While reading a newspaper Tuesday afternoon at Rapid City Public Library, Stephanie Kulm said she is glad to have the library's resources available to help her save some money.

"It's less costly than going to a bookstore and buying a book," said Kulm, who moved back to Rapid City recently after living in California. "They have excellent movies that are free. That's why I come down, for the DVD movies. You can really save money."

Library officials say use of library materials and services is way up this year, which isn't unusual given the current economic climate. Historically, libraries nationwide tend to see a trend of increased use whenever the economy has a downturn, according to library director Greta Chapman.

"Given the economic downturn, our numbers are skyrocketing," Chapman said. "Big numbers."

As of November, the library had 51,274 people borrow materials, an increase of 1,343 during the same period in 2007.

So far this year, the library has recorded a 27 percent increase in the use of its online services; a 16 percent increase in circulation; a 34 percent increase in people attending various library programs; and has had 20,500 more people walk in and use library services, with about half of that foot traffic at the north library branch at General Beadle Elementary School.

Chapman said a large portion of the traffic on library computers is people filling out job applications. She said a number of companies in town send people to the library to use computers to fill out job applications. But the increased use is not limited to computers.

"We have increases in use of resources across the board. Jobs. Print magazines. Newspapers. Things people are looking to trim or cut costs and can't afford. And that's pretty traditional during economic downturns for libraries to become heavily used," Chapman said.

People using the library Tuesday had a variety of reasons, though not necessarily because of the economy.

Rick Lockhart came to Rapid City about a year ago from Washington, D.C., and travels back and forth to see his wife, who is an attorney. Lockhart said he didn't use the big city's library often, but he enjoys Rapid City's library.

"Here, it's a nice diversion from your nasty weather," Lockhart said Tuesday. "It's nice to get out of the house. It's a nice library for a small town. The library there doesn't have a coffee shop."

Vern Tullberg, who is retired, said he stops into the library a couple of times each week to check his e-mail. He said he also likes to browse the library's reading material, something he didn't have much time for when he worked full time.

"There are peaks throughout the day for library use - when we open, over the noon hour, after-school hours and early evening, then throughout the weekend hours," Chapman said.

According to several media accounts, the Rapid City library isn't alone in increased usage.

In Denver, circulation at one city branch was up 37 percent in October compared to the previous October.

In Newington, Conn., the Lucy Robbins Welles Library use of public computers rose 19 percent between September to October, and employees also reported many requests for help with resume Web sites and the help-wanted sections of local newspapers.

In the Boston area, library circulation in Amesbury was up 19 percent in July compared with July 2007.

Chapman said the local trend started at the beginning of the year.

"It's an indication of the time we're in, and unfortunately, it's not a good time," she said. "But at least people are making use of this resource in a way that can help them weather it."

Given the current economic times, Chapman said, the library could begin offering more programs related to job searches or resume workshops. The library provides programming based on community need and interest.

The library also is putting the finishing touches on a two-year renovation project that reconfigured the library's layout.

By using existing space more efficiently, the library's goal is to meet patrons' needs for more accessible collections, computer and technological resources and dedicated areas that offer comfort and privacy for study, research and collaboration.

Overall enhancements included a relocation and rearrangement of library collections, the addition of the library's "Perk It Up" coffee shop, a reading area and fireplace at the east end of the main floor and additional space devoted to the library's collections of DVDs and books on CD.

By the end of this year, the library plans to finish converting existing office space into a new seating and reading area that will adjoin the lobby and increase the public-use space on the library's main floor.

The new seating area is the final part of a $200,000 space reconfiguration project that began in 2006. The Rapid City Library Foundation raised funds for the project through private donations.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com