When thinking of a city hot spot, the library isn't usually what comes to mind.
But in the face of a sunken economy and high unemployment, people line up to take advantage of what they've already paid for with their tax dollars.
According to Angela Harris, marketing and public relations manager for the Alachua County library district, the past year has ushered in a new high for library usage.
The county's 10 public libraries have become more popular as penny pinchers seek free forms of entertainment. Computer use has also soared as the unemployed line up to job search on library computers, Harris said.
"With a lot of people out of work," she said, "they're coming in to fill out online job applications."
The number of people who use the library's computers to access the Internet rose so much in the past year that the library began enforcing time limits on computers, Harris said. In the past, users stayed as long as they needed.
According to an ACLD statistical report, about 10,000 more people have visited the library this fiscal year, which started in October, than the same period last year. About 6,000 more people have registered as borrowers.
Circulation also rose by nearly 100,000 checkouts - about 10% - from the same point last year, the report stated.
Iona Malanchuk, head of UF's Education Library, said that people turn to libraries as a source of relaxation, as well as convenience, when they are stressed.
"People are feeling the stress of a reduction in income…uncertainty as to what lies ahead," she said. "And they want and need peace and quiet."
Gainesville resident Angela Charlton said she uses the library as a distraction from daily life.
"I like to check e-mail and look at books," she said. "I also meet my friends here."
Charlton, who doesn't own a computer, said the library has also helped her job hunt. She uses the free computers to submit applications.
"I can't do that at home," she said, "so I come to the library."
