hartford Public Library processed 1,356 new library cards, which is hundreds more cards than the library typically processes in a single year.

September was a record-breaking month for the library, which processed 286 new cards.

"That’s the most in any month as far as back as we can track," said Ann Marie Salerno, the library's head of circulation services. "When school started back up in September, more teachers and students starting using our digital databases than ever before."

Loans on downloadable materials — which includes eBooks, eMagazines and eAudiobooks
— increased dramatically as well. For this fiscal year, the library is on pace to exceed 180,000 digital loans — a sharp increase from 87,000 two years ago and 59,000 the year before that.